February 21, 2012

• Spring is in the air

  I am very happy to report that the Momo trees are blossoming and the Ume trees are budding.  Yes, spring is in the air.  With the two beautiful trees doing their annual thing, spring is making its approach.  Today was absolutely gorgeous.  I am so thankful for days like this.

  The Momo (peach) tree in my son's kindergarten yard is a beautiful shade of pinkish-purple.  I have always thought those flowers really popped against the darker color of the wood from the branches and the tree's trunk.  Soon the Ume (plum) tree will go from budding to blooming, and I am looking forward to this.  Last summer we left the country, so we didn't get to make our yearly Ume juice concentrate.  When the Ume is ready to pick, I fill up a jar with sugar and Ume, and a touch of vinegar.  After a couple of weeks and daily jar shake-ups, we get a super thick syrup which we dilute with water for our own juice.  Delicious!  Looking forward to that this summer.  And surely once the Ume is done blossoming, then the Sakura will begin its spring march.  Then it will be truly be spring!  This has to be my favorite part of spring here in Japan.

  Getting antsy for spring.  I am ready for winter to be over.  I am waiting with great anticipation.  The feeling that good things are coming is starting to well up inside of me.  In many ways, it feels like not just a change in seasons physically , but a change in the seasons of the soul as well.

  • 2:32 am
  • 1 Comment