5o’clock Saturdays & a draw – and Beautyhabit!

Each season has its delights but, to my mind, there is nothing quite like a late Saturday afternoon in mid-Spring, especially if the weather is that weird ‘Summer in the light/Winter in the shade’.  There is a particular, piercing light that comes from the West, as the sun wends its way to the setting point.  If it’s a warmish day, as it was today, I am usually working like a fiend in the garden – and today was no exception.  Until around 5pm.  Perhaps it’s because my garden is maturing, so there’s not as much to do.  Perhaps it’s because I am growing older…but..around 5p, on a warm Saturday in Spring, I find myself slowing  just a bit.  Normally I spend the bulk of a Spring Saturday with my back bent and my head to the ground as I root out thatch and thistle and violets that threaten to choke the life out of my lilies (violets are beautiful.  but they are THUGS).  But something about that 5p  – it is when most of the lawn mowers sputter to a stop and the nearly manic sounds of children in the park across the street start to quiet down – most of them head for home and dinner and those who remain come off the basketball court, snuggle into their jackets and sit on the benches, laughing and exchanging whatever dire secrets  kid exchange these days.  By 5:30-6p even the most diehard laggard  is on his way home, hopefully to a hot meal and some time with family.  That diminution of noise is the signal for me to pull my head out of the dirt, pour myself a glass of whatever and sit down…and just enjoy the garden.  I mean, really – had I not sat my tired self down, I wouldn’t have seen this:

fun face

isn’t this charming? it’s the shadow of a little birds’ nest ornament, stuck in the demilune border.  With the sun shining through it the effect is that of a cute little face.  It’s been there for the past year – but this is the first time I’ve noticed it.   I’ve got to get my head out of the dirt more.

here is that clear, crisp light at 5p.  In the next month this will be gone, having given way to a warmer, rounder hue. (the birdcage on the ground is one of many my bfffe’s husband’s garage sale grabs  – I use them for seed sowing and early lettuces)

silver iris

5 o’clock Girl

By 6:45 we’d tidied up,  returned from our post-dinner walk and I was on my way to the showers.  I wasn’t sad to leave the garden to itself – the days and nights have gone back to normal Spring temps and it gets pretty nippy out there. That’s when it’s lovely to get snuggled into some fleece, pour a martini, and enjoy the view of your labors from the comfort of the kitchen.

I like these days.  I didn’t use to so much, having been in a hurry for the roses to bloom and the lilies to pop.  But a few years ago we had August in April and …omg… lilacs budded, bloomed and were spent in 2 days!  Tulips were up and gone before I had a chance to even notice they were there.  That lovely, elusive scent of viburnum?  It never happened, with the blooms up and out of here within 48hrs.  All the things in Spring that require Time for you to notice, then adjust your soul to receive their quiet beauty?  Gone.  And there is a special charm to these coldish, mid-Spring afternoons; the beauty really is quieter in that sharp light and requires that you slow your roll just a tad, maybe pull your head out of the weeds for a minute.. notice the teeny little irises, the cute little face on the fence.  At 5p, put away your tools, pull on your fleece, and walk the beautiful 5 o’clock Girl.  It’s also the perfect time to wear some scents that might not work in warmer weather – this is the only time I can wear the gorgeous Bel Respiro , Iris 39 and Delrae Mythique.  Any warmer and the rounder drydowns on these can bring up my lunch.  In the cool, crispness of a sharp Spring day their beauty soars, crystalline.

How are you spending your Spring?  Is this a fun time for you or are you eager for Summer?  The Girl would love to know and will pull a couple of names for some fun stuff from the Messy Armoire if you tell her a story!

aaannnd!  DagNABBIT!  I am NOT in LA.  Which sucks.  Because BEAUTYHABIT is!  Omg.  I dunno if any of you were with us on the LA Scentsation run – it was AMAZING!  And if you could’ve seen my and March’s face when we first walked into Beautyhabit.  It was hysterical.  It was like walking into Ali Baba’s cave!  It took us an extra hour to get everybody out of there and back on the bus.  Well!  I wish I could be there on Saturday because….

y’all.  If I weren’t broke as stones I would book a flight RIGHT NOW!  If you’re anywhere in LA and have time, I urge you to GET THEE TO BEAUTYHABIT!  It’s like nowhere else on earth!  This is an amazing Fragrance Event but they do it up SO MUCH MORE!  GET THEE THERE!