Five Senses Friday

Unfortunately I have no photo to go with the things I saw this week, and I wish I did:

• fuzzy Canada goslings huddled with their parents

• that albino peacock again (one day I must get a picture!)

• a red and white pinto mare and her leggy colt

• chubby faced burros pacing in their pen

It is definitely spring with all these baby animals. I love the fact that even though we are still in a city, I see animals like these on a weekly basis.

I've also been listening to this album a lot. It is wonderful.

Five Senses Friday

I'm actually not going to post much for Five Senses Friday this week because if nauseous was a sense, it's the main thing I'd be feeling. It's the final push for the last two weeks of school, and everyone in the building seems to be getting sick.

So . . . just a picture of one thing I saw. Isn't this cactus bloom the most intense pink ever?

Five Senses Friday

This week has been such a blur that I am not even certain what I should post for Five Senses Friday. How is it May already?!

The last few weeks of school and some personal projects are keeping me super busy, but this post is a good reminder to slow down and notice what else is around me--- as was our visit from friends Amy and Scott, who were driving cross-country for the Unique LA show. If you are in Southern California this weekend, definitely go check out their work. Both are such talented artists!

Taste

• Avocados and grapefruit from the CSA box.
• Lots and lots of spring greens: collard greens, red leaf lettuce, baby spinach.
  

See

• The sagebrush along the highway becoming a more intense, iridescent shade of blue-green
• Ristras and Christmas lights hanging from the archways of the Mexican restaurant we went to this week.
• And even though I am no longer a resident or a recent graduate, these photos about Boston made me long for New England.
  

Touch

• My favorite pair of summer cotton pajamas.
• The breeze while dining on an outdoor porch at said Mexican restaurant.
  

Smell

• The herbs are thriving, and the basil scent is more intense every day.
  

Hear

• Pete Seegeron our local NPR, in observance of International Worker's Day . It reminded me how much I love his voice (and message) and how much his songs remind me of family.
• Listening to David Sedaris in anticipation of the reading we are going to this weekend!
  

Five Senses Friday

Taste

• the first popsicle of the season
• a burger hot off the grill
• organic champagne mangoes from our CSA box
  

See

• an albino peacock perched on a dark wooden post-- shockingly beautiful
• blooms opening on the cacti in our backyard
• baby llamas grazing
  
• the buds on the trees turning to leaves, giving us a bit of shade on the patio
  

Touch

• The first night sleeping with the window open, light blankets, and a fan running
• the stickiness of geranium leaves
  
• dirt between my fingers as I transplanted our herbs, peppers, and broccoli
  

Smell

• Charcoal, lighter fluid, and lemon juice blending together
  

Hear

• the cries of peacocks at the farm where I pick up our produce
• the voice of an old friend on the phone, her babies babbling in the background
• rediscovering old favorites in my iTunes library
  

Five Senses Friday

Taste

• Asparagus and Leek Quiche (see here)
• Dulce de leche ice cream.
  
• The half and half I had to use up from making the quiche, in my coffee. I never have half and half in my coffee. It is divine.
  

See

• The entire mountain range covered by rain clouds
• The teeniest, tiniest little grey bird flying across our path during a walk. I'm still wondering what is was.
• A profusion of intensely purple prickly pear along the sidewalk.
• Someone's chicken ambling through the neighborhood.
  

Touch

• Running my fingers through our terrier's wiry hair.
• Cold toes. Spring is being fickle but I refuse to go back to shoes instead of sandals.
  

Smell

• Apple blossoms.
• Rain. Even if it is only a few drops, I can smell it here so intensely.
  

Hear

• These crazy black birds (a grackle?) that make noises like car alarms.
• Emiliana Torrini, Me and Armini
• Allison Sattinger, Steady Heart
  

Five Senses Friday

Taste

• Grilled baby artichokes
• Fresh asparagus and lemon pasta
• Crusty whole-wheat pizza with sweet potatoes and onions
  

See:

• A hawk landing in a tree
• Fields flooded by the Rio Grande
• Hot air balloons in the cold morning air
• A full moon outside our back door
• Pink buds against a blue sky
• Sunset reflecting on the mountains
  

Touch:

• The feel of water in the air (how I missed it!)
• Warmth of sun on my hair and scalp when we sit on the patio
• The first week of sleeping without a comforter
  

Smell:

• The scent of muddy water in the ditches
• The aroma of strawberries when first sliced into
• Lighter fluid, charcoal, and lemon juice
  

Hear:

• Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago
• Wind rushing against the trees at three in the morning
  
• doves cooing, doves cooing, doves cooing

I've also been thinking a lot about this book all week, and trying to formulate my thoughts into a post without seeming annoyingly earnest or trite. We'll see what happens.

Five Senses Friday

I've decided to participate in Five Senses Friday after really enjoying Julia's posts on the theme.

So, here's my first post on my sensual "best of-s" of the week:

Taste:

• The first gin and tonics on our patio
• Organic tangerines from our new farmshare subscription
• Green tea while I read my favorite blogs after work

See:

• Tumbleweeds blowing across the highway
• A slant of afternoon light across the sprouts in the garden
• Two doves nuzzling on a telephone wire
• Budding branches against a big blue sky
  

Touch:

• thin cotton for the quilt I am piecing by hand
• my favorite spring T-shirt
• sand between my toes when the wind blows through my sandals

Smell:

• The basil after it's watered (I love how disturbing it slightly releases its fragrance)
• Geranium leaves
  
• A (semi) freshly bathed, warm dog
• Coffee in the morning

Hear:

• A blackbird cawing in a treetop
• Billy playing his guitar
• The dogs romping together in the backyard