Orange Blossoms

In the orange groves around our farm, this time of year is scented with orange blossoms. If you haven't ever experienced that, I feel sorry for you. I open up the windows and inhale the sweet, heady scent.

Oranges are a rare plant because they can both flower and bear fruit at the same time. Their scent, on a warm day, is intoxicating. How lovely. Roll down the windows of your car and breathe.

Spring Cleaning

Since I don't have staff (*sigh*) I clean my house myself. And I've figured out the way to do it: Buy cleaners that smell nice. I have been buying the new "eco-friendly" cleaners, in trendy packaging. I resisted for a long time because, after all, I can just use vinegar or whatever to clean the house. But the new cleaners are worth it for the smell alone.

Almond, lemon verbena, lavender, grapefruit. Although I won't go so far as to say that the house cleans itself or that it is fun to clean or that cleaning is akin to a spa, I will say that nice products make a difference.

Here's to dusting, cleaning and opening the windows for spring!

Roses are red...

Declaring that we are no longer starving college students, my husband surprised me with three dozen red roses Fedexed to my office from Colombia.

They are elegant.

Exuberant, showy, graceful and classic. How fun! (And who cares if they are from Costco...if only I could get him to check out the rare diamonds page on Costco...or wait, while we're at it Tiffany's...)

I'm not one for Valentine's Day, really. I prefer homemade Valentine's with Elmer's glue. But there is something to be said for a grand gesture.

Thanks.

Trying something new.

The other day I decided to try and make a leg of lamb. I have never eaten leg of lamb, much less made it, but I thought I'd give it a shot. A bit of an expensive folly, perhaps, but what is life if not an adventure. I also decided to have roasted fennel (from the farmer's market), even though I've never eaten that before. And I made carrottes vichy (spelled something like that--cooked carrots) and good bread and good wine. I bought a lemon bar for dessert. (My husband said, who are you and what have you done with my wife--I don't go much for lemon.)

At any rate, I'm so glad I tried something new. I'm not sure that any of the above will be my new favorite thing (or trump good bread and good wine) but a small victory was the look on the baby's face when she tried fennel and the 3 year old asking for more meat so he could be like T-Rex. The elegant part was eating it in our formal dining room with my great aunt's china and candlelight. To new adventures!

Resolutions

I have given up on resolutions that I can't keep. Instead, the past few years I've made resolutions that I know I can keep and that are fun to keep, but that also, perhaps, serve ulterior motives. Two years ago, my resolution was to not buy any more boring shoes. Quite honestly, that's the best resolution I've ever had and I've kept that one well. It does snowball, though, because if you aren't buying boring shoes, then you aren't buying boring clothes or jewelry or other things in life. Hence, the ulterior motive of improving the style of my life.

This year, my resolution is a bit more decadent: good skin care. Good skin care translates to taking better care of myself, which as a mom and a busy lawyer can get hard to do. So far so good. I think this is a resolution I can keep.

I believe...

...in Santa, singing carols, candlelight, warm fires, going out to look at Christmas lights, crying at least 3 times during "It's a Wonderful Life," champagne, baking smells, the cat curled up by the fire, twinkle lights, scarves and sweaters, bundling up and going for a walk, being nice while Christmas shopping, and getting people what they want. I believe in giving of yourself, your time, your money, your stuff, and your love. I believe in dreams, good books, Rudolph, Charlie Brown Christmas, and Bing. I believe in undivided attention, peace, love, and peppermint bark. I believe in ringing bells, wreaths and greenery, and funny socks. I believe in wishing Joy to you!

Nat, Bing, Frank, and Dean

For me, it's the sound of Christmas, that really gets it started. Bing Crosby's "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" usually does the trick. Frank Sinatra's "Hark the Herald Angels" works as well. The Christmas season starts to descend.

The next step, is, of course, to get the Christmas tree so the house smells like Monterey pine. And little twinkle lights. And cocoa or champagne. And a fire.

When I get out the Christmas decorations I feel like I am greeting old friends. There you are, dear snowmen, dear angels, dear Santa.

But for me, slowing down and almost imperceptibly loosening the tight knots of the year are also as crucial. Thank you boys, you help a lot.