What does a façade say about a home?

Façade .

Such a beautiful word.

I’ve been fascinated not only with the word itself, but with what it represents, since the age of seven.

Standing in front of my aunt’s newly purchased home, I was instructed to appreciate, to take in every detail of the façade.

A massive, ornate wooden door took center stage while the beautiful French windows served as the perfect accompaniment.

“Bella,” my aunt said, “A home is only as beautiful as its façade.”

At the time, I was too young to understand that what my aunt was trying to say was that a façade is like a letter of presentation; a preview of what’s to come.

And this is because a façade can either attract visitors or it can repel them.

Of course, this isn’t true of all façades.

I’ve visited homes where the façade was plain and nondescript and yet the home’s interior was breathtakingly beautiful.

Some might believe that viewing a façade for the first time is like the initial impression you have when you meet people–you’re either interested in getting to know them better or you’re unimpressed.

The latter signifying that you’re not desirous of discovering whether or not they might have other qualities that aren’t visible at first sight.

I was most impressed with the majority of the façades I saw in Spain.

Some of them were beautifully adorned with flowers; others simply stood in the perfect spot.

Some piqued my curiosity and made me wonder what lay inside; others allowed me to dream of sitting on their terraces while drinking coffee.

Façade: the first thing you see when approaching a house and what you most remember upon leaving.

This façade even has a bench in front of it.

Flowers are found on most windowsills.

This façade looks like something out of a story book.

Don’t let the simplicity of this façade fool you. It has an ocean front view!

Some façades exhibit the name of the house.

Bougainvillea seems to be the Spaniards’ flower of choice when it comes to adorning their façades.

A stone façade is always so rustic!

What does your actual or dream façade look like?

Won’t you grab a cup of coffee and witness 10 signs that spring is getting warmer?

One of the best things about living in Europe is being able to witness the changing seasons.

Four times a year, my eyes feast on different scenes: spring, with its burgeoning blossoms, summer’s bright skies, the falling leaves of autumn, and the snowfalls of winter.

Nevertheless, while spring made it’s entrance a month and a half ago, we’ve yet to experience its warmer temperatures.

This week however, we’ve been given signs that this is about to change.

The sun has been shining, the wind’s gone on a coffee break, and the rain seems to be on hiatus.

Roxy and I have taken advantage of the lovely weather by going on long walks.

These allow us the opportunity to witness this transformation and capture it in picture form.

Enjoy!

Lovely cherry blossoms make an appearance.

Doves perch on tree branches outside my window.

The sun encourages you to drink your coffee outside.

Dogs swim in the canal.

Parrots show their face.

Roxy sunbathes at the park.

Balconies start to look like this.

People bring out their lawn chairs.

Roxy starts doing 200 meter sprints.

What signs of spring have you witness recently?

Is there such a thing as a one sentence conversation?

Folks, Spring break has arrived!

At last, a break from nagging reminding the Son to set his alarm clock, study for midterms, and complete projects.

I’m finally able to clear away the mountains of books that have given our living room its “library after the hurricane” avant-garde look these past two weeks.

Only one book has been left in sight: Life of Pi, a book I started to read three years ago but sadly, have never finished.

Yes, I’m quite grateful for this break.

I’m looking forward to photographing the emerging signs of spring.

Already, the crocus have sprouted and the birds are chirping.

There’s only one caveat: knowing I also have to do some spring cleaning.

But before I start rummaging for cleaning supplies, I wanted to share with you what has to be the shortest conversation I’ve ever had with the Significant Other.

However, know that you won’t be reading a dialogue.

And that this conversation took place at a bus stop.

And that it consists of one sentence.

Yet it showcases a “twist” on our recent topic of comparison.

Ironically, I used comparison to stop comparison dead in its tracks.

Confused?

Read on.

“I’ll look like this

when you look like this

Enough said.

And now I’m off to find the Hazmat suit.

The bathroom needs scrubbing!

Have a good week, friends!