lilac monday

Lilacs might be my favorite. (Or geraniums are my favorite, I never can decide!)

They are characteristic of a turning point in spring; once these bloom we are well on our way towards May, mother's day, and blissful blossoms everywhere.

Its the smell that really gets me. The scent reminds me of growing up on the farm, riding the school bus with a fresh cut lilac bouquet wrapped in wet paper towels for my 1st grade teacher, and later on of the spring I fell in love with the man who would eventually be my husband. And just the smell of spring and growing and warmth and soil and new things all around.

On this rainy spring afternoon I am thankful to have these lilacs filling my living space with their floral reminders of past times, even as I look forward to the spring to come.

Was that too dear? These are what I really wanted to share with you (maybe you have your own memories):

spring cleanse

I'm beginning my spring cleanse, a yearly ritual under the guidance of my ayurvedic teacher Kate O'Donnell. This afternoon she sent this little gem to my inbox; The Ayurvedic definition of health: 

One who is established in Self, who has balanced doshas, properly formed tissues, proper elimination of waste, well functioning bodily processes, and whose mind, soul, and senses are full of bliss, is called a healthy person.

- Sushruta Samhita, translated by Dr Vasant Lad.

I'll be sharing recipes and other thoughts from my ayurvedic spring cleanse as the days pass. Come back and visit.

time for a walk

I have to warn you, I am about to totally nerd out on spring. As soon as the spring bulbs begin poking their green leaves out of the ground, I become a hopeless romantic. Love is in the air, I'm swooning down the sidewalk, and its easy to see the magic everywhere I point my camera. Every morning this week I've been staring down at the ground in the tiny front yard of our 6 unit apartment building (my neighbors must think I'm crazy.) I was out there again this morning, looking for a sign of life from the bulbs I buried last autumn.

And suddenly, there she was!

I don't even know if its a tulip or a hyacinth or a creature from inner earth, I just know that its amazing.

I took a morning walk up my street. I photographed this magnolia tree 4 days ago,

and here it is again this morning.

Reach for the sky, pink magnolia buds!

The trees on Montebello Road have yet to sprout their leaves, but I can wait. It is March afterall. I'll keep you posted. I hope you take a few minutes today to have a walk around your own neighborhood.