Like a Japanese Pagoda

I’ve had Japan on the brain lately. Steve and I have not traveled much for the past four years. For two reasons primarily: 1) the house fire, and 2) NYU tuition has been consuming our travel budget and more. Our son is now a senior, and 1 ½ semesters from finishing. So, we have allowed ourselves to start dreaming about travel again. In my perfect world, our next extended stay adventure would be in off-the-beaten-path Japan. I’ll have to arm wrestle Steve, as he feels a spiritual pull to the Mediterranean. It’s fun to be dreaming again.

eucalyptus braches

After the party

Today was mostly taken up with my Mom’s 90th birthday, but Eva and I fit in a walk before the party and we came across this abnormal double cattail standing tall and proud along the shores of Lake Vadnais in St. Paul. I am a bit mesmerized by this guy. In my world, it’s a keeper. I will hold onto this specimen until all the seed fluff has exploded and escaped into my house. At which point I will release him/it back into the wild with his brothers. Don’t you wonder what my house looks like?

abnormal over-wintered cattail seed-head in March

Happy Birthday Gammy!

Today is my mom’s 90th birthday. So my daughter Eva (27) is in town for Gammy’s birthday party. Eva is a Creative Director/Designer by day, and talented indie film director by night. I asked her to make me a composition of dried bits I had lying about. She knocked this off in a couple of minutes. And I was enchanted. (That use of color, by the way, is all Eva.) A STILL bouquet for Gammy on her 90th birthday–Happy Birthday Gammy!

Afterthought (back)

This hydrangea stem came into the house with the hydrangea florets I posted yesterday. As I was cleaning up, the delicious texture of the dried leaves wouldn’t let my attention go. I had to take it’s portrait, so I could get on with me day.

Hydrangea stem with leaves in winter (hortensia)

Afterthought (front)

This hydrangea stem came into the house with the hydrangea florets I posted yesterday. As I was cleaning up, the delicious texture of the dried leaves wouldn’t let my attention go. I had to take it’s portrait, so I could get on with me day.

Hydrangea stem with leaves in winter (hortensia)