Americans often equate cemeteries with sadness, loss, grief — not so in Finland, and Helsinki in particular. Here they stroll among the departed in one of the most beautiful cemeteries I have visited, Hietaniemi Cemetery which overlooks the bay of Lapinlahti.
Author Archives: Sharon W
Joshua Tree National Park, Hello Crazy Land!
Joshua Tree National Park is a drive into another world. Inside the park’s parameters lies sleepy Skull Rock — one of many interesting finds in this quirky, protected treasure-land. Continue reading
Topiaries, for life!
Have you ever really thought about the topiary? It is a beautifully trimmed plant that clearly takes the shape of something, anything. They also happen to make me very happy.
Cheese, Glorious Cheese!
Today my first guest post is up over at Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe. To say I am excited to be a part of this wonderful blog is an understatement. Christina is out on maternity leave at the moment so she is sharing some guest posts. Be sure to check in with her website to learn easy ways to make yummy (and healthy-ish) delights. Today it is all about cheese — yes, please!
Here is the link to my post if you want to go directly to it:
guest post // why not try out milkfarm with foreign escapades…
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Friends, Food, and a Little Flower Candy Company
This morning I got to share breakfast with one of my dearest friends as she passed close to my neighborhood on her way to an appointment. I was tasked (delightedly) with the job of suggesting a place to meet. As you may have noticed, I take food very seriously (there is only so much space in the stomach and filling it with just anything is not an ideal option). That’s when I remembered The Little Flower Candy Company on the border between Pasadena and Eagle Rock.
Coffee in Turku, Finland
Coffee is just coffee until you step into a spot that transports you to a little slice of the neighborhood. That is what I found at the family-run Cafe Art in Turku, Finland.
Easter Lily Fun Facts
Easter is only days away and one of my favorite things about this time of year is the emergence of the Easter Lily, all over the place — stores, homes, churches. It got me wondering, why the Easter Lily? They are beautiful and fragrant, but so are other flowers. Here are some interesting tidbits I found out about this beauty…
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The Easter Lily symbolizes joy, hope and life.
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The Easter Lily is also called “The White-Robed Apostle of Hope.” They are said to have been found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Christ’s tears touched the ground.
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World War 1 soldier, Louis Houghton, is responsible for introducing the Easter Lily to the United States. He brought the hybrid lily bulb to the southern coast of Oregon (which is climatically similar to its native Ryukyu Islands of Japan) and the rest is history.
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95% of all bulbs grown for the Easter Lily market are produced by ten farms in a narrow coastal region along the California-Oregon border.
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The potted Easter Lily is the fourth largest potted crop plant in the United States taking its place among the powerhouse poinsettias , mums, and azaleas.
The Way of the Cross – Yarnell, AZ
Holy Week is upon us once again. The stores are filled with decorative Easter bunnies and kids are excited for egg hunts and extra chocolate. With all the commercialization, it has become easy (even convenient) for us to forget what this week gave to us so long ago…freedom. The Way of the Cross at the St. Joseph Shrine of the Mountains in Yarnell, Arizona, is a beautiful, tranquil spot where you can slow down and remember.
The Burbank Spa & Garden, a City Oasis
Ah, the magical days of summer will soon be upon us. Summer vacations, eating watermelon on the front steps, enjoying days at the beach and pool…which all mean I must rid myself of my winter jiggle (aka: get in shape). I have taken well to this idea and have started going to pilates classes. The instructor and classes are great (more in a future post), but the fall-out is stiffer muscles and new aches — at least until my body ramps-up. The plus side of that is the need for a visit to the Burbank Spa and Garden.
Helicopter on Ice, Glacier Ice
Are you a cold weather or warm weather person? I lean more to the cold weather, and I find its beauty so unique. Take, for example, the glacier.