Seaside couscous

Recently I had a wonderful couscous at our local bagel shop. The mint in  it was so refreshing. I thought I'd try to re-create something similar here at the beach. Very simple but I have to say it was perfect with a tomato sandwich on the side.

Chopped cucumber and tomato in the bowl, 

Lots and lots of chopped mint leaves  and diced feta. 

I had this beautiful white cucumber from the farmers market. Very mild in flavor but was nice when I minced small to go to with the couscous. this  tomato was perfect. Great flavor, no white core , very juicy. I let it "juice" or drain a little bit on the cutting board so the extra liquid would not go into the couscous salad.

Plain couscous,

A drizzle of the mildest, fruity Italian  olive oil, 

Enjoy! I did. 

Back to the beach! 

Spring in my garden

I traveled to New York, I traveled to Chicago, and then I came home to enjoy my own garden. While I was away things were enjoying the spring rains and growing like crazy. The roses began to bloom, the geraniums held up in spite of the rain, and peonies were just finishing as I returned home. While one climbing rose had given its first blush of roses and was now regrouping, another was just beginning to show its most beautiful blooms. Here's a collection of spring flowers that I somehow just could not stop enjoying.

Spring in the city

I was just in New York to visit my daughters. What a glorious spring weekend. While the days prior to my arrival there had been a lot of rain and wind, I was fortunate to have wonderful weather while I was there. Everywhere where windowboxes and planters full of hopeful color and blooms for summer.

Even the stairway into Saint Marks had a glorious Garland. It was hard not to feel that spring was here as I saw these lovely flowers. I attended the Kips Bay Show house and in each room the designers had placed lovely bouquets of spring flowers to enjoy inside the home.

Even the storefronts are amping for spring!

While my time in New York was filled with a mix of family and soaking up what only New York can offer in terms of fashion and design, the flowers were one of the most wonderful aspects.