al’-pha-bet

After years of dreading gardening and avoiding grass, I have finally caved in and bought my first potted plant. Reanna and I were out one day when we heard tropical rainforest sounds coming out of this florist shop. Of course, we couldn’t resist taking a peek, and there we saw this squat, strange-looking plant, with big, glossy leaves. I was told it was a rubber plant. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.

I couldn’t wait to tell my husband about it, and sure enough, he got it for me. We brought it home, accessorized with a pretty white bow. I wanted to call it "Leon" (after Jean Reno’s plant in "The Professional"), but Lorenzo thought it was more of a girl plant, so I changed the spelling to "Lyon". After all, even I couldn’t imagine Jean Reno wearing a giant white hair bow.

Now that’s a disturbing thought.

Actually, C is also for Cabin, which might be more appropriate since we didn’t really spend Easter weekend "roughing it out" in the strictest sense of the word. Our church held a Family Fun Camp at Camp Wawona in Yosemite National Park, and I was pleasantly surprised at the amenities. Our cabin had its own bathroom, piped-in heating and hot water, and a refrigerator and stove (which we didn’t even have to use because meals were included). The Cafeteria at Wawona served up such a delicious hot buffet that made you forget everything was totally vegetarian! And after the meals came fellowship with friends, which was even more enjoyable.

Yes, I do have to say that our Easter weekend was simply divine.

When it’s this beautiful outside, the last thing I feel like doing is slaving in front of a hot stove, especially when it’s Spring Break.

Lucky for me, my local supermarket provided a solution: an instant picnic!

Nothing could be easier. Just go to the grocery store, 1) get a freshly-baked baguette or a packet of whole wheat pitas at the bakery section, 2) pick up some spinach dip, tuna salad or chicken salad at the deli counter, 3) choose some ripe strawberries or bananas from the produce aisle, and 4) round things up at the coolers for some ice-cold drinks.

Then head for a park somewhere, roll out the picnic mat, breathe in the clean fresh air and eat your simple, healthy food. 

Our last jaunt took us to Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, CA. After eating, the kids threw rocks in the lake while Lorenzo and I just lay down on the mat and watched the clouds go by.

Mmmm…it doesn’t get much better than this.