To me spring is all about the beginning of new things, getting outside, taking on new projects, and putting plans into action. I have the same enthusiasm when spring arrives as I do for the start of a new year, only my focus is completely different.

In comparison winter is all about planning, reading, crafting, being inside, nurturing. Comfort food, cosy nights in, lazy afternoons by the fire, and long country drives protected from the elements.

I'm starting spring with lots of plans and I hope to see all of them come to fruition over the next few months.

Do It Myself

I'm not going to list all the things I want to do around the house, I'm just hoping that the brighter, longer days will spur me into action and out of my DIY hiatus.

Plant up container pots and hanging baskets

I love the personality and colour that some well chosen plants can add to the garden. My container pots have been horribly neglected over winter and my new hanging baskets are just screaming out to be planted up.

Complete my patchwork quilt

With the patchwork portion of my quilt finished I now just I need to figure out how to back and edge it, and make it into an actual quilt. I have lots of tutorials pinned that I hope will help me make a good job of it.

Once that's done I have more patchwork projects to tackle, although these ones are much smaller (and shouldn't take me two years to complete!).

Make a wedding album

I wanted to wait a while after we got married to do this, I wanted to take my time and chose the photos carefully instead of getting over excited and putting all 800 photos in an album, a lot of which are very similar. I made our honeymoon photobook on Photobox and was really pleased with the quality and service, so I'll be using them again.

Mend the dress

I've finally decided how I'm going to fix my dress - just in time for the lovely weather.

Alter a skirt

I found a lovely skirt at clothes swap but I want to remove the elasticated waist (yuck) and add a zip and contrasting waistband. I have all the necessary bits, I just need to borrow Mum's sewing machine and get it done (or get my sewing machine serviced and working again).

See the bluebells

Of course I can't go through spring without a trip to see the bluebells, they were stunning last year, and I don't want to miss the opportunity to see them again, not least because it means snatching a few hours with my husband. I'm planning on making this an annual date.

Hit the beach

Enough said.

Read three books

Standard issue for my seasonal lists. I have Red Rising and Golden Son by Pierce Brown lined up as soon as I finish Tears of a Giraffe, the second in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith.

Is there anything you like to do in the springtime?