It's Springing!

Spring has been out in full force for a couple weeks here in Rome. I meant to post about the budding loveliness a while ago, but one thing or another has kept me procrastinating. Just as well - waiting means that I have lovely photos of the wisteria that is blooming all over the Academy and Monteverde. I don't recall seeing wisteria bloom in any places I've lived previously - I'm sure that it exists, somewhere, but it's just not a plant that I've had much first-hand experience with. I am completely smitten. It's beautiful, it's romantic, it's fragrant - I just want to stand underneath the falling blossoms and inhale.

They are the latest of the lot; we've been seeing flowers on all the trees for a few weeks, and now the petals are beginning to slowly drift to the ground. Every day on the way to school Indigo asks, "What happened, Mama?" while pointing to a mass of fluffy pink on the cobblestone sidewalks. I'm amazed when I think that she probably doesn't remember her past two Springs. This may be her real first awareness of flowering trees, and of tiny baby plants poking up through the earth.

With the arrival of Spring, we're eating a lot of new peas and fava beans and asparagus. Some of the kitchen staff have begun to regularly sit outdoors in the afternoons, shucking peas and beans, and Indigo loves to help them. They are a gracious, friendly bunch. I dare say that we are actually helpful (me more than Indigo - she stuffs more fresh peas into her mouth than she puts in the bowl), so they are probably happy to have the help and conversation. Indigo loves helping so much that I'm thinking that when we return home, I'll look for a local farm that might welcome volunteers for an hour or so on the weekends. Why not? I'd love for Indigo to have the opportunity to learn more about food, and feel some pride in helping to make it. Speaking of gardening, and growing things, here is an image of part of the amazing Bass Garden, where some herbs and vegetables are grown.

The arrival of warmer weather has meant that we've gotten to spend a lot more time outdoors. I hear that the nightlife is back, and there are throngs crowding the streets in Trastevere. I have yet to verify this for myself, but I can believe it! The tourists are starting to crowd the daytime streets as well, and all of the "seasonal" businesses have begun to re-open. Last weekend we took a trip with another family here to an animal farm in Ostia. It was fantastic. It was a great opportunity for kids to see and interact and learn about a variety of domestic animals. In the center of the farm was a petting area, and some of the baby goats, sheep, rabbits and ducks were so small that they could slip out of their enclosures, and come right up to us for some food or a cuddle.

The biggest thing we're looking forward to this Spring is our trip to Sicily! We leave on Wednesday (in two days!!) and will be staying in Cefalu, which happens to be Josh's favorite place in the world. And soon to be mine? We'll find out!