Beautiful outdoors now. A day for wearing a skirt and sandals. Windows are open, the smell of blooming lilacs are blowing through the window on the breeze. There are really only a few days each year when that happens and I try not to take them for granted!

I had to post another columbine picture, as I love the shape of the columbine flower when it blooms and opens up a bit, a lovely star shape. I'll be away until Wednesday, going on an adventure to someplace I've never been before, so I wish you all a nice long weekend.

Weather refuses to be sunny. To compensate: baked a cake, picked fresh lavender for the table, finished knitting a hot water bottle cover (project going on since March), watching Larkrise to Candleford. I'm going someplace sunny this weekend.

Cat watching bird. I'm watching columbines and lilacs, still wet from the rain. The sun is trying to come out. Haven't seen it in 5 days or so.

I'm happy with the bigger photos. I had to make my blog template wider and I used these instructions here to do it. Then I followed these instructions to make the photos larger. It takes a tiny bit more editing with each blog post, but it feels worth it.

Experimenting with bigger photos. I think I've got it figured out. I think I like the bigger photos. Will keep experimenting. Sorry, things may look funky while I continue to work on it!

We're in a rainy cold spell here. It's good for the neighbor's lilacs and our rooftop lettuce and that's about it! I'm back to my winter cooking mode. I made a big batch of minestrone with cabbage, kale, and swiss chard yesterday afternoon and will be eating it for lunch today. Soup is the best dreary day food ever. I'm off to take a quick walk before it starts pouring again, then have some sewing to do. Hope your week is sunny, if not in temperature, then at least in spirit.

Installation project in my hallway. I bought Sibella Court's book, Etcetera a few months ago and love her philosophy of changing things up on the walls. I've been thinking I need to change things up a bit on my own walls ever since. Our stairway walls have been empty for months after taking down an unsuccessful gallery wall I made a year ago. Then after seeing photos from thank you, ok of this amazing installation at the Parisian store, Merci, I knew I had to try something like it. I collected a group of favorite objects and artwork that worked well together and tacked and taped them up. Then as the seasons (or my moods) change I'll switch it up with other stuff that's inspiring me in the moment. It's kind of freeing thinking that things on the wall don't have to be there permanently...

Rhubarb season is here! I tried a new recipe for country rhubarb cake, but I altered the recipe a bit, replacing half the white flour with whole wheat flour and cutting the sugar in half. I had a bit of rhubarb left over, so I made a compote (or at least that's what I'm calling it). About 4 big stalks of rhubarb cut up with about 1/3 cup of sugar, heated on low in a saucepan until the sugar melts and the rhubarb falls apart and the whole mixture turns this beautiful deep pink color. It's great by itself or with some yogurt. Got to take advantage of rhubarb season while it's here!

Flea market season starts soon and seeing as I don't really need anything for my house, I will be searching for little tiny things for my dollhouse, which has been totally neglected since I finished painting it.

This weekend:
school play
soccer
motivate to plant a few things
haircuts for everyone but me
clean laundry
bike ride? (I hope!!)

And happy mother's day if you are a mother.

Busy weekend....busy week ahead. Happy May!