March at the Cottage. April at the Farm.

A monthly wrap up of sorts & notes welcoming the upcoming month.

March held the promise of release and transition. She brought blooming irises, daffodils, and daisies. March was sweet to me. Some mornings she watered my garden, sent breezes through my window, and playfully tossed leaves outside.

This month, I deleted social media. The gray-haze of things has been slowly drifting away. I have found so much joy in the un-documentation of things.

I will be spending the last few days of March writing in the last pages of my current journal, backpacking around Louisiana, lounging on poolside chairs, and spending hours in cafes ordering iced Americanos and reading novels. Keep your eye out in your inbox for an upcoming travel diary.

Favorites of the month consist of: mushroom tortellini, naps in the car at the park, sprouting flowers, lavender matchas with oat milk, the “Starting Over” album by Chris Stapleton (specifically “Joy of my Life” and “Cold”), thrifted jeans and sunhats, fully dressed burgers, short road trips, and hours spent in nature.

READING //

(Long Form)

At the beginning of the month I was in the mood for a cowboy romance. It’s a fierce, oddly specific trope/type of story that I adore. I will not further elaborate. What I will say is that I picked up Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins. It’s a historical romance following a ranch owner named Logan and his new housekeeper Mariah, whom was hired by his mother. And though they get off on the wrong foot, they end up quickly taking a liking to each other. It was a good time.

Neighbors (and Other Stories) by Diane Oliver is a whip-smart, sharp collection of stories that were eye-opening, kind of depressing, but so truthful when it comes to the everyday life of Black people during the Jim-Crow era. Oliver is a hidden gem. I’m so happy I’ve gotten to read fragments of her work.

Mickey Chambers Shakes it Up by Charish Reid- is an adorable opposites attract romance between an English professor named Mickey and a bar-owner named Diego. They meet each other when Mickey is interviewing at Diego’s bar and Diego becomes a new student in Mickey’s class. Their dynamic was so cute because they were the complete opposite which made their banter so entertaining. I read this book in a few sittings and enjoyed it so much.

Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery was my last read of the month. “Sy Montgomery is a woman that works with people that help and heal injured or sick turtles and repair shells. Within the story she is also discussing her personal experiences with what was the years of 2019-2023 amid COVID, racial unjust, and so much more. Montgomery talks alot about what dealing with such slow-moving creatures feels like when you’re in a society that perpetrates hustle-culture everyday as well as when life gets interrupted and the concept of time is misconstrued.” (from: “Floral-esque Book Recommendations for Spring)

(Short Form)

My favorite March newsletters have consisted of

Kezia

’s “Breakfast Tea and Ten-Year Friendships”, a loving post full of nostalgia, connection, and tea. I’ve been begging the universe to bring me some extremely fulfilling friendships and this post just gave me so much hope.

“One of the reasons I love hot drinks in general is that you’re forced to slow down as you drink them. As you go to sip, you have to regulate your breathing, try your best to cool at least the surface-level liquid, and sip just enough to satisfy your thirst without burning your tongue. If I let it be, there are times when drinking hot drinks feels like mindfulness.” (Kezia)

Amanda Leigh

’s “march at the market” was such a beautiful ode to spring, the month of march, and growth. I always adore Leigh’s work.

“At the market this month, we can begin to feel the shift to a new season, with lots of tender green leaves, herbs, shoots, and juicy roots to eat as the earth slowly wakes back up. It is a month of the color green, both in produce and in the landscape.” (Leigh)

I’m new to

Marc Typo

’s Raising Myles site. But his posts have been creating so much joy for me. I recently read “How I Proposed to Your Mother” and it was one of my favorite pieces of the month. It was so sappy and heartwarming and I loved it.

“When I got home from work, your mother was getting ready, in a panic because she wasn’t sure if she was dressed for the occasion. She wore a maxi dress that clung to her curves firmly but gently, her braids flowed, face did, and she smelled like everything a man in love could ask for. I looked at her like one of those 90s cartoon characters whose eyes were popping out of their sockets, and the pupils jumped out even further.” (Typo)

(Yulani, March 2023, Cannon g7x Photo Dump)

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“April showers bring May flowers,” they say. My memories of April include many perfect rainy days: a consistent drizzle, the sun peaking out of the clouds, a slight mist in the air, and the most pleasant temperature. I’m hoping to see a wild rabbit this spring and maybe a deer.

My goals for April: buy a swimsuit & pair of white linen pants (my beloved pants have been missing for a year), make zero-waste oral switches, read The Waves by Virginia Woolf, and find a farm to volunteer at.

WHAT’S IN SEASON //

(Vegetables)

Asparagus, avocado, artichoke, carrots, leeks, spring onion & garlic, snap peas, fava beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spring greens, sweet potato.

(Fruits)

Strawberries, mangos, kiwis, apples, blueberries, and cherries.

I will be going straight to my local farmers market this month and racking up on some fresh produce. Some things I’m excited to make are strawberry pies. I’ve mastered pie crust and I’ve been growing a fierce craving for strawberry pies recently. I also want to make spinach and artichoke dip, roasted Brussels sprouts, and a raw spring salad with snap peas. Yum.

Have a beautiful April,

Yulani S.