radishes

The air outside hit 70 degrees today on the island.

We woke up to birdsong filling the space of the open window. We rubbed our eyes and listened to Little Bean’s squeals of giggles through the monitor. What used to be an unthinkably early hour is now our waking, thanks to that little one. Since it’s spring, we open our eyes to full sunlight streaming down on us. This afternoon we joked that we should wear sunscreen to bed. And after I went into Little Bean’s room, and smiled when she lifted her arms toward me, I carried her into our room to cuddle. That’s when I looked out the window and saw it. The cherry tree had exploded overnight into a dreamy white profusion of blossom and sky.

A few moments later, Danny lifted her as high toward that sky as he could reach, so she could experience the cherry tree, in that moment.

Later, we walked down the beach, our feet moving side to side (sometimes nimbly) on the barnacle-encrusted rocks as we talked. Little Bean rode on my back, snug in her carrier, looking out at the water, watching. No one else was there, except the unexpected waves from a big container ship slapping the shore. By the time they reached us, the ship had slipped out of view and trudged forward toward China.

The sun felt good on our skin, after this long winter.

We didn’t bring any food. This surprises me now. It was perfect picnic weather. If I had thought ahead, I would have brought radishes, in small slivers. In a bag at my side, I would have carried slices of crusty (gf) bread, creamy butter (French, or the one we make at home), and some sea salt. I would have sat down on a piece of driftwood, spread butter on bread, radishes on butter, and crunched the sea salt on top. And then I would have looked up into the sky, and seen the halo of the sun around Danny’s head as I handed him the snack.

Today was heaven.

But maybe tomorrow I’ll remember the radishes.

And you? How do you like to eat radishes?

p.s. I was deeply honored that the fabulously talented Paige Orloff asked me to be part of the Sister Project, and featured me in an interview and gallery of photos about what sisterhood means to me.

Come on over and take a look.