Leapin’ Lizard
Mother Nature has such a stunning imagination, especially when it comes to the intricate details. The textures and patterns that clothe her creatures are remarkable, and I am never disappointed when I’m allowed a closer look. Sometimes, though, it takes seeing something out of context to really catch my attention.
While recently dining outside at a local café, H and I watched as this fellow crawled across a tabletop, leaped to the chair seat, and shimmied down the metal leg before stopping to regroup on a fence rail. It held still long enough for photos and then scampered off into the bushes. The little girl next to us squealed with delight at seeing the lizard. I was squealing too (in my mind, of course) at having the chance to observe something so common and yet so beautiful and extraordinary.
EB in the House
My husband’s first words this morning to me were, Morning, Honey! Happy Easter! [Pause] Do you think the Easter Bunny came last night?
H asks the same question every year. In fact, he starts hinting his concern about a week ahead, and we both wink and smile at each other because we know that our baskets will be filled with goodies and our tables set for a celebration. And, to our delight, we were not disappointed this beautiful morning. I love a man who still has a little bit of kid in him.
Heaven is an Art-o-mat
I am a huge Art-o-mat fan. I’ve known about them for several years, but have never actually seen one… that is, until a few weeks ago, when H and I just happened upon a machine while exploring the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D. C.
Art-o-mats are cigarette vending machines that have been converted to sell miniature original art. What I love about them is that for $5 you can make a selection based on a minimal amount of visual information and receive a handmade piece of art. It’s like finding the treasure in a Cracker Jack box, or (better yet) looking at a snack machine trying to decide just what you have a taste for. Once the decision is made, you pull the knob and hear it clunk to the bottom of the bin… the anticipation is almost as delicious as the treat itself. I LOVE that!
A Pink Kind of Day
Mother Nature showing off her rosy self this spring.
A Treasure Unveiled
H’s mother loves flowers, so I often pick up a fresh bouquet for her when I visit the market. She has quite a collection of vases, and I always admire her knack for selecting the one that perfectly fits the character of the blooms.
I recently brought her some white hyacinths… the blossoms were just beginning to unfurl, and the fragrance was heavenly. Later in the evening, H emerged from his mom’s living room with a look of excitement. She had chosen a vase that I had never seen before, but one that H remembered from his childhood. I later learned that she had received this hand-painted gift almost 70 years ago, as a young woman in Holland. I’m delighted that this treasure is once again seeing the light of day.
Petal Power
Lemony yellow daffodils by the window, set in gentle motion by the breeze … a little something to brighten an otherwise overcast, damp day.
More Companions
Here are a few more of the little surprises that occupy the nooks and crannies of my office…
Constant Companions
I keep a lot of goofy things in my office to inspire my creative side and make me smile.
Salad Supreme
I’m a recipe follower when it comes to cooking. I’ve never been successful at simply adding a dash here or a pinch there, and I find it difficult to identify individual flavors in a dish. My sister-in-law, however, is the complete opposite: she can sniff, taste, and generally eyeball a food and reconstruct it to perfection.
J and her family have been visiting from Amsterdam. Earlier this week she encountered a kale salad at a local deli, and after tasting a small sampling and asking a couple of questions, she began working on her own version when she got back to our house. Fresh kale, olive oil, lemon juice, dried cranberries, and a few pine nuts… twenty minutes later, it appeared on the dinner table — simple, but oh so delicious. I’ve already returned to the store to load up on more ingredients… I cannot seem to get enough of it!
February’s Hidden Charms
I was recently reminded of a conversation that my husband had with a co-worker several years ago. Over coffee he had commented that February was not his favorite month, as it was too gray and dreary. His friend replied that she felt just the opposite — that February embodied beauty in its starkness and clarity. I think of that each time I peer through the bare trees and see what is normally hidden behind the underbrush, or notice quiet colors waiting for their cue to burst forth, or when the air feels crisp and the clouds are extra bright. I have to agree… there’s something special about this month.
Tree Fishing 