Spring?

Spring is here, or is it? We had snow on the first day of spring and the past few days have been cold as temperatures hovered in the near 20s and 30s. I'm still wearing thick jackets and mittens to work. I've had it and I am so ready to shed these winter garments. I am sick of winter.

On the brighter side, I've been seeing signs of spring pop here and there. In my neighborhood, it's the Crocus that I've seen first to bloom. They come in different colors and they're very pretty.

This is my favorite - purple striped.

In addition to the Crocuses or Croci, the Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias are now reaching their peak bloom. The photo above was taken during our visit to the National Arboretum. This tree is a sight to see - really beautiful with flowing clusters of white flowers.

The sky becomes a canvass for these beautiful blooms.

Just a short excuse and recap of my absence in the blogging world. The months of February and March came and went like a mist. I even barely remember what I've accomplished or what I've done. Most days at work, I was running around like a chicken without a head. The load of work has been too much and I've been running on fumes. We were preparing for a big exhibit - the biggest event for the company for this year. 

The preparation actually started in December 2017 but the culmination of events took form in the first three months of the year. There were 11 committees involved, and my committee prepared for seven panels with four to six speakers each.  This is in addition to my very own project as board book appointee. I was in so much anguish, stress and pain and I was not sleeping. The event finally took place in March in Florida with close to 1,500 attendees. During the event, I was working 12-hour shifts for straight four days. 

Yes, the event was great, I traveled on company money, and the experience will look great on my resume. However, it was too much stress and too energy draining. I'm just glad it is over, and I am slowly recovering. Because right after the exhibit, I got very sick and lost four days of work.

I am hoping that as my work schedule normalizes, I can blog regularly again. I will be posting more photos from our visit to the National Arboretum.

Our World Tuesday

Magnolias At Lafayette Square

I moved to the DC area in the Fall of 2001. I've just realized that I've been living here for almost 14 years, and it has become near and dear to my heart. After all, this is the place where I finished my undergrad and soon my graduate studies this May. It's the place where I fell-in-love, broke my heart, fell-in-love again and met my husband, Kepi. In fact, our first date was at the National Mall.

I know that when people, locals and tourists, talk about DC, they associate it with politics, dirty lobbyists, government shutdowns and a pathetic dating scene. But I wish to digress and show what I love about DC, the DC I know, the DC that ordinary people like me see and experience everyday. Whether it's a bad commute at the DC Metro, a relaxing lunch at the park or a day spent enjoying the blooms that dominate the area in spring time. DC's charm can sometimes be overshadowed by the incessant squabble between Democrats and Republicans, but at the end of the day, the city and its numerous monuments silently stand watch as history is made each day, not by the big shots, but by the ordinary, nameless people who keep the city running.

Today, I'll feature Lafayette Square which is named in honor of General Lafayette of France.

 This is a popular place to have lunch, relax, catch up with friends and even yoga classes.

 Magnolia flowers are large, beautiful and stunning.

 In early spring, the air around the Square is permeated with the sweet scent of blooming Magnolia flowers. I'd purposely walk around here during lunch time, and when the temperature is warm enough, I'd eat my lunch underneath these blooms.

 A statue of General Lafayette and his Patriots.

A different angle of General Lafayette's statue.

It was drizzling when I took this photo.

Do you see The White House?

The Washington Monument from a distance.

Lafayette Square is a seven-acre public park located directly north of the White House on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets, NW. The Square and the surrounding structures were designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1970. Originally planned as part of the pleasure grounds surrounding the Executive Mansion, the area was called "President's Park". The Square was separated from the White House grounds in 1804 when President Jefferson had Pennsylvania cut through. In 1824, the Square was officially named in honor of General Lafayette of France. (Source here.)

It's tourist season here. I know people are flocking to the Tidal Basin for the Cherry Blossoms but do not overlook the other flowering trees in DC. The Magnolias at Lafayette Square are stunningly beautiful. Another plus is that it is in front of The White House.

Tiny Flowers - Lavender

On happier note...

On that day, the parents, Kepi and I made our way to the Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Virginia. It was a trip to take my mind off from what about to happen - the bone marrow biopsy.  I got a promotional ticket for three and a free gift of Lavender cuttings. It was drizzling when we drove to the Lavender Farm.

That area is simply beautiful. We drove through idyllic orchards, farms and all types of enchanting greenery. We even stopped by an Alpaca Farm. (I didn't take photos.)

The beauty of the world masked the pain inside me. That day, I had fears but I tried to feel "ok."

A wild white rabbit welcomed us, as we walked towards the Lavender fields. I wanted to pick up and hug the bunny; he's that cute.

Kepi took this photo. I'm amazed at how his photography skills have improved. This is my favorite shot.

Beautiful!

A yellow in the midst of lavenders. I feel like that sometimes.

After the drizzle...

The owner's house.

Mom cutting Lavender stems for the house.

Very fragrant flowers.

My basket and my Lavender cuttings.

Every tiny flower on each stem is blessed with uniqueness, fragrance and beauty - just like us, humans.

Although we're tiny specks of dust in this whole wide world of creation, each of us are all blessed with great strength and tenacity. We are tiny specks that truly matter.

Tulip Season Is Beautiful Season

Okay, I'm not supposed to be blogging since I'm in the midst of wrapping up my spring semester (I have a presentation tomorrow and three semester papers to write), but I want to share these Tulip photos with all of you. I've been looking forward to their blooming, and I can't help but fall-in-love with their beauty each year.

I hope these beautiful flowers will bring some smile and color to your day - no matter where you are.

Pink Bleeding Heart (Oops, not a Tulip, but it's one of my favorite flowers.)

White Daffodils mixed with Pink Tulips.

Vibrant orange Tulips.

There were rows and rows of all types of Tulips.

Magnificent yellows.

Mixed red  and oranges.

Our weekend was spent visiting the Tulips of Pennsylvania.

I am behind my travel posts, but hopefully, I'll be able to catch up and share my photos with you when I hit summer vacation.

Why can't summer come sooner?

Cherry Blossoms

Seeing the Cherry Blossoms is an annual tradition.

When I wasn't engaged yet, I used to stop by the Tidal Basin after work and spend the evening just walking underneath the beautiful blooms. It's a great thing that Kepi is also into the Cherry Blossoms, so when we finally got the time last weekend, we made the trek to DC with mom.

I think that I'll never cease being amazed at how beautiful these blooms are.  The word "beautiful" is not even close to describing these flowers, but perhaps heavenly is a more appropriate word. When you walk underneath the fully bloomed trees and the sky is covered with white and soft pink blooms, it's an out of this world experience.

Walk with me underneath the Cherry Blossoms.

I see balance and perfection on this tree.

A painting come to life.

Blooms.

Walking on pink ground.

Flowers from the Cherry tree's trunk.

Water Lilies

When visiting the Longwood Gardens, I highly recommend spending time at the Main Conservatory. At this time of the year, apart from all the different varieties of flowers on exhibit, they also have pools filled with more than 100 types of day and night-blooming tropical waterlilies, hardy waterlilies, lotuses, giant water-platters and other aquatic and bog plants.

Giant platters or pizza.

 I spent hours sitting and just watching these water lilies. They're so beautiful most especially when you discover the ones that bloom at night.