I’m running surveillance on the cherry blossoms by the stream near my house daily. Maybe I’m crazy, but when it’s warm it seems like the branches visibly swell and droop with the added weight of sakura buds. 
Today did nothing for this phenomenon—it was cold and cloudy and the lows dipped into the 30s. The poor test runners shivered alone on the branches. This impatience—for flowers, for warm weather, for Chris to return home—is contrary to cherry blossom season, though, I think. I quick search revealed all the bloom symbolizes: mortality, the transient and ephemeral nature of life (also known as the Buddhist concept “mono no aware”), love, affection, good fortune, spring, the intensity and brevity of life. The concept is appreciation, not impatience. Sigh. 
Lessons in mortality on a cold day call for soup. I wanted some veggie soup to slim down because ever since Sasebo I have been starving all the time. My room was two miles from the train station and one day I ended up walking 10 miles. And now I’m no longer walking so far but eating like a horse, and no I’m not pregnant…I checked. 
French Women Don’t Get Fat calls for magical leek soup in the spring if you need to slim down, but I don’t much care for it. I do however like pumpkin, plus it has lots of fiber and I always have a few cans on hand in case I need to make a pan of Pumpkin Heaven…yum…. So I combined three recipes and came up with a sort of tasty diet soup to eat while Chris is gone. It’s not so photogenic, but here’s what I did: Food process 1 onion, a bunch of garlic, the rest of the baby carrots and three Japanese eggplants and dump them into a pot with a bit of butter. Cook until it starts to burn, then panic and pour in some water because you don’t have any chicken broth. Replace half the chicken broth with water+garlic powder and the other half with Guinness. Add nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, salt, pepper. Cover and simmer. Stir in as much cream as you use in your coffee and top with Mari’s Orange-Cranberry Sauce. It ended up a little less cooked than maybe preferable, but the cranberry sauce goes a long way.
The cats could tell when Chris packed to deploy. They spot suitcases in action, which they hate, and start acting weird and being super-snuggly. I guess we all figured if we were on our cutest, most adorable behavior maybe Chris wouldn’t leave, even though that’s why we’re here. He left anyway. Just in time to miss cherry blossom season, but such is the fleeting and ephemeral nature of life.
Up…Up…and Away!
Be All You Can Be
Unexplained Pause
Beach Traffic
I love cherry blossoms. I commuted through DC during college, it was always the bright spot amongst all the traffic to see the Cherry blossoms in full bloom! That little stream near your house will be just lovely.
My dog growing up would know suitcases meant travel. She liked it though since she would get a car ride. On times when she did not go she would try to barricade the door.
I too have tried the best behavior with Jeff and he still leaves. Sigh- such is the life of a navy wife!
Man, there must be something in this cold air. I share your “eating like a horse” today. Ugh. Every time I stopped doing something, I would realize I was starving! My stomach growled all afternoon, until I got home and desperately threw a leftover casserole in the oven.
I’m very envious of your flowers. It’s still very drab here. Can’t wait to see some springtime here. We have a chance for snow later this week. Seriously, how much longer can winter last?
Enough complaining. Enjoy the flowers and the soup. I should join you in some slimming diet. The pants are a little tighter than they should be lately. 🙁
You all are very cute…sorry not cute enough to stop the deploying! Winter does end, and it’s worth the wait, I think, when it finally is over. (Spoken by one who spent 2 very cold winters in Omaha, and 8 in New Jersey!) Such a picture of the eternal life in Christ’s joy and beauty that we all yearn for!
I love cherry blossoms as well – I’d be impatient, too! Your soup recipe cracks me up – any diet soup that includes Guinness as an ingredient can’t be half bad. haha
When does Chris come home? What’s the deal with the rent this month, will it be less of an ordeal, I hope?
You had me convinced you were preggo for a minute 🙂 We love you and miss you.
That soup sounds very …interesting. Not things I would have thought to combine in a soup. Very adventurous of you! I would like to try that soup. But I don’t think you should really slim down too much. I’m getting fat too, and we can’t have my maid of honor being skinnier than me at my wedding! 😉
mari
sorry to hear Chris deployed again. I’ll try calling you in the morning for me, evening for you.
amber
mari,
Titus wants to know the names of your kitties. I’m a bad Kitty Auntie and don’t remember their names!
Amber
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