Amanda Rose blog

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Dad had talked about going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to see the Japanese cherry blossom trees since all the way back in February.  We thought the Cherry Blossom Festival was March 27 and 28th for a good while, but then understood it was April 27th and 28th.  

Well, yesterday was the 28th, and we went, and it was one of those great father + daughter day trips that dad surprises us with sometimes. (One back in Feb 2012.) 

The weather was fine, the plants were plentiful, and I truly realized that they heal me. I found a few favorites that will make up pots around my future home for sure.

I walked around and admired nature and thought of which plants my nana and grandma would like. When I went into the Bonsai Museum, I had to fight back tears. It made me think of him and when I bought him that Valentine's Day bonsai tree a few years back. I thought of him the whole day, actually.  I thought of how much he would've loved it, and how awesome it would be if I came with his mother and father, too.  I even imagined visiting with our potential kid, and setting up picnic blankets, and asking friends with their families to join us.  Why does my brain go there?

It was a lovely Sunday morning. I will be going back, although I don't know when.  I'm grateful for this past weekend, and not so ready to start a new week, but here we go.

God bless & enjoy your Monday, all!

STEAL Magnolias

Since the Monday sister shenanigans that occurred last week on our walk/jog/run trail, every day that's felt like spring, my sister and I have gotten out to scale our neighborhood.

...and every time we have, we've seen more and more beauty blossoming in these magnolia trees.

The color, coupled with the blue sky...it's definitely pulling my inner color dial that spins wildly with the changing of seasons, trying to land on a go-to palette for the next few weeks/months.

The blues, pinks, and purples have already inspired a bunch of my recet instagram images, as you can see above.  My favorite part is this is not even a conscious decision.  The magnolia trees have no doubt left an impression, and effected me more so this year than any year before.

I think it has a lot to do with the break-up (1, 2, & 3).  I'm doing really well in a lot of ways, but am truly broken in very unobvious ways.  Things that normally wouldn't bother me, have lately.  I've gotten incredibly emotional after hours of strength.  I'll be ecstatic that it's spring one minute, then be flooded with one of our many spring memories, and need to stop and catch my breath the next. People around me talking to me, not talking to me, about him, about work, about their love problems...I physically can't seem to take any of it lately.  My sleeps's been off.  Dreams of him. Time feels frozen.

But everyday we walk...and every time I past these magnolia trees, I feel lifted.  All the struggles I've been going through in missing him, in being alone - -truly a palpable loneliness- - for those brief traveling moments walking under the magnolia tree, I am at peace.

I'm truly grateful for their presence in my life this year.

I had made up my mind that I wanted to steal a couple of magnolias.

At the end of our walk yesterday, that's what I did:

God bless.

Happy Thursday.

Thanks for visiting.

our classroom garden - DOCUMENTED

This was a project that ran from the first day back from April YAYcation (April 16th we planted our seeds in the dirt) to just last Friday (May 11th - the Friday before Mother's Day).

I was impressed everyday with the speed of spurt.  I had bought marigold seeds hearing that they grew quickly, were great indoor flowers, and were top choice for re-planting.  Then, one of my kiddies brought in moonflower seeds knowing we were going to start our classroom garden.

We were growing marigolds and moonflowers. (I love saying them two together.) :)

Everyday the class logged the growth activity.

It was so dummy-proof which was GREAT!  The hardest part of the whole thing was lugging the bucket of dirt to school that first morning.  The rest really was as simple as water and set by sunlight.  It was pretty cool.

Friday I wrapped the ugly booger-green pots with their choice of tissue paper color and cellophane, secured with a rubberband, attached a small photo of the student, and finished with a poem that said:

"I've been caring for this pot of plants
since they were tiny seeds

I've fed them, loved them, and watched them grow,
just like you did me." 

I heard it was a pretty big hit.

I kinda miss the garden in our room.

Next project: our Poetry Cafe! 

Stay tuned. ;)

xOxO,