It’s May! 5 things Catherine is looking forward to this month – FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

May is one of my favorite months of the year– it marks the end of my school year and start of my summer, even if the weather doesn’t always conform to my hopes and expectations… This winter and spring have been especially busy with work and family and health business, so I’m especially looking forward to a change of pace, change of scene and change of routine. Here are 5 things I’m really looking forward to.

First: plants!

Last summer I had a nice herb garden on my back porch, and I plan to do the same this year. My university greenhouse is having an herb sale on Tuesday, and some colleagues and I will be first in line to get some deals. Also, my jade and aloe plants sorely need pruning, so I’ll be potting and giving away mini-jades and aloe-ettes to friends and neighbors.

Second: travel activity!

I’m taking short trips to Vermont and South Carolina this month, which means new locations for walking, hiking and exploring with friends and family. I’ll visit some of my favorite parks and wild places, and hope to find some new ones, too. Leaving my home routine for a bit is refreshing and energizing for me, and I can use a refresher.

Third: bike riding!

I haven’t been riding at all this spring, so I’m more than ready to ride my road bike and e-bike starting this week. The flowers and trees are so colorful and green and happy, and I’ve missed being outside on two wheels.

Fourth: new routine of activity!

I really liked Sam’s recent post about summer and routine, talking about the weekly fun activities she was planning (of which there’s an impressive variety). I want my summer routine to include the following:

fun cycling with friends and on my own
bike commuting around town to appointments and for errands
biking to church (at least a few times…)
swimming starting in June (or when the lakes warm up a bit more)
walks in my favorite botanical gardens, including Garden in the Woods and New England Botanical Garden, using my trusty Native Plant Trust membership
weekly yoga at my favorite yoga studio– Artemis, in Watertown
some New England getaways, including a possible trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical gardens
Canada in August to Lake Huron with Norah, and also to see Sam and Sarah, and other bloggers and friends

Fifth: Reading and making and writing!

I love reading, both fiction and non-fiction, and I have a prodigious number of books awaiting my inspection. Also, I enjoy making cards and other craft activities, both on my own and with crafty friends. And I am looking forward to some weekly time for writing– I have a few projects in the works.

What about you, dear readers? What do you have in mind or on paper for the upcoming month?