Infused air...

I am a firm believer that when someone asks you if you'd like to visit a lavender farm, your answer should ALWAYS be a resounding "Yes, please!"

As I continued my spring break up and down the central coast of California, I had the absolute pleasure of making a quick trip to Santa Ynez to visit Clairmont Lavender Farms (owned by the former employer of my pseudo-step-mom's former nanny (who I visited in Sweden in September)... once again... did you follow that? Just trying to wrap my head around the idea that we're all really related somehow if you just take the time to connect the dots).

The first thing I noticed, after driving down an olive-tree lined driveway of course, was the scent of the air. While they had only recently re-planted their lavender crop and there were just tiny buds, the very atmosphere carried the scent of fresh lavender. Almost as soon as I stepped out of the car, I felt my soul inhale that lavender air and exhale a mountain of stress.

The additions of a friendly cat, dog, buzzing bees, some lavender infused lemonade and a nice chat with the farm owners only add to the feeling that you've stepped onto a little slice of Paradise.

I don't know how I managed it, but I was able to transport a bundle of dried lavender all over the coast, through LAX and onto the plane back to Chicago, where it will live out it's days in some handprinted glass jars (I can make a tutorial on these, if you're interested) in my home... a reminder of another beautiful place on this earth that my path was lucky enough to traverse.