Dog Days of Summer

Cuteness. Thy name is corgi. Can you handle the cuteness? Because I barely can. Dog days of summer indeed.


{From YouTube via Jezebel}

Hello, Summer

"I know I am but summer to your heart 

And not the full four seasons of the year"

-Edna St. Vincent Millay

Summer has shown herself in subtle ways in these parts over the last few weeks, but it's only *officially* summer as of today. I intend to celebrate the longest day of the year with some lengthy rosé-sipping time outside on my patio. I only wish I had some fireflies to keep me company (they look so magical, don't they?). 


Happy Summer Solstice!


{Image via Pinterest}

Happy Vernal Equinox

‎"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." ~Margaret Atwood

{Photos 1 & 2 via Pinterest}

Winter Solstice

Today during the Winter Solstice ceremony at Stonehenge, it was reported that the sun shone directly over the stone formation; the druids henceforth proclaimed that 2012 will be an excellent year. Let's hope those druids are on to something here.   


Happy Winter Solstice!


{Image via The Telegraph}

Squirrels love fall, too!

Have I mentioned before how I simply adore this time of year? Not sure if I have.....In any case, I'm not the only one who cherishes autumn. Squirrely here knows what I'm talking about.


{Photo by Christine Kysely, via Pinterest}

Literary Jack-O'-Lanterns

My favorite Halloween ritual just might be the reading of chilling gothic tales and ghost stories. So I was pretty delighted when I came across these incredible jack-o'-lanterns inspired by great works of literature. The enormous amount of skill, precision, and imagination needed to execute such beautifully detailed designs boggles the mind. I heart these all so much, almost as much as the stories themselves. Can you spot the specific tales of each one?

{Images via Flavorwire}

"Pumpkins Make Fall Bearable"

I think I'm in the mood for a little autumnal cuteness on this gorgeous fall day. How about you? Though I sure as hell wouldn't wish to be that pumpkin. 


{Bronx Zoo bears' fall frolicking from YouTube, via Jezebel}

Here comes the rain

Rain has come to Southern California. And just like that, fall has arrived. My oft-neglected rain boots are mighty happy to get a little action today. 


{Image via Pinterest}

Ode to Autumn

Friday, September 23rd marked the first day of autumn here in the northern hemisphere. This little autumnal song sums up perfectly my sentiments about this most glorious of seasons (I have my five-year-old twin nieces to thank for introducing this celebratory tune into my life). Take it away, Moose A. Moose.

{From Youtube, via Nick Jr}

Changes

Nothing signals autumn quite like the start of September. Even if mother nature isn't exactly hopping on the autumnal bandwagon - she can be a bit stubborn, holding onto summer longer than she sometimes should - there is a feeling of change in the air (I've waxed lyrical about this before). Bouquets of sharpened pencils, crunchy leaves of red and gold, nubby woolen socks, cuddling up underneath a warm blanket at night as the brisk night air drifts through an open window, steaming mugs of spiced apple cider are all conjured, at least in my mind, on the 1st of September. Though sometimes it takes awhile to coax Autumn out her shell, she nearly always does. And it's well worth the wait.

{Image via Flickr}

The Longest Day of the Year

"In summer, the song sings itself."

-William Carlos Williams

Happy Summer Solstice!

{Image from Etsy, via Pinterest}

It may as well be spring

Today marks the first day of spring. Though you wouldn't know it by what's happening weather-wise here in southern California. It's been nothing but oppressive grey skies and torrential rain all day long, with the promise of thunderstorms to top it all off. But I suppose this is all par for the course. As 17th Century Japanese poet Matsuo Basho sagely knows:

Spring rain

leaking through the roof

dripping from the wasps' nest.

-Matsuo Basho, "Spring Rain"

{Image via here}

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Today marks the first day of autumn. In Europe, that is. In the United States, autumn started yesterday. Confused? This link explains how the autumnal equinox can fall (pun intended, of course) on two separate dates:

The solstices and equinoxes are not actually days, but rather they are instants of time. The equinoxes are the instants when the Sun appears directly over Earth's equator....For 2010 the moment of the autumnal equinox is September 23 at 03:09 UTC (coordinated universal time). Coordinated universal time is also called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the standard time in the Greenwich, England time zone. Because this year's autumnal equinox falls so early in the morning in UTC, it is on the previous night in locations a few time zones west of Greenwich. In the United States, the autumnal equinox will be at 11:09 PM EDT, 10:09 PM CDT, 9:09 PM MDT, and 8:09 PM PDT on September 22. The autumnal equinox, or the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere, will be September 22, in the United States and locations further west. The September 2010 equinox will however be on September 23 in Greenwich, England, Europe, and more easterly locations.

And did you check out that beautifully brilliant moon in last night's sky? The tiny bright star next to it is actually Jupiter. Jupiter and the moon will be bosom buddies for the next month or so, but after that they won't rendezvous in the night sky until the year 2022. Start your sky gazing now.

{Image via here}

Happy Summer Solstice

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." -Henry James

Leave it to Henry James to perfectly capture the spirit of today. If there is ever a time to indulge in a little sun worship (if only for a little while), now is the time to do it. Wishing you all a very happy and summery solstice day!

{Photo via flickr}

Spring is on her way

DEAR March, come in!
How glad I am!

I looked for you before.

Put down your hat—

You must have walked—

How out of breath you are!

Dear March, how are you?

And the rest?

Did you leave Nature well?

Oh, March, come right upstairs with me,

I have so much to tell!

I got your letter, and the bird’s;

The maples never knew

That you were coming,—I declare,

How red their faces grew!

But, March, forgive me—

And all those hills

You left for me to hue;

There was no purple suitable,

You took it all with you.

Who knocks? That April!

Lock the door!

I will not be pursued!

He stayed away a year, to call

When I am occupied.

But trifles look so trivial

As soon as you have come,

That blame is just as dear as praise

And praise as mere as blame.

--Emily Dickinson (1830–86)

Rainy day LA

Torrential rain has hit Southern California this week, and yet my commute to and from work has remained blissfully civilized in spite of it all (LA drivers are known for not handling rain very well). Kudos to the California Highway Patrol and my fellow drivers for maintaining calm and order on the roads! Although I can't say I'm especially fond of driving in the rain, I absolutely adore listening to it. Lately I want nothing more than to listen to the sound of it drumming against my window as I snuggle up warm and safe inside, book in hand. Preferably a Gothic or mystery novel that somewhat reflects the somber, gray weather outside.

I think the following poem by 17th century Japanese poet Matsuo Basho captures the current state of things brilliantly.

First Winter Rain by Matsuo Basho

First winter rain--

even the monkey

seems to want a raincoat.

The darkest evening of the year

Happy Winter Solstice! In celebration, I've been chanting the following Robert Frost poem over and over in my head today. Right now in California, the sun is dipping below the horizon and casting the most magnificent rosy glow across the sky, and the briskness of evening is settling in. May you have candles aplenty to light you on this dark, dark night.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep


{Image via Flickr}

Autumnal Equinox

Dear Autumn,

Welcome back! It's been too long, really it has. I say 'welcome', but to be honest, it doesn't even feel like you're here. The neighboring hillsides are currently ablaze and the mighty sun seems quite happy to stay exactly where he's been all summer, hanging solo in the sky, unencumbered by any pesky cloud formations that might drift his way. Suffice it to say that you're a little wary of making yourself known just yet. I understand that you tend to be shy, especially in southern California. I get it, Autumn. I've been in this situation before and I just want to let you know that I'm prepared to wait. After all, the best things in life are worth waiting for, no? Think of all the fun that lies in store for us: the scarf-wearing, leaf-peeping, apple-picking, pumpkin-carving, firewood-smelling, hot coco-sipping good times are ready for the taking, Autumn. That is, when you care to join me. Until then I remain patiently yours,


Joanna xoxo

Summer Solstice

This summer solstice held all the auspicious elements of what is sure to be a superb summer: slept in late; went for a walk in perfect sunshine (which felt like a balm after too many weeks of June Gloom, a commmon Southern California affliction at this time of year); tried the newly opened cafe/bakery, Huckleberry (they use organic and local ingredients, and it's owned and operated by an adorable married couple whose love and enthusiasm for food is apparent as soon as you walk in. It's a real foodie's place); wished my father a happy Father's Day; enjoyed a particularly challenging and purifying yoga class; made dinner with T and hosted a good friend who was alone this Father's Day (it's not a sad story, he will be reunited with wife and son soon!); feasted on burrata and heirloom tomato salad, strawberries dipped in chocolate and red wine; and most impressive and joyful of all, I did not set foot into a car today--walking everywhere was absolute bliss! It was a pretty great day, if I do say so myself. Proof is in the pudding below.

I snapped a couple quick shots of Huckleberry's interior as I waited for my soy latte (which was delicious). I really took to the country-like freshness of the decor. I didn't feel like I was in LA, which is a welcome feeling, let me tell you.

The camera on my blackberry simply does not do these baked goods justice. I wanted to sample every single one. I made do with the croissant and raisin scone. Divinely buttery and flaky in the most perfect way.

Burrata is to caprese salad what sugar is to chocolate chip cookies. It's simply not acceptable with out it. Undoubtedly, burrata is one of the most delectable cheeses I have ever had the pleasure to devour. It's rather hard to find, but Andrew's Cheese Shop on Montana didn't disappoint. We nabbed their last one.

I only now just realize that food is the dominating theme of today's post. Which sort of makes sense, if you think about it. There's something about summer that is so life-affirming and of the moment. Summer is a time for enjoying the simple pleasures of life: appreciating nature, spending quality time with friends, savoring good food. These moments are so ephemeral and time moves so quickly, which is something I've been shocked to discover as I grow older. It's important to take hold of these moments and be truly grateful for being alive and well enough to enjoy them. Kind of saccharine, I know, but I can't help it. Blame it on the first day of summer. Who knew that such a sunshine-filled day would provoke such contemplation? Isn't that what grey, rainy days are for?

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"

Today is the vernal equinox and to celebrate, I'm including one of my all-time favorite poems below. Wordsworth's ode to the daffodil, much like spring itself, evokes such happiness and a sense of promise. Happy Spring!

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay.

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

-William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

{I don't have a photo of daffodils of my own, but I did find this gorgeous image courtesy of Virgin Media}