The weather in Oakland has been stunning for the last couple weeks. I never thought I wanted to live in a warm place, but I am officially converted. I predict a summer full of leaving the doors and windows open and wearing tank tops from sun up to sun down. Novel!

When she was in town, miss Anjie helped me tremendously by clearing out the weeds in the back yard (before). Alesia helped, too... Thanks, beautiful Stricklands!

tadah!

Saturday was the Spring Plant Sale at the Berkeley Botanical Garden, but at the last minute I was asked to teach a dance class right in the middle of the sale. I thought I wasn't going to make it, but I raced up the hill in my sweaty clothes and impulse bought two wagons-full of a lot of plants I've never even seen before. I can't wait to see what takes off.

+ =

I also started in on pots. The house had three ugly, plastic, faux concrete pots in the back yard, and i scrubbed and spray painted them. Then, the neighbors offered us eight pots they were not planning to use. Since big pots are expensive, I feel like I won the lottery.

Last night we got home from Marin (more teaching) to light the grill for sausages and make our first official ensalata caprese of the summer. This is my favorite warm-weather food, and I'm hoping to be walking out back to pick my own tomatoes and basil by the end of the summer.

Oh yeah, and I am going to take a saw to this pronto so we can see our pretty plants.