Balboa Park Cherry Blossom Festival

 

Sakura are blooming and sun is shining at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, while my future sister-in-law, future cousin-in-law and her girlfriend, and I partake in the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers (Hanami). I am also, of course, enjoying and appreciating the beauty of spending quality time with family. A blanket on a grassy hillside and some authentic Japanese food and drink including, but not limited to, Taiyaki (a fish-shaped Japanese cake filled with sweet red bean paste), Yakisoba (fried noodles), and Sapporo (beer) make for a splendid afternoon. 

 

Delightful Day in Fort Collins, Colorado

Last week I was fortunate enough to travel to Fort Collins, Colorado and spend the day with beautiful friends in a beautiful city. Angela, a friend of mine for over 20 years, and I started the day at The Bean Cycle in Old Town; known for having an ample supply of coffee & books, I am surprised that we ever made it back out the door for me to explore any other parts of Fort Collins. Unfortunately, I will now forever crave their delicious Lady Chatterly's latte, made with lavender-infused espresso. Though I did not leave with a copy of the novel that inspired the latte's name, I did leave with other treasures, including Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Make Your Place a book of tutorials teaching "how to craft a sustainable domestic life outside of consumer consciousness," and a Colorado t-shirt, of course;) 

 

Having worked up quite an appetite from chatting over coffee and rummaging through used books, we met the lovely Crystal for lunch at Tasty Harmony. "No love lost when you eat at Tasty Harmony" due to their organic vegetarian goodness! Not only was there no love lost, but I'd have to say that there was definitely some love gained for this charming eatery and its scrumptious food.  

With bellies full and cheeks sore, we said our farewells to Crystal as she made her way back to Lyons and Angela and I made our way to Horsetooth Reservoir for a view of the beautiful Rocky Mountain Foothills.