San Francisco

The colorful Tenderloin district.
I had the privilege of spending some time in San Francisco.

I learned to do a headstand!

My beautiful cousin Janna invited me for a latte bowl.

It's a magnificent city.

Seed & Feed

This is why I plead to stop at the gardening shop.

Just look at these chubby hens...

Life is better at small local garden shops.

To Market, To Market..

 

Sundays are about buying fresh food.

 

And flowers.

So grateful for the access to good food.  I've been gardening with kindergarteners the last few weeks and it has been a joy to share the love of fresh real food and its source.  So far the top hits have been lemon thyme "smells like lemonade," wild mint, and broccoli florets right of the plant. 

Vision in White

I have a soft spot for flowers. The brightness of white flowers is especially refreshing. We brought our Saturday morning smoothie out to the table in the garden.This stunning white iris awaited me.They're back! The magic of bulbs.

These came back too. I originally had them in my window box. Once they were faded and sad looking I stuck them in the garden. They also returned to celebrate.  Happy spring equinox! 

Calla lilies are prolific in this climate. A few years ago I stuck tiny bulbs in the ground and clumps of this spherical flower return yet again. Thanks to the winter rain the garden thrived despite neglect.

 One of the most thrilling aspects of any wedding for me is the flowers.

  I can't wait!

Please Breathe

I loved this ad I saw when home on Maui last summer. It captures well what Hawaii is to me.

This clip came to mind during yoga practice. I was reminded that my primary relation is to my own breath.  Being conscious of your breath is so valuable. I am finally getting this after 28 years of unconscious, involuntary breath.

Views from La Perouse

Hiking around La Perouse Bay on our last Maui trip. La Perouse was a French explorer who anchored at this site in 1786. This place is now a protected area. As the sign says, show the dolphins aloha.

I think this was the last place lava flowed on the island.

Oooh, don't silver, green, and black look sophisticated together?

 

Parking in the lava.

Wild billy goat in a prickly kiawe grove.

Creature Feature

Just a few of my many neighbors. I love living in such a thriving community.

Recent rain has created ponds filled with ducks and geese. My heart swelled when I saw a Mama duck being followed by her ducklings in a perfect row. 

Sugar Sugar

Sugarcane Factory, Maui, August 2009

The source of those little sugar packets on your restaurant table.

Near the dump.
On a road full of potholes.
Somewhere between the
Airport and resorts.
Sugar grows
And burns.

When I am 100 Years Old...

 

I would walk my cat.

 

I am painting my nails.

 

I am looking at the stars in the skies with my dog.

 

I will do art.

Just a few reasons why my days are never dull.

Mr. Darcy

As seen around town...

Colin Firth at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
I passed up the chance to get close enough for a squeeze.

He seemed flattered by (and unaccustomed to) all the attention.

Has any one seen "A Single Man" yet? I also saw his co-star Julienne Moore for a question-and-answer thing and it made me want to see all of her films. She is quite poised and intelligent--I admire people who clearly do what they love for a living.

Playa-Del-Rey, California

I went down to LA to see my best girlfriend.
Dr. Cristina was visiting from snowy DC.
We reminisced on Maui and life
as we laid by the pool .
She got me off coffee
and onto fresh juice.
We (mostly jokingly) tried on dresses
for weddings to come, since we're
both betrothed Bettys.
She gave me the courage
to face the manicure ladies.
And we celebrated her stylish
Grandma Viv's Valentine's birthday
with sushi, vino, and laughter.

Object Study

So, it's calendula season again. I got my hands dirty this afternoon and filled a couple of wheelbarrows with weeds.  (Also, I really like my new Costco glasses...now you all can see how I "decorate" the landing).

My favorite Christmas gift was a 6 month subscription to Netflix (thanks Cristina!). I am now on the second season of Mad Men and look forward to every third night when the next DVD arrives. I love the fashion and history lessons on American culture. Oh, and the treatment of women is infuriating.

I really like kombucha, the delicious fizzy tonic that's supposedly good for you. The ginger flavor is my favorite.  I think if Andrew and I do a toast at our wedding we will have kombucha in our champagne flutes.  Now to learn to make it....

The short bike ride to the beach is an awesome perk of living here. And as I watch people in community grow older, graduate and move on,  I am reminded that I won't live here forever.  So I must make more and more moments like the one pictured above to hold in my heart forever.