If you lived in Los Angeles you would want to go walking under the moonlight and breathe in the heady night air. The fragrance at night and early morning in the northern part of the city is sweet and strong. If you lived here you would want to open a window and let the scent inside. And like me, you would want to know the name of the trees that turn into perfume factories here in the late winter. For nearly 20 years their name has eluded me. I admire their secrecy. Information these days is sometimes too easily captured.
The travel journal is being built from the ground up.
Envelopes are being made.
Small pockets and tucked-in pages. Security envelopes have their role and fill it well.
And this farmhouse couple from South Dakota have agreed to accompany me on my journey to the Mediterranean. They’ve never been and always wanted to go. I’m pleased to take them.
What would a post be lately without a flower to light the way? Geranium. Good, stalwart friend of the garden.
MARY ANN MOSS
I’m just reading this now on April 6, but thinking that the beautiful purple trees that smell so good aren’t jacarandas. They look like purple clouds when in bloom and smell wonderful. I had them in my yard for the three years I lived in Australia!
Cyndi – Dreams Unltd
ok Mary Ann – I am spellbound –
the perfume factories have reached me
in these upper icy reaches –
and I am smitten…
xox – eb.
ps – did someone say sweet pea?
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……….
lovely
Great goddess, Mary Ann. Your blog always leaves me breathless. I could not begin to put all of what is scratched up in me when I visit here, so just know, you are a gift, you leave me breathless.
Your journal is beautiful and juicy at the same time, sturdy and lovely like a good woman and that you are, MaryAnn of the city of the angels.
You see beauty everywhere. Such a gem you are.
Your travel journal is already intriguing, and you haven’t even left yet! Don’t know what the lovely scented trees are. Maybe you could email the photo to the arboretum? Could be a Texas Mountain Laurel or a Western Redbud. Or even a Chinese Wisteria that has covered a tree or two in your neighborhood. Let us know, please, if you find out. RJ
The anticipation is delicious. How excited you must be.
I agree with the person that said soon many of these pages, including the flowered ones, will be covered in Italian memorabilia that can easily be found in so many places. You will see.
I will be in Italy twice this year. Life is grand.
HRM H.C.;
I can’t divulge the location on my blog for fear of the wrong interloper (one of my three) finding out! But as yours is a secure line, the location is Paso Robles (Templeton, to be precise).
Shred and eat this after reading.
I’m curious about that little text backgrounded “washer thing” around the eyelet of the envelope (in second photo). Did you make that? circle punching some text source? Very effective against the floral print.
It is not until I tried to duplicate techniques or photo sensibilities that I TRULY appreciate how fine your work is. It appears free, effortless and spontaneous but there is great consciousness to the placement of everything – whether it be in your photo or paper compositions. I am in more awe (awed-er)
It could be the citrus, Mary Ann. Check ’em out – they are covered with flowers. Fruit trees are flowering this time of year too although many of them have dropped their petals by now because of the winds.
Oh this is so marvelous. I can’t even TELL you.
Loved your comment to my blog. We are both traveling lately, but you are going far far away, not quite other-galaxy far, but far!
At least I think so. Where the hell are you going, again?
I thought they were sweet peas also – are they trailing across the ground? Do they voluntarily appear? I am envying your advance on the flowering season (you all – LA, California and MaryAnn – flower year round). I am curiouser and curiouser about the journal. How kind of you to share its gestation and emergence with us. Do they make travel wheels for journals i wonder.
I was going to write something all mushy and then I read Patty’s comment about the lady’s bra. ha ha ha ha. Oh, the beauty of it all. Life if good. xoxo
Could you ask where she buys her bras at? I could use a good one like that.
When my neighborhood was so overpoweringly sweet last summer, I found out that the secret and unassuming trees putting out the scent were linden or basswood trees. But that’s in Colorado. When I’m in California, I love the scent of eucalyptus and bay laurel trees. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to smell the trees? Better than any scent you can bottle and buy!
Is there a pocket in that wonder journal to take someone from Colorado? I would be very quiet and good, I promise.
Your travel journal is the VERY BEST!! SO fabulous!! (Though I have a feeling those beautifully flowered pages & flaps are going to be comletely transformed & covered over w. all things Italiano by the time it is finished. You might even find, at a flea market,-Porta Portese if you are a Roma on a Sunday morning-a foto di una coppia dalla compagna to keep your American couple company.) Very Good that’s its sturdy! It NEEDS to be strong to hold & protect the treasury of awesome art you will create from the sounds, smells (try gelsomino(jasmine) e rosmarino for starters), sights (che magnifica!!), tastes (buonissimi!) & emotions of your experiences a Roma e Costa Amalfi.
I am smiling & wiggling in my seat in anticipazione of your arrival in Italia & your soggiorno li. Dios mio! Tutti i santi!! You are in for one heck of an eye-poppin’,gorgeous people watchin’, history takin’-in, taste testin’, wine drinkin’ & art blowin’away treat!! You may experience the “Stendahl Effect”! My advice: keep pinching yourself & leave room on the rings for more journal inclusions! Even the paper they wrap il formaggio in is bellissima! I am so thrilled you & Carol are going to Italia – the amazement will not be lost on the two of you!!
Thanks for the beautiful geranium photo!! Love,S.
The travel journal looks delish! I want to crawl right in and go along with you. Nice travel buddies you have there, I am sure they will enjoy the trip too.
That is kind of you, to take the folks from South Dakota. Being from South Dakota myself, I thought perhaps I knew them…but I don’t! Tell them to go easy on the Ouzo – that stuff packs a punch! Love the journal and flowers, of course.
Are the trees covered in purple? Might they be Jacaranda? They smell mighty good.
Ohhh, is that a sweet pea on top? If it is, it brings back memories of my grandmother’s sweet peas! Of all things, m.a., she had a large “rolled up” standing-up bundle of wire right outside the kitchen window. On that wire, each year, grew gorgeous sweet peas. I can smell them now~if I try really, really hard.
Come see my newest post~I am thinking of my granny right now =)
Thanks for helping me remember~you ARE the best!
~and~I love the travel journal pages(so far)~wish I were the S.D. couple going with you.