There is a ritual that I perform during the six seasons of the year. No, that’s not a typo. If you live in Louisiana, there are six seasons, not four:

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Christmas
• Winter (This one is iffy.)
• Mardi Gras

I change the decorations in my house for each season. I don’t go overboard – just a few details in the house, a wreath on the door, holiday flags – that sort of thing. (Except for Christmas – no holds barred at Christmastime.)

Oh, and one more thing! (How could I almost have forgotten the best part of seasonal decorating?) The Changing of the Mugs. It’s kind of like the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, only it doesn’t take place daily, nor in England, nor with people. Ok, it’s nothing like the Changing of the Guard.

Let me start over. I have this not-so-secret obsession with Starbucks. It’s not just  that I love their coffee – I do. I also like everything they have ever produced, and I have amassed quite a collection of Starbucks things (as much as I can sneak into the house without Norm’s noticing): thermoses (Is that a word?), office supplies, a barista apron, trinkets…

And, more than any other Starbucks merchandise, I have mugs…lots and lots of mugs. (Caution: Actual number of mugs is larger than appears in photo.)

So…every season, I rotate the mugs. I limit my display to eight. These are the winter mugs, about to say goodbye for a few months.

Lest I appear to be off my rocker, let me just qualify my Starbucks proclivities. Not every single, solitary mug in my possession is a Starbucks mug. This blue one was handmade in Breckenridge, Colorado by a local artisan. It was a gift from my mother, and it has the honored position of “hot chocolate mug” when Rudolph comes on once a year in December.  No, that’s not the only time I use it, but no one else is allowed to do so regardless of television programming, Christmas or otherwise.

Now it’s time  for the spring mugs to make their 2012 debut. Pink is the preponderant color in my house during spring. Tah dah!

See that one way over there on the right? My Jilli gave me that for my first Mother’s Day when she was only a few months old. Isn’t she thoughful? (She has always been a thoughtful daughter, even before she was cognizant of her own existence.) My “Moments with Mom” does happen to be my favorite spring mug, even though it’s not a Starbucks.

I love springtime mugs!