First Buds on the Japanese Cherry

On our way to drop one of our girls at the Brooklyn  Museum, we saw blossoms on a tree bordering the Botanic Gardens. Here at home, hard to believe it was only a few weeks ago that we weathered heavy nsow, hurricane-force winds and rain.  We saw the first crocus on St. Patrick's Day. Today, as March wanes, the first red buds appeared on the cherry tree on our court. After a tough winter, Spring is surely here.

Before the Rising is Done: Pre-Passover Days

Most of the Passover shopping is done. Before getting done with the pre-Passover clean up, where we rid the kitchen of all of the things we will forgo for the week starting tomorrow evening, we've been going through the pantry and freezer using up breadstuff. Brunch today featured a round-the-world sampling of stuff that we won't be having for a week, including Indian paratha bread,delicious multi-grain pan loaf, home made cranberry sunflower scones, spanakopita, mini-vege egg rolls, etc. Soon we will be getting up close and personal with the non-leaavened way of life. Passover, like spring, is a time of reflection and change on the level of daily life. The temporary change from bread and leavening is not so much a deprivation (at least for the first few days) as it is a way to be reminded of freedom and its roots in movement, sacrifice, transition and choices.