In the last week or so, I’ve had several new things that are designed to make it a little easier to have touches of elegance in my everyday life arrive. I consider all of these Good Things, so I’m grouping them into a single post – why not?
First, I have irises in gorgeous full bloom. These irises are especially memorable because they come from rhizomes (irises don’t come from bulbs; a fact that took me many years to learn. I can be taught!) that were given to me by my Very Best Longtime Friend and I carried them very carefully from Utah to plant here in the Carolinas. I wasn’t sure how they’d take, but – as you can tell – they decided that this climate suited them quite well! I love irises – they’re elegant without being haughty – and seeing these when I leave in the morning and when I return home each day gives me a lift.
Second, when I was browsing in an unlikely place, I discovered that the store carries both cheerful blank notes and colorful fountain pens at a cost that is nearly embarrassing low. I treated myself for all of this for under $10 and expect to be cultivating an air of mystery as I write notes in a cafe or coffee shop over the next few weeks.
Third, and just maybe most delightful – the array of items at the top of this post. I’ve collected these over the last couple of weeks and put together, I just can’t help but smile when I see them. First off, a beautiful copy of a century-old book The Enchanted April. I discovered this three years ago and this is my third April reading it. It’s a lovely story where nothing bad happens and good things happen to good people who simply needed a break to let the good things happen. Sort of a literary My Neighbor Totoro. It’s probably not to everyone’s liking , but it suits me. Second, a “bucket list” calendar that I’m using strictly for the “bucket list” part. Every month, there’s a watercolor illustration of things to do for that month and I feel certain that I’ll use this overandover. “Walk barefoot outside” is my goal for today and it seems especially apropos since it’s Earth Day. The last item is a small bottle of highly regarded, but not expensive, lilac eau de parfum. During my last visit home to my Dad’s, I smelled the lilacs that were blooming there and decided I needed some of that scent. I like this one – it’s long-lasting without being overpowering. Lilacs don’t have enough oil to undergo steam distillation, so a “natural” lilac perfume is next to impossible to create and synthetics must be relied upon. It’s definitely a spring scent and I’ll no doubt switch in a few weeks, but I’m embracing my inner Spring Goddess with this one.
PS – Remember that for the ancient Greeks, the Goddess of Spring was also the Queen of the Dead. Now that’s range!
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