Photographs Summer

making lilac sugar {photographs + links}

lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog

O Me! O Life!
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
-Walt Whitman

*********************************

Lilac sugar wasn’t planned, but after it happened, I wondered if the fates hadn’t aligned it. There in our backyard the apple tree blossoms were falling, scattering themselves among us, making a carpet for our bare feet. Our lilac shrub seemed to  bloom before our eyes, and my two littles couldn’t resist those purple beauties, tempted by their sweet perfume and soft color. As I was brought bouquet after bouquet, I remembered this beautiful post and suggested we should make lilac sugar. My son took off to his favorite tree declaring pirates were far too busy for that sort of thing, but my daughter danced around me, sure that a princess-fairy* had time. And so we now have a jar of lilac sugar that is eager to add some verses to our baking.

{and then some links for your weekend}

Lilac sugar, of course. Happy Birthday, Walt Whitman! (Read Leaves of Grass here for free). This post was all over my facebook – and I’m pretty sure it will be me one day. Naptime picnic date! (I love this blog.) This ice cream looks amazing. So does this one. And these nachos! And this pizza! Yes! I really cannot get enough of this song this week. I really like these plates. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Artisan Magazine, but if you have an ipad it’s free! and lovely! and I have a little piece in this issue. Check them out here.

*I’m keeping quiet on Arrested Development right now. There might have to be a post down the road, but I feel the series needs a re-watching before I’ll give my two-cents.

*a princess-fairy is a princess who is also a fairy. This, of course, is the best of both worlds, and Ms. [W] is 98% sure that this combination of perfection is possible.

*Thanks to Kelsey for reminding me of this verse from Whitman.
lilac sugar15 (1 of 1)blogsize
lilac sugar | the vanilla bean blog

  • Reply
    Kali Ramey Martin
    Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    I just stumbled upon your blog through Pinterest and just wanted to say that it is so, utterly lovely. I’m so sad the lilacs in my yard are gone because all I can think about is making this sugar.

    Have you heard that song, “Lilac Wine?” Miley Cyrus- of all people- did a beautiful cover of it in an acoustic session last summer. Totally haunting and makes me want to put lilacs into everything I bake. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing!

  • Reply
    Camilla
    Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 8:57 am

    Well I love lilacs and I love sugar and I most certainly love the photos in this post. What a lovely thing to make. And how well you captured it!

    Also – I agree. I need to rewatch arrested development before I can properly judge it. I’m just not sure yet…

  • Reply
    Ashley
    Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 12:04 am

    The photos in this post are so incredibly stunning. I’m quite envious of your lilac tree.

  • Reply
    Laurie @ Relishing It
    Monday, June 3, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    Thank you, sweet Sarah, for including my ice cream on your beautiful list. You are so very kind. I’m anxious to try making the lilac sugar– what a wonderful idea!

  • Reply
    la domestique
    Monday, June 3, 2013 at 8:47 am

    I love lilacs and lilac sugar seems like such a wonderful idea– why haven’t I done that before?! Beautiful post!

  • Reply
    Abby
    Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    oh, such gorgeous photos! love them.

  • Reply
    Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today
    Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Oh it looks so good. I’ve never tried one and definitely need to make it 🙂

  • Reply
    Emiko
    Sunday, June 2, 2013 at 5:52 am

    I don’t know how I haven’t come across your blog before, but I am so enjoying getting lost in your beautiful photographs. I have a little book on using flowers in recipes but so far the only recipe I’ve made is rose petal jam. This is truly inspiring!

  • Reply
    Sue/the view from great island
    Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    The lilac sugar and photos are enchanting, and I’m dying to know…does it taste fabulous? I can imagine it might be great in shortbread.

  • Reply
    Elizabeth
    Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Just beautiful. As I stare down an entirely too-hot weekend here in VA, such a beautiful princess-fairy, the flowers and scattered sugar seem so cool and perfect. Your lovely blues and purples remind me so much of “Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose” which is maybe the best painting about summer ever.

  • Reply
    Elvira
    Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 4:06 am

    So lovely! It must be fun to have that little assistant of yours around 😉

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