The Birthday Birds

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will notice two recurring themes: my friend Nicole, and my love for birds. Sometime in mid-June I went to pick up a deliciously belated birthday gift from the Milford post office, and when I opened I, a delectably girlish scent came wafting out….I would notice that scent absolutely anywhere. The temple of all women in New York City: Anthropologie.

Amongst the several gifts in the box was a book, but not just any ordinary book – this is How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird by Mordricai Gerstein.

It tells the story of a child who, upon waking, erects an easel, grabs his paint and brushes, and paints all things that make a bird happy, starting with the essentials – sunshine, the sound of the summer breeze, a strong perch.

Finally, the bird comes to sing, and all is right in the world.

The story is enough to grasp one’s heart, but the artwork is joyful, bright, and captivating.

The story is a fable so ultimately universal that it’s officially my favorite, on par with that heartwarming standby, The Giving Tree.

There’s something so warm and universal about the both of them. It’s the best gift for any child – even grown up children like myself.

That intoxicating smell that first came out of the box belonged to another bird-motif gift. Mozi date, fig & olive soap.

Fig is one of my all time favorite scents, and I’ve been known to burn this Votivo Moroccan fig candle down the last trace of wax.

How can something be so calming to your body, and so invigorating to your mind – all at the same time? That’s what everything mentioned here does for me.

I’m going to go read my book now…the sun is starting to finally come out…