springtime

Spring is officially here!

I would be really excited about this, but I have a confession to make... I loathe spring. I really do. Where others see hope, renewal, and rebirth, I see dirty puddles and allergies and pastel everything (yuck!). I know I am in the minority here, but spring is my least favorite season.

Spring's only redeeming quality, in my opinion, is the sudden abundance of flowers. I wasn't sure what to expect in this city that is devoid of any real seasonal transitions, but I am thrilled to report that flowers are blossoming everywhere right now! I mean, the leaves don't change color in the fall, but cherry blossoms and tulips bloom in April? I don't understand it, but I'll take it.

Who knew this city could be even prettier. Plus, thanks to the awesome flower vendor at our local farmers' market, I currently have three vases of white tulips in the apartment. It's like Holland up in here.

Ok, so maybe spring isn't all that bad.

a fine romance

Considering neither of us had never set foot in the state of California when we made the life-altering decision to move here, it could have been a monumental disaster. Our original plan was to move to Portland or Seattle, and truthfully, I was brokenhearted when it didn't work out that way.

Then we arrived in San Francisco and fell head over heels with a pretty little peninsula on the edge of the world. Now I can't imagine life any other way, in any other place. I have developed a major crush on this city and I hope this feeling of constant wonder never fades.... Nah :) You and me, San Francisco. We have an everlasting kind of love.

The colors, the architecture, the sounds, the shops, the weather, the food, the views, the flowers, the hills, the coffee, the people, the sunsets, the markets. All of it. I'm in heaven. Heaven.

peonies

On Sunday, we had plans to get lunch with one of my oldest and dearest friends who just happens to be living in the Bay Area this year. Unfortunately, she and her husband couldn't make it up to the city due to flash flooding. (I told you we were getting a lot of rain!) Apparently, Saturday night's downpour left thousands in the area without power, and shut down the entire BART (public transit) system for the weekend.

Then miraculously, the rain finally ceased and a beautiful sunny day emerged. Since Dave and I were already in pajama mode, we decided to stay home and enjoy the weather by opening all the windows and letting the sun pour in.

Inspired by the warm afternoon light, I spent the latter half of the day photographing a few stems of peonies that were in perfect bloom (except for the stubborn one). By they way, since when are peonies available in December? I don't know, but considering they are one of my favorite flowers, I'll take it.

Once the sun set (so early these days!), Dave and I settled in, cooked dinner, and then Margot joined us on the couch for a mini Freaks and Geeks marathon.

It was the loveliest kind of Sunday, if you ask me.

p.s. A huge thank you to my talented husband for making my blog look pretty. How do you know me so well? :)

farmers' market

Buying groceries in our old Chicago neighborhood was a challenge. The closest market was over a mile away and when you don't own a car, it may as well be the moon. Especially in January. Brutal.

We eventually resorted to buying groceries online, which has its perks for city-dwellers, but required a lot of planning (not exactly my greatest strength). At any given moment, we would have at least eight cans of tomatoes in the pantry because I was paranoid we would run out. Discovering you are out of an ingredient in the middle of a recipe almost always ends in disaster. Have you ever tried to make chili without tomatoes? It just doesn't work.

And finding decent quality produce in Uptown? Forget it.

In California, however, I am in produce heaven. Heaven.

Not only is there a grocery store on the next block, there is a weekly farmers' market in the plaza of our apartment complex. I don't even have to cross the street. Amazing!

And for the first time in my life, we have had fresh flowers in the house for three weeks straight. It's the little things, guys.

I want to eat it all. And I plan to.

fresh

There are so, so many things to love about this city. The year-round-right-outside-our-apartment-building farmers' market is pretty high on that list. 

Today's find: a bouquet of my favorite flowers for $4.

Um, yes. I think I love you, San Francisco.