Spring of 2020 brought robin’s egg blues to the castle.  Of course we don’t really live in a castle; we just chose to pretend that we do. That is a long story though.  If you have read our blog for a few years you have probably already heard this story. 

So; I won’t repeat myself. 

Despite our over-active 2020 imaginations; we were still stuck in lock-down mode because of corona-virus scares.  No worries.  Turned out that the circumstances gave us more spare time to let the beauty of Spring enter and fill our modest little home.  

Since we knew we would be inside our home so much more than usual; we decided we might as well make the best of it.  From the onset of our new situation, we decided that the world around us might fall apart; but home would be as pleasant and as beautiful as possible.

BRINGING IN THE ROBIN’S EGG BLUES

Those were my thoughts back in 2020.   They have not changed, even after the passing of time.  Our 2020 decor still gives my heart warm, fuzzy memories.  I love what happened with the decorating fun during that spring season of 2020. 

Fast forward to 2024.  Again, we found ourselves stuck at home with no power because of huge storm surges from a hurricane. I remembered those past days of robin’s egg blues and smiled.

Like The Apostle Paul; I knew I had finally learned to be content in all circumstances.  

This past Robin’s Egg Blue theme managed to made me very happy during the first year of COVID.   I’m probably even going to repost these thoughts from this older article.  I feel compelled to do so just in case any of these simple little ideas might cheer up a few other people who are currently living in today’s progress of the social distancing world.  Even worse, perhaps some have found themselves in a strange place because of unexpected circumstances.   

Take my word for it.  If you set your heart to love it; any place can be a castle.

FINDING YOUR CASTLE IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES

During this past strange year of our lives in 2020, I tried very hard to keep home a safe and cheerful haven.  Subconsciously, I guess that seemed to make up for the chaotic state of the world.  I’m sure we experienced more peace because of this decision.  

Looking back from 2024 to 2020 I found it very difficult to post all of these warm feelings.  At first it felt a bit selfish, thoughtless and heartless.  I felt guilty just telling this little story about that time. This came to pass because by 2024 I knew of many people who had lost their beautiful homes from hurricane damages.  Every day we heard of another of our favorite spots on earth being totally torn apart.  North Carolina in particular looked like a war zone.  Many were trapped with no way out.  My heart truly hurts for all of these tragic situations. 

I wish I could make it all different. 

Words fail me.

WALKING THROUGH DIFFICULT PLACES

Sometimes though, God takes us through difficult places.  It is never easy.  I hope that this article will give anyone in such circumstances the hope of finding comfort where ever they are residing for the moment.  If that is a temporary place, all the more reason for finding a way to bring cheer and comfort to the times you are living through.

That was exactly where my heart was headed in the spring of 2020 during COVID.  Hard times were dragging us down.  We needed some cheer.  

Actually, the times from the COVID lockdowns in 2020 look like a cakewalk now.   Compared to what Hurricane Helene wrought upon our nation, we had it very easy.  Please know we are holding all who lost loved ones and homes during this storm in our prayers. 

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

For those who lost their beloved homes recently, I pray that God will help you to see His future plans for your new castle.   It may feel impossible and look too far off in the distance, but take courage and  be inspired. 

All is not lost.

Please realize that the things which seem impossible to men are always possible with God.  Try to trust like the little robins who never know what will happen to them next.  Their whole world rests within the palms of God’s hands as they constantly navigate the destructive forces of nature.  God always takes care of them.  He provides for them and He will provide for you.

Hold on and try to wait with a vision. 

Having once lost my own home in a tornado, I realize that is not an easy request. 

I think that very advice was exactly what I was telling myself back in 2020 when I had the first vision of robin’s egg blue for our home’s decor.

MAKING THE BEST OF SHELTERING IN PLACE

So I began to decorate the place where God had placed me at that time.

I put up my blue curtains which had been stored away.  In this new season I used them to frame my already hung white drapes. The added touch of color was lovely.  Just a little pop of color within a drab day can change your whole attitude.

My heart determined to learn how to become more colorful.

As I mentioned previously, back in 2020 I caught a bad case of the robin’s egg blues. That contagious springtime virus showed up everywhere in our home.  It was contagious.  You could even spot the spreading of robin’s egg blue colors immediately upon entering our front door.

Robin’s egg blues filled the foyer. The flowers also added a lovely touch. I was lucky to find them before the stores began to concentrate more on necessities than the little extras that we are so fond of taking for granted.

For a few weeks during that Spring, lovely purple-blue flowers greeted us.  We could spot them while coming into the foyer and also once again just glancing toward the kitchen table.

Robin’s egg blue became the color for the pillows on the couch and the runners for the coffee tables.

I couldn’t resist adding a little candy in a few spaces in order to carry out this theme even further. We immediately had a bad case of the munchies after the grocery stores began to experience their partially empty shelves.  The candy gave us comfort.

So; the dining room became pleasantly blue too. I later decided to add some soft yellow curtains for framing out the white curtains already hanging in the dining room windows.  That was something I finally found the time to accomplish while we were still on lock down.

I loved this extra time!  Even though I hated the reason for it.  Anytime there is opportunity I’m always glad to take more time for being home.  I’ll take this time whenever I can find it. 

The yellow dining room curtains now matched the soft yellows of the pretty spring wreath I hung on the kitchen door.

ROBIN’S NESTS FOR ROBIN’S EGG BLUES

One thing I had not found before taking all of these spring photos was a collection I had stored away of some little bird’s nests.  Later that spring I added the bird’s nests here and there for a novel touch.   The wooden trays that held the candy dishes lent themselves to the rustic wooden forest look.   The tiny bird nests added a cozy spring meadow-like flair to the rooms. 

You could almost hear the birds singing.

The kitchen tree became the nesting home for several tiny new bluebirds. I even placed a jar for contributions to Camp Bluebird underneath our traditional and ever-changing seasonal kitchen tree. I’ll share the jar with whoever comes by to notice the tree’s springtime splendors. 

Maybe I can collect a little extra cash to send with my friend who camps at Camp Bluebird every year.   They do  many excellent things for cancer patients.  My friend is a cancer survivor.  She would gladly take any new donations to them on her next annual camping session. 

I love how she goes back to visit Camp Bluebird every year in order to encourage all of those who are currently battling cancer.  Warm friendships are formed every time.  God blesses those campers in many ways.  All types of healings take place.  You can see below how she decorated her camp’s busy kitchen with bluebirds too.  One of them was bigger than her!

This old friend came by to visit us in our bluebird kitchen back in 2020. We enjoyed a simple dinner and a glass of wine together.  She loved the robin’s egg blue kitchen decor.

ONE SPECIAL SEASON OF ROBIN’S EGG BLUES

Much of these robin’s egg blues will not go away when we begin to arrive at our next seasonal decorating project.  

The next SEASONS theme will be The Passover.

We are already working on how to go about preparing for our annual Seder.  Hopefully; we can share it here at the blog with you. 

Communities are all about sharing.  We would love to see your ideas too!  I’m sure they would inspire us all.

I tell you all of these things to say; all of the dreaded down-time during 2020 was actually a hidden blessing.  It gave us more time.  The forced time-off helped us to prepare for the Seven Days of Unleavened Bread.

As Spring approached that year, I began emptying the pantry and using up all of the foods with leavening ingredients. Since we hade not been able to go to the store very much; having to empty the pantry without being wasteful became an interesting challenge.  We made it a type of game for all of the family to share.  There were some very creative meals served during that time.  Also; we gave much away instead of throwing it away.

LOOKING BACK AND REMEMBERING

I hope your own spring plans for 2020 were also able to come together in spite of all the worldly troubles we went through during those unusual times. 

Now, it is good to look back and remember. 

Our spirits are always lifted when we can stop  for a moment to be thankful.  The good news is that we will have more fresh new days ahead in the future.  I doubt anyone will take this gift of time for granted again.

Every moment has now become more precious.

ANOTHER MEMORY FOR THE SEASON

We also need to remember past experiences as we approach the next season.

Remember how God’s people were told to stay inside their homes during the Passover night?

God was just giving us (and those ancients too) more time to focus on the things that were truly important. It helps me to look back and be reminded that even that very strange year had its own amazing blessings. Just look at how beautiful Passover became for us in 2020. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/preparing-passover-seder-during-covid-19/. 

At any rate, through many trying times and circumstances, I’ve never seen God’s people forsaken.  He certainly took care of our family that year. 

FEELING VERY THANKFUL

As I sat in my robin’s egg blue decor, I looked around and thanked God. 

It wasn’t for the decor though. 

My thanks were for the deeper things that came along with it all.  The decor was just the icing on the cake. 

However I’ve come to realize that God will always bringing out the icing when we least expect it.

Perhaps you still need more ideas for robin’s egg blue decor.  Here is a helpful link from another blog called “The Spruce” which we enjoyed reviewing.  I think you will find their fresh new ideas to be very inspiring.  https://www.thespruce.com/what-color-goes-with-light-blue-8421633.

MORE SPRING PREPARATIONS ARE COMING

I certainly hope God blessed you and your family as you went about preparing your own home for God’s Spring Holy Days during COVID. Today it is so nice to be able to look back and know that all of us are beginning to move on.

Maybe these same ideas will also serve to help us later.  Hopefully, they will make the next time we desire to use them easier even in the more normal of times.

But what is normal?

Most people will quickly say “it is only a setting on the dryer.”