April Flowers

I haven't posted about anything other than food in a long time, so I thought I would share some photos I have taken of the flowers in my garden recently.

Coral Bells

Freesias

Red salvia

Gingersnap Rose

Hens and Chicks

Meyer Lemon

Geranium

May Blooms

I plant Ranunculus bulbs every Fall and can't wait until their fuzzy little buds appear each Spring. I am so glad I took pictures of this year's blooms before Sunday's storm.

Here Comes the Sun

After all the rain we got last week, the sun is out and the skies are a gorgeous blue with beautiful white, puffy clouds. I have been itching to get outside and do some work in the garden and since I have a few days off of work that is just what I am planning to do.

I stopped by Whole Foods on the way home from work. I just love it when they put out their organic herbs and vegetables. I bought some flat leaf parsley, thyme, rosemary, and chives so I can have fresh herbs again. We had so many days of freezing temperatures that I lost most of the herbs I was growing and I felt double the pain every time I had to buy them at the grocery store for French Fridays with Dorie. It gets a little costly to keep buying them fresh at the store, so until the ones I am growing from seed are ready I thought I would buy a few of these in the meantime. There's just nothing like fresh herbs to cook with, is there?

Spring is in the Air

The spring blooms are out on the trees right now raising our hopes that Spring is just around the corner. Although it is supposed to rain for the next few days, and we possibly might get some snow on the valley floor, so I wanted to take a few pictures before winter resumes and the blooms are blown and washed away.

Seeing this tree bursting with fruit just made me want to go and pick every last one of them.

Five Senses Friday

Photos taken with my iPhone

Seeing:  Bees buzzing around the red salvia

Hearing:  Our neighbor's son and his friend jamming in their garage.

Smelling: Woodsy smoke. There must be a grass fire somewhere.

Tasting:  Shrimp and crab nachos.

Touching:  My new garden tools and breaking them in.

Won't you share your five senses from the week?

I hope you have a wonderful last spring weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Pictures taken at Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery

Seeing:  Beautiful wisteria blossoms


Hearing:  The song "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson


Smelling: the old-rose smell of antique roses


Tasting:  Pan-seared scallops


Touching: fallen rose petals


Happy Friday! What do you remember from your week?

Five Senses Friday

Seeing:  spring flowers in bloom everywhere!


Hearing:  frogs, frogs, frogs. Every night!


Smelling:  the sweet smell of jassmine


Touching:  lambs ear (plant)


Tasting:  cold glasses of Arnold Palmer


How was your week?  I wish for you a wonderful weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Seeing:  Blossoms on my Meyer Lemon tree. Could there be lemons in my future?!

Hearing:  My mom's laughter over the phone.

Tasting:  Enfrijolates

Touching:  prickly sweet gum balls

Smelling:  freshly mown grass

Have a wonderful weekend!

Five Senses Friday

inspired by abby try again

I hope you have had a beautiful first week of Spring. I know I have!


Tasting:  serrano peppers in the chilaquiles


Smelling:  freshly ground coffee


Hearing:  the low murmur of my husband's and son's voices from the other room


Seeing:  tiny buds on my meyer lemon tree


Touching:  the soft fur of my little cat's belly

What are the five senses you remember from this week?

Five Senses Friday

I don't know about you, but I have had a hard time springing forward this week. My work day usually begins with me waking at 4-4:30 in the mornings, so this week my body has definitely been feeling that it is really 3 ish when I have been getting up.

Hopefully, I'll have a chance to get adjusted to the time this weekend. The good news is that it has been in the 70s this week and gorgeous outside which has meant time in the garden after work.

Which brings me to the five senses this week. A time to reflect back on the week and savor little wonders. (inspired by abby try again).


Seeing: little goldfinches hanging every which way from their thistle sock.


Touching:  Newly turned soil as I plant my seeds in the garden.


Hearing: frogs croaking in the night.


Tasting: irish coffee cupcakes


Smelling: the pungent odor of compost as I work it into the soil.


Please share your five senses from the week. I have so enjoyed your comments!

Five Senses Friday

Hello, friends! This post is inspired by Abby's blog. I discovered her blog last week and was taken by her Five Senses Friday post. She uses it as a way to reflect back on the week. 

Seeing:

beautiful blossoms 

Hearing:

songbirds out in the backyard

Tasting:

the lasagna I made the other night

Touching:

soft velvet ribbon

Smelling:

the bouquet of daffodils

I think it is a lovely way to end the work week and help get you in the right frame of mind for the weekend.

What are your five senses from the week?

Go Fly a Kite

Literally. Ever since we went kite flying on my birthday we have been carrying the kites in the back of my car and just waiting for the perfect breeze. Today looks like another good kite flying day.

Have a wonderful weekend!

First Signs of Spring

With all the rain we have gotten in the past few weeks, now that the sun is shining again mother nature is blushing in all her beauty. In honor of 'Spring Ahead' day, I spent part of the day outside taking pictures to share with you some of the first signs of spring in my area.

I know I showed you in my last post my camellia bush that is blooming, but just because I love it so much I am going to show it to you again.

I always get so happy when I see the first snowdrops appear.

There are some blossoms on my peach tree!

My cyclamen on the front porch have emerged from their winter dormancy.

When I lived in South Carolina, we had several magnolia specimens growing in our garden, so I have always been drawn to their beauty and their fragrance. Although we don't have magnolias growing in our garden here in California, there our some tulip magnolias down the street from us that I get to enjoy.

The fruit trees in my neighborhood are just ripe for the picking.

I picked that lone navel orange right after I took its picture. I felt delightfully mischievous! It smells simply divine and I know it is going to be delicious.

And last, but certainly not least, is the flowering quince. Its burst of color always brightens the winter landscape and reassures me that spring is once again on its way!

Well, I have to say that it did so much good for my soul to be out in the sunshine and taking in all of nature's beauty. I hope you enjoyed my little walk as well. Happy 'Spring Ahead' Day!