While spending the past week and a half in Atlanta with my family, I was reminded of how beautiful and green Georgia is. Something to be missed when you live in the desert! Since spring is so short-lived here, I wanted to take the moment to appreciate it before it’s gone.
Reasons Why I Love Spring // My Spring Happy List:
- Driving with the windows down. I was meant to own a convertible.
- Festivals. Food festivals, music festivals, etc. I love that there’s always something happening.
- Strawberry picking season. I hear Camarillo has the best strawberries in Cali. ALSO means time for donut man!
- Attempting gardening (again). I’ve enjoyed watching my mom garden, but I don’t seem to have her green thumb.
- Spring cleaning. Seeing everyone else collectively clean this time of year inspires me to shuffle some things around.
- The days are longer. I feel more productive when we can do a lot more while the sun’s out.
- More sunlight. I never realized this until recent years, but having more sun actually affects my mood & makes me happier.
- BBQs and Crawfish Boils. Oh man! I miss the South. At least we have our open container policy -> Picnics with booze.
- Flip flops & Sundresses. I like to wear them year round as long as there is no snow, but now I look “normal”.
- Hiking. I think we can fit in one more trip to Red Rock Canyon and possibly Valley of Fire!
- Spring flowers & cherry blossoms. I LOVE cherry blossoms. Have you seen my cherry blossoms in Kyoto post?
- Smell of freshly cut grass. Even having grass is a big deal in Vegas.
- Easter. It’s always a great reminder. And I love seeing pinteresting egg crafts.
- Making wishes. And spreading dandelions all over the neighborhood. ;) OOPS!
- Everything starts anew. Even though you make resolutions in January, I feel like I can hit the reset button in Spring.
Also, a little more about the above photo. I’ve realized after spending hours trying to capture that cliche photo of the dandelion with the one seedling flying away… there is no way that it’s not photoshopped. They do not perfectly fly one by one in the direction that you want. It’s hard for me to believe there is someone out there that would patiently wait for possibly days for that key moment. I suppose the natgeo photogs do it though. My poor mom had to sit there with me and repeatedly try to blow the perfect amount of air.
This one was the closest I got to getting that “perfect” dandelion photo (*SIGH* out of focus seedling):
Also from mom’s garden, these are what baby peaches look like!:
Her strawberry patch. You can see the growth of new strawberries.
My mom is so proud of her garden. She would stop and point out each plant or flower growing in her backyard and ask me to photograph them, even the wildflowers (though some would call them weeds).
All photos were taken with a Canon 5d Mark III and 50 mm / 1.2L lens.
Spring is also the theme for this month’s lovely letters snail mail exchange. What’s your favorite thing about spring?
This is week 32 of practicing gratitude. 20 more weeks to go! Click the banner below to see my previous gratitude posts:
Hi. Your photo of the dandelion is amazing. Any way I can purchase a copy of it? I teach kindergarten and that is our class theme.
Thank you
Oooh, so gorgeous! Things still aren’t green here yet. :)
Thank you Chantel! When does spring come for you guys? :)
Aw, this list makes me so happy! As do these lovely photos :) Your mom is a great assistant (and she makes me miss the peach trees we had growing up :).
I’m so glad! :) Yes, she’s definitely the best and it wouldn’t have even been possible if I was waiting out there for the wind to blow them out. I just wonder if I would have the same patience with my kids… This is the first time she’s growing peaches, so I’m super excited to try them. (if i visit again)!
This is a really cute list and I never would have guessed that that first pic was photoshopped! Cray cray! You’re super talented!
Thanks @chimerikal:disqus! :D OHH. it’s not photoshopped… although I was tempted to put the dandelion back together and merge a couple photos, but I just figured it’s okay not to be perfect. I was referring to the original photo I was trying to imitate. I can’t find it anymore.. but It’s just ridiculously perfect that it has to be photoshopped.
Love the dandelion shots! And bless your mum for playing your assistant. Heehee! A little jealous of your spring happy list. I’ve just brought out my winter woolies. Baah! ;)
TY! :) Yeah, she was def a good sport. I don’t know if I could have that much patience. So it’s winter over there right now? Is it all the opposite? I can’t remember when we visited they said you guys have all four seasons in one day. When is spring? :)
It’s nearly winter for us, we’re the exact opposite to you guys I think. If you’ve got spring, we’ve got autumn. Feels like winter already though! Hehe… maybe I just need to toughen up and not rely on my electric blanket so much. :P But yes, we do get the whole four seasons in one day thing most of the time. When I first got here I always had an umbrella, sunglasses and a windbreaker with me, and I quickly learned the art of layering!
aww. loved this list! my fav one of all though is blooming flowers. i really never noticed the blooming flowers of spring until i moved here. the seasons really define the lifestyle, so i have become more appreciative of the weather and what it brings. blossoms, my fav. of all. let’s all go to japan one day!
haha you and your sundresses and flipflops. actually when i think of you i often imagine you wearing exactly that.
i too love how the sun stays brighter longer. my mood isn’t dependent upon sunlight but it does seem to make the day more enjoyable if you get to revel in it.
:) I feel like I haven’t really paid that much attention to the spring flowers until more recently. Is it bc we’re getting old? haha
I wanna go back. They do not make japanese food here like they do over there. I miss it for sure! Actually while I was writing out sundresses and flip flops I remembered your drawing of me. hahaha
I totally agree with #7 & #12. David knows how important the sun is for me since I get lazy and grumpy when there’s no sun. Haha … i guess that’s why Philips developed that lamp that imitates the sun to improve your mood … I wonder if that works :p I forgot how fresh cut grass smelled like until I walked through Regent’s Park in London and I was like omg this is amazing. Brought back memories of summer in Atlanta when I helped cut grass for my Dad. I didn’t realize I haven’t smelt this since moving out of Atlanta and this is what you don’t get living in cities.
Your mom is awesome to be so patient with you! You know, my parents have a green thumb too. We have chives, peaches, figs, and these chinese vegetables in the backyard but yet I can’t seem to keep a plant alive. What happened to us?!
yeah i’ve always wondered about that… if it really works or not. wait.. boston doesn’t have grass either?
i feel like we don’t have enough time and patience for our plants. i know my prob is i’m “too busy”.. I go on trips and don’t even think about having someone water them for me. maybe when we get their age and settle down. :)
Breathtakingly beautiful pictures as always!
I didn’t even realize that so much happened in the spring, and I’ve been taking it for granted!
Thank you! :) Yes. Take advantage while you can!
So, I have been researching what lens to purchase next and I’ve been eyeing a 50mm one. Your pictures have reaffirmed this decision. Lovely photos!
Thank you! I think you will love it. It’s one of my fave go-to lenses. :) Plus, I don’t know anyone who has it that doesn’t love it. So excited for you! :)
I always feel a great uplift in my mood as soon as the warmer weather starts showing up and we get more sunlight! The smell of fresh cut grass is one of my favorites, that and the smell of charcoal always remind me of summer. That is an awesome picture of the dandelion.
Same! And I feel more free to go outside & explore after being cooped up in the house all winter. BBQ season is upon us! Thank you! :)