Enchantment Learning & Living Blog

Welcome to Enchantment Learning & Living, the inspirational space where I write about the simple pleasures, radical self-care, and everyday magic that make life delicious.

On Studying French

May 26, 2014

It is difficult to wrap your mouth around the sounds--the nasal whispers that pronounce familiar letters in strange ways. You are much more at home with your Spanish or Italian that pronounce every letter and are so like one another that to know one, is almost as good as knowing the other.

But French--that is another language entirely.

Your expectations are reasonable; you only want to be able to read a menu and ask for directions--and understand the answers. You want to be able to say please and thank you, for you are above all a polite lady. Yet as you study the words in your book and attempt to accurately pronounce the survival phrases your language podcast rolls out with ease, you realize that even as you know what "bonjour" should sound like, you will probably never achieve the delicate phrase reminiscent of the perfectly flaky croissant that you so hope to try.

No. Your French will be flat and garbled, without the grace of your classroom Spanish, or the happy buoyancy of your limited Italian. You take comfort in the fact, however, that the French will as least understand your joie de vivre even if they cannot make sense of your "parlait vous anglais?" or your "Je ne comprends pas."

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Bonjour Paris!

May 25, 2014

Today I find myself in Paris--what a magical city! It is such a contrast from Barcelona's riot of colors but has its own beauty nonetheless. I can't wait to try my first real Parisian croissant or to take a long walk by the famous Seine River! Of course, you can't really walk anywhere in this city without seeing the Eiffel Tower. To be honest, it is so exciting--and a little disorienting--to be seeing so many wonderful cities and sights on this whirlwind trip. I mean, I've spent most of my childhood reading books and watching movies about Paris, Barcelona, and London, that it is such a dream to actually be experiencing these cities now. Part of me feels like a character in one of my books than a real person experiencing the world through rose-colored glasses, as Audrey Hepburn would say in Sabrina.

During our stay in Paris, we'll be spending time walking the streets, visiting the Louvre, and searching for that perfect croissant. We'll also be taking a day trip to Versailles, home of the famous French palace once occupied by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I can't wait to explore the palace and its gardens!

Want to stay caught up on my adventures in Paris and beyond? Follow my Facebook page for updates and pictures!

Spain's Gin Tonic: 5 Steps to Perfection

May 24, 2014

Perfect after a day at the beach it Sitges!

Spain is famous for its love of gin tonic--and no, I didn't forget the "and" in "gin & tonic." The Spanish simply forget the "and" and go straight for the tonic. It seems only fitting that since I am both visiting Spain and love a good G&T that I should learn more about Spain's obsession with the drink--and how to make a perfect one! So here's what I've learned so far:

1. They like their ice cubes big. Bigger ice cubes mean the drink won't melt into tastelessness in the blink of an eye and the drink will stay cooler longer.

2. Choose good gin. This should be a no-brainer. The quality of a drink is dependent on its ingredients. I use to order G&Ts at bars because they are hard to mess up--but now I realize you really can taste the difference between a cheap well gin and a solid one. I recommend the inexpensive New Amsterdam gin for those of you who like a more citrus forward gin reminiscent of vodka. If you are looking to splurge a little, Hendrick's gin offers a wonderful botanical element to your drink.

3. Use quality tonic water. This means avoiding tonic water with fake sugar--another seemingly obvious rule, but one that is often overlooked. Real sugar preserves the taste and frankly, is actually safer for you to drink than artificial sweeteners. A good, but more expensive brand is Fever-tree, which doesn't have any artificial sweeteners or preservatives. For a less expensive option, try Hansen's Natural Tonic, sweetened with natural sugar cane and containing no preservatives.

4. Don't over think the garnishes, according to the Spanish. Lime is always the best option. While they like to add a little flair to the gin tonics with interesting flavors like lavender, they suggest that you shouldn't overload your drink with too many garnishes. It's a drink, not a salad!

5. Keep it simple. Sure there are lots of fun twists on this classic drink, including my Grape-Lime G&T. Just don't get so caught up on the flavor riffs that you lose sight of the basic flavor profile of a good drink: the bright flavor of the lime, the floral kick of the gin, and the bitter tang of the tonic's quinine.

Most of all, take some time to sit in the sun and enjoy your drink!

On Barcelona!

May 23, 2014

Wow! This city is a feast for the senses! It's like living in a glorious open museum, thanks to all the Gaudi architecture filled with whimsical designs and bright colors--my kind of buildings!

So far, our plan has been to take in Gaudi's La Pedrera at night, which is finished off with a champagne toast pre-dinner--which doesn't start up until around 10 pm here (yikes! Way later than this lady is used too; but while it's way past my bedtime, but somehow I don't feel it...maybe it's the champagne). During the day, we will explore the city, from La Familia Sagrada, a famous church built by Gaudi, and several of the big museums, probably the Picasso and Joan Miro museums--but who knows where the day will take us!

Part of the fun of travel is having loose plans and then deviating from them. All I know is that there will definitely be tapas at night and, according to my sister and her husband, a really great Mexican restaurant here. Saturday will most definitely be a day at the beach in Sitges, one of the most idyllic places to swim and sunbathe--and home of the best tapas place on the planet, according to my sister.

Want to know more about my travels in Barcelona and beyond? Look for updates and pictures of my adventures on Facebook!

5 Things I've Learned About Travel from Audrey Hepburn Movies

May 22, 2014

As I get ready for another adventure abroad, watching old Audrey Hepburn movies while packing, it occurs to me that much of what I know about travel comes from her films, especially Roman Holiday, Funny Face, and Sabrina. I grew up watching Hepburn transform herself from the various versions of the quiet country mouse to the cultured, sophisticated woman of the world. She made everything looks so wonderfully marvelous! Even when I finally got to travel abroad for the first time last year, I found myself looking to these movies for inspiration and advice as I got ready to venture into the world--I still do. So if you too are wondering how to get the most out of your trip, be it to a nearby town or across the globe, here are five lessons I've learned from Audrey Hepburn movies to help you on your way.

Hepburn signing "Bonjour Paris!" on the River Seine in Funny Face. — Hepburn signing "Bonjour Paris!" on the River Seine in *Funny Face.*

1. Don't be afraid to be a tourist. As Hepburn and her cronies croon in Funny Face, there is a certain joy in being "strictly tourists." It's okay to snap photos and drool over the Eiffel Tower--lots of Europeans do the same thing when they visit the Southwest. The first time I went traveling in Italy, I tried so hard to look like a real Roman. After day one, I realized no one bought my flimsy act. I was a tourist. They knew. I knew it. I made my peace with it--and had a blast!

Hepburn riding a scooter for the first time in Roman Holiday. — Hepburn riding a scooter for the first time in *Roman Holiday.*

2. Be ready for adventure. Like her princess character in Roman Holiday, learn to be ready for anything when you travel, from dancing on the river (and getting in a brawl shortly after!), to breezing about on your scooter in Rome, to seeing things you never would have dreamed of, like the Colosseum. Travel is always an adventure--don't be afraid to dive right in and enjoy yourself!

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck drinking champagne at a Roman Cafe in Roman Holiday. — Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck drinking champagne at a Roman Cafe in *Roman Holiday.*

3. No schedules, please! This piece of advice is also from Roman Holiday, when Hepburn, as a burned-out princess, sneaks away from her political duties to spend one day playing in Rome on her own. Her only caveat? No schedules! Having such a regimented life as a princess, she wants her free day to be a series of impromptu bits of fun. Sure, it's a good idea to plan ahead when you travel and get those tickets for the museums and big attractions that you want to see, but do leave time to simply wander, stroll, and drink champagne at a local cafe.

The newly posh Sabrina (in the movie by the same name) returning home after a year in Paris.

4. Let yourself be changed by the experience. In each of these movies, Hepburn gets a total makeover--most notably in her fashion-forward short hair cut (yes, almost all these films feature this, surprisingly!) and stunning new wardrobe. You might not end up with changes so material or obvious, but a good traveler must be willing to let herself be transformed by the places she visits. This could mean enjoying new customs in everyday life or bringing the flavors of your travel home with you in the meals you cook.

Hepburn's character writing to her father as she begin her journey home from Paris in Sabrina. — Hepburn's character writing to her father as she begin her journey home from Paris in *Sabrina.*

5. It's okay to see the world through rose-colored glasses! This last piece of advice comes from Sabrina, as the now-worldly chauffeur's daughter is on her way home after a year in Paris. She talks about learning how to see the world through rose-colored glasses. So I leave you with this thought: be romanced by life, enjoy each simple pleasure on your journey, near or far, get swept up in the delight of it all!

Gone Travelin'

May 21, 2014

Yes, this is exactly how I look after 24 hours of plane hopping...don't you?

By the time you read this, I'll be on a plane across the pond! That's right, I'm leaving my hobbit hole for another summer adventure. Last year it was Italy--my first ever time abroad, a post-Ph.D. treat to myself. This year, I'm taking a whirlwind tour of THREE whole countries: Spain, France, and England, specifically Barcelona, Paris, and London. What an adventure!

And no, I haven't forgotten my promise to write a blog a day this year! It may take some fancy footwork on my part and some patience on your part, but I think a blog a day while traveling is still doable. So in honor of this trip, my blogs for the next two weeks will be focused on the joys of traveling and what I hope to see during this trip. I'll be reflecting on how travel informs and inspired us, and the things I hope to take with me from my destinations: from delicious recipes to ways of thinking to bits of everyday magic.

I'll also try to post pictures of my day-to-day activities on Facebook as I can--so keep an eye out! In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the places I'm going and enjoy some serious eye-candy, check out my travel boards for each location on Pinterest here: Barcelona, Paris, and London.

Until tomorrow!

On Packing Your Suitcase

May 20, 2014

You have learned your lesson from past trips: pack lightly, start early.

The past week has been one of packing and unpacking, rearranging and folding. Your bed has been strewn with dresses and skirts and leggings in an attempt to find a traveling wardrobe that is a unique combination of simplicity, style, and comfort.

Steamer trunks...glamorous? Yes. Convenient?  No.  Travel light! — Steamer trunks...glamorous? Yes. Convenient? No. Travel light!

You wistfully think of the giant trunks Barbara Stanwyck traveled with in The Lady Eve or those boxes upon boxes that Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe tow around in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. These ladies have their arsenal of beauty concoctions and a wardrobe full of fashionable travel ensembles. Yes, that is the romantic notion of travel, always perfectly quaffed and ready for cocktails on the deck as your cruise liner takes you to your exotic destination.

Yet as much as you enjoy that happy vision of travel, you are not so taken with it that you lose all sense of practicality. No, you will stick to a wardrobe of tunics and leggings, walking shoes and plenty of room for souvenirs. It is a treat to take your small suitcase from one stop to the next--never wasting time on lugging steamer trunks about, but simply gliding from one place to the next with ease.

This is your preferred way to travel for all your fanciful musings on your silver screen ladies. As you fold your last tunic into your luggage, you think of your upcoming trip: a Gaudi-feast in Barcelona, days roaming the streets of Paris, high tea in London, leaving plenty of room in your day and your suitcase for experiences and mementos.

Yes, it is nice to travel light.

On Giving In To Doing Less

May 19, 2014

It is one of those days where life won't let you do anything but take care of yourself--despite the things you had hoped to accomplish before traveling, the things you had wanted to cross off your to-do list.

No matter now.

Your body has decided that you need a day to curl up in bed and read your favorite books, to eat chicken noodle soup and drink hot cups of tea. There are still things to do, but your exhaustion has caught up with you. Nothing is as important as resting.

It is as if your body wants to recharge your batteries, store up your energy for vacation--tapas in Sitges, early morning walks along the Seine in Paris, tea in London.

Soon you will be up and about again, but for now, you give into doing less. You close your eyes and snuggle deeper under your blankets.

On Watching Old Movies All Day

May 18, 2014

You are feeling positively lazy.

It is a Sunday built for lollygagging. You luxuriate in this feeling and this absence of things to do. Your normal Sunday routine when teaching is one of cooking up your weekly breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But you don't have to worry about that now or give to the fear of not having time or energy for three healthy meals a day. Now, you have all the time in the world.

It is a divine pleasure to snuggle up on your couch and watch old movies. You start with your Marilyn Monroe stash--The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot--paying as much attention to the outfits as the plots, although you've seen both a million times. Then you move to your Audrey Hepburn movies, getting swept up in her adventures in Sabrina, Funny Face, and Roman Holiday. In each movie, you marvel at her transformation from young naif to polished sophisticate, drooling even more at her glamorous evening gowns and posh day wear (yes, even as you enjoy your own pajama pants and tank top).

Eventually, you might even talk yourself into a beer and a book on your patio. But for now, you snuggle deeper under you knitted blanket on the couch, awash in Technicolor and black and white dreams, feeling as if everything is positively right with the world.

On Kitchen Sink-ing It

May 17, 2014

You must get creative with the food you have, using it all up before you pack your bags and head out on your next adventure.

It took all your self-control not to over-shop at the grocery store, despite the perfectly rounded artichokes and thick stalks of asparagus staring you in the face. You bought only the bare necessities: coffee and wine. It took even more reserve not to go to the farmers' market; that would only lead to a fridge full of spring's bounty--tender lettuce, red radishes, and if you were lucky, garlic scapes.

You know mustn't do that, hard as it is. Everything but the kitchen sink must go, so you pile your plate with all manner of strange meals. You are traveling soon--that phrase playing round and round your head, a constant reminder--and have to clean out your fridge of anything and everything that won't last till you get back.

It has been a series of creative lunches and kitchen-sink dinners. There was the breakfast omelet with one and a half bell peppers and small wedges of several different kinds of hard cheeses; the lunch of quick pickled carrots, radishes, and cucumbers; the simple dinner of crudités and aioli to use up those eggs and any stray vegetables at the bottom of your crisper. Everything must go!

Then there is the carton of half and half that you try to ration out across the next four mornings, so you don't have to buy another and have it go to waste. There is the watermelon you had forgotten about--the one you intended to juice. A watermelon cooler must be made, perhaps several. You will diligently work on whittling down the contents of your fridge until it is nothing but bare shelves and butter, mustard jars and a wine bottle.

It's as integral to your travel preparations as packing your bags and boarding that plane. Yes, this is kitchen sink-ing it.

On Polka Dots

May 16, 2014

They are the flirt of prints, just as pink is the coquette of colors.

They have bounce and boom and beauty--you can't resist them--not the smattering of little dots across your dress nor the playful pattern on your scarves and blouses. You prefer the haphazard prints as if a painter has taken her wet brush and flung dots of paint across your clothes--no clear rhyme or reason to the pattern, just a series of dancing dots.

The ones that make you sigh are lined up in neat little rows as if to take the bounce out of the dots, the flirt out of these bouncy discs. Surely designers would understand that polka dots are not for the understated; the demure organized lines of one circle after another are begging to be shaken up. They must dance on your dress, move with the folds and the sway of your skirt.

Polka dots are a walking invitation--for mischief, for kisses, for fun. You don't wear them unless you are ready to be as playful as they are. They are your homage to the grace and strength of the Flamenco dancer, more than the polka music they were named after--emblems of pure movements spread across your body.

There is simply no such thing as too many polka dots, only not enough polka dot wearers.

On Wild Hair

May 15, 2014

It simply can't control itself.

Twice a year you get a stylist to tame it--snip snip with scissors, woosh woosh with the blow dryer and rounded brush to iron out those kinks and curls into smooth perfection. For a few days, you have movie hair.

But it's not your real hair. More like a wig or an outfit that isn't really you but one you sometimes put on anyway, just in case it is--and know full well it never will be. Like that prim sleek office dress that holds you too close.

No, your hair is a riot of half-formed curls and twisty waves that never quite commit to being corkscrew ringlets or soft waves. It simply wants to have both and so colonizes your head with thick, wild waves going it whatever direction they want to.

It abhors barrettes and hairspray, too many hair clips and hair straighteners. It rebels against too much product and not enough down time. Even when you coax it into a sophisticated up-do for work, you know it only temporarily subdues itself for those hours between teaching and grading and then, once home, practically pushes the pins out of its sultry coils.

It will not let you be anything but you. And when you look at it first thing in the morning--a twisted riot of auburn curls half-smashed from hugging the pillows all night--you realize that this is you. You are your loud curls that don't like to be contained, your thick hair that is more comfortable naked than tamed into politeness with those pomades you never really know how to use.

You are bare feet and uncombed curls. Wild thoughts and wild hair.

On Welcoming Spring (Again): Or Saying Goodbye to Winter (For Real...Hopefully)

May 14, 2014

It snowed yesterday. In May of all months.

It wasn't a big snow, with fat, blustery flakes and a thick carpet of white velvet on the ground. It was more of a quick, dirty snow that melted as soon as it hit the ground. Still, your basil plant was not happy, nor your tomatoes who sat in the corner of your patio shaking in the cold, wishing they could pull their little yellow flowers back in their buds for safe keeping.

Even your halfhearted attempt at going out for your morning walk was quickly squashed by the wind whipping around your home, pushing you back indoors. What happened to spring? Where was your gorgeous morning filled with bird song and coffee on your patio? Where was the sunlight streaming into your apartment in the afternoon, coating everything in a magical honey glaze?

You got a day more at home in winter instead: a dark, hushed morning, followed by an afternoon tucked safely inside your house, feeling more like snuggling on the couch and drinking tea than letting as much of the outdoors in as you could. Even your plants stayed inside. You hauled them in one by one, reviving them with the warmth of the house and your tender words until your writing space looked more like an indoor garden than a place for prose (though who is to say which is the plant and which is the story? Both take warmth and time to grow). You went to bed wondering if your spring would even come back.

The next morning you awoke to the sound of your loud little finches and the sun kissing your cheeks. Spring was back, the snow was gone. You could once again enjoy the simple pleasures of the season. You returned your plants to their proper place on the patio. You opened the doors to your home to let the light and air in. You drank coffee on the patio. Winter was gone. And all was well.

On Writing in the Second Person

May 13, 2014

It's uncomfortably intimate at first, the you.

Then before you know it, it seduces you, wraps itself around you and holds you tight. So tight, you couldn't let go if you wanted to.

You. It makes you wear the experience like a second skin until you are there--experiencing that afternoon tea or that long walk or that conversation with the birds at your feeder.

You. You shouldn't be afraid of how the word draws out your readerlyness, even when the writer you read invents words--especially so. It reminds you that you too create this world, this picture of patio gardens and long naps, evenings cooking in the kitchen and staying up late reading novels. You are no longer allowed to be just a voyeur--you must live the experience as you devour each word on the page like it is a fat grape bursting with juice, filling your mouth with its tart sweetness. Yes, you taste this too, even as you read it.

To read is to invent, to imagine what the writer's words look like when they lift from the page and become your reality. You do this. You. The one reading this right now. You. I reach across my page and thank you for reading, for bringing my words to life, for being willing to wear your you so that I can bridge the gap between writer, word, reader.

On Maximalist Fashion

May 12, 2014

You must go boldly into this world--remember that.

You have long since outgrown your need to dress in muted colors, in perfectly matched ensembles of various hues of nude or gray or that one non-color so popular among the faint of heart. No. You no longer feel the need to fade into your surroundings--that was another lifetime, one you gladly shed in favor of your peacock feathers, bright a sin, strong as steel.

For you, the real you, your wardrobe is a work of art. Each day you prepare your outfit as a painter would her canvas, tenderly, one brushstroke at a time. Or as a gardener determining which flowers to plant in an open plot of dirt, only to decide it must be a small grove of wildflowers in all colors, all types, the seeds tossed about with abandon. Your outfit is a living, breathing piece of art made up of layers of bright colors and loud jewelry and unapologetic joie de vivre.

You must go boldly into this world without fail. Your mustard heels and turquoise jewelry and purple dress and bright green scarf remind you of this--it is not enough to fade into the background, not enough to simply show up to life. You must embrace it, bite into it with zest as you would a ripe peach.

Your wardrobe is a walking advertisement for who you are, an embodiment of who you are not afraid to be. You must wear it as your armor, your hard shell that refuses to be anything less than what you are. Let the world know:

You must go boldly into this world each and every day.

3 Citrus-Ginger Gin Fizz

May 11, 2014

In honor of my wonderful patio garden, I had my family over for dinner last night. It was a perfect garden party (albeit a patio garden party) filled with the bounty of spring. We had radishes and young beets in our salad, asparagus and roasted lamb seasoned with herbs from my garden on our plates. There was also fresh pesto crostini for appetizers and, of course, a beautiful view of my potted plants. Naturally, when you have a garden party, you need a cocktail that tastes like spring in a glass, which is why I developed my 3 citrus-ginger gin fizz.

A traditional fizz is simply gin, lemon, a little sugar, and sparkling water--an absolutely refreshing way to wind down a warm spring day. I've added a twist to this recipe by using three types of citrus--grapefruit, lemon, and lime--and the addition of ginger simple syrup in place of the sugar. There are few combinations as heavily as citrus and ginger in my book--they play on each other's brightness. Make sure to use freshly squeezed citrus juice--the bottled kind doesn't have as bright a flavor and contains lots of hidden sugars. You can also skip the gin and have a refreshing mocktail, as my pregnant sister did.

Even if you aren't hosting a garden party anytime soon, I'd recommend enjoying this cocktail to kick off your Saturday night!

Ingredients:

Juice of 1 grapefruit

Juice of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lime

6 ounces (3 shots) ginger simple syrup

Sparkling water

Combine three juices together in a mason jar or other container. In four glasses, add one shot of the juice mix to each glass and 1/2 shot (.75 ounces) of ginger simple syrup. Top with ice. Fill the glass to the top with sparkling water and stir. Enjoy in a shady grove, patio garden, or other lovely outdoor space. Serves 4.

Ginger Simple Syrup

May 10, 2014

Ginger is one of those epic all-around healing foods that I can't get enough of. It adds brightness and spice to everything from a good Asian stir-fry to my morning quinoa. This time of year I absolutely love it as an ingredient in the sunny warm-weather cocktails & mocktails that become so appealing after a day spent outdoors. You can also mix it with sparkling water to make a light, refreshing soda. In either case, my ginger simple syrup is an ingredient I like to keep on hand for those impromptu fancy drinks that feel like summer in a glass.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/4-inch by 1-inch chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thinly

To make the simple syrup, bring water and ginger to a boil. Stir in sugar until fully dissolved. Reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Strain out ginger and pour syrup into a mason jar. Store in fridge for about one week. Make approximately 1 cup of syrup.

On Preparing for Vacation

May 9, 2014

It is more than just packing your bags or finding someone to water your plants while you are gone. More than confirming your plane reservations and outlining your day-to-day plans, a loose collection of potential adventures.

It is in slowing down the weeks before your trip, allowing for time to rest, to play, to nourish the spirit of joie de vivre. You must let your brain begin to breathe, your mind to expand beyond the work desk, or else the shift from your daily routine to far-flung adventure is too much, so abrupt so that you might find yourself in your proverbial business suit on a beach in paradise.

No. You must respect the transition.

Your preparations must include weekends goofing off, long afternoon naps, evenings doing nothing but enjoying your garden. In this, you learn to respect your need to heal, the importance of moving slowly, of doing less. Yes, you are preparing for your vacation by cultivating the pleasure of being less busy, unwilling to commit to a firm schedule or days packed with one event after the other. You court your next adventure with quiet days and impromptu lunch dates, evening cocktails and long mornings drifting through the fun parts of the weekend newspaper. You exchange your work heels for sandals, that business uniform for loose dresses and little makeup.

Only then can you begin to pack for your trip, finalize those little details, and be ready for fun.

On Spring Rain

May 8, 2014

It only lasted a few minutes--here and gone in a flurry of wind and rain and hail--leaving light and soft earth in its wake.

Even now there is hardly any sign that it has rained at all, save for one or two stray puddles and an extra sweetness in the air. Still, you know those few minutes calmed the earth and tamed the dusty winds that have rolled through town these past weeks, stirring up trouble and dirt. The fat plops of moisture fell to the ground, coating the dry earth in a silky blanket, allowing the seeds in your garden to drink deeply and the thick yellow pollen to leave the sky and make its home in the ground.

This rain, gone too soon, makes you want to run out and play in it; it is rich, violent, bursting with life in a way that compels you to dance in the puddles and twirl in the rain as you once did so long ago. You want to feel these nourishing drops kiss your face, wet your eyelashes, and dribble down your chin. You want them to slap your palms and mat your hair with their thickness as you gaze up at the clouds that have rolled over the mountains and covered your city.

This is your desert spring rain, a flashy foreshadowing of the monsoons with their thunder and lighting and lovely, lovely rain that grace your home in the summer, nourishing the earth, cleaning your soul, feeding your heart.

On Toast

May 7, 2014

It is a humble offering to the morning, but so delicious.

You had a lazy start to the day, luxuriating in the fact that it is mid-week, but you, you with your summer teacher schedule, can sleep in and treat this Wednesday as a Saturday or Sunday. Even the thought of whipping up an egg or making some oatmeal is too much. It would disturb the slow tranquility coursing through your veins.

But you must eat. And toast, toast is the answer.

It is only worth eating if it's made from quality bread--in this case, a whole wheat loaf from your favorite bakery. You slice off a thick piece and pop it in the toaster, making sure it gets that nice brown crust, not quite burnt but thick enough to leave a soft center underneath that crispy shell. Then comes the butter, liberally slathered on--you mustn't be stingy. You know some then prefer jam, but for you, the magic is in that simple marriage between toast and butter.

You take your treat, along with a fresh cup of coffee and a small dish of blackberries, to your patio, where you linger over the morning paper, the little finches greeting you with their trill song. You take a bite of toast, letting the earthy flavor of the wheat and butter roll over your tongue. You offer a bit of crust to the birds--but not too much, as you want to savor this treat yourself. Bite by bite you devour your simple breakfast until there is nothing left but a few crumbs on your fingers and a little butter on your chin.

You gaze wistfully at your plate: empty save for a scattering of crumbs. Before you can talk yourself into another piece of toast, you press your coffee mug to your lips and sip the decadent brew. Your coffee, your berries, the cool morning air remain your consolation, now the toast is gone.