Swift Six for Saturday

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Since this week has been (mostly) about spring, let's do a swift six (because that alliterates with Saturday, of course) on April!

 

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths. There's something about those little pastel florets I can't resist. I always have a pot indoors this time of year. 

2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus - but it has to be steamed until it's perfectly crisp.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  Opening Day, of course. Every April, Ross would say, "I think this could could be the Red Sox's year." (spoiler: it usually wasn't.)

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA, ever since I bungled DIY taxes so badly we had to get lawyers involved...

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? My friend Roxanne gave me a perfect LL Bean classic raincoat, so I'm all about the yellow slicker now.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?  Cherry blossoms. I'm going to visit my sister in DC next week, and I'm hoping some will still be hanging on!

 

 DEBORAH CROMBIE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I'm with you on the hyacinths, Julia. That scent is divine. For when they're not in season, my farmers market friend makes hyacinth candles which are not a bad substitute.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Asparagus, but must not be over-cooked. Although I do also love spring peas.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

Major League Opening Day!!

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

CPA absolutely!

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Love my Eddie Bauer rain jacket, but will add an umbrella in a real downpour.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

Garden centers. Too many to count already this spring. It's an addiction.

  

 HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? 

Tulips! My very favorite. Although I love the fragrance of hyacinths.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Difficult! I adore grilled asparagus, though, if it's just right. And it wins for weirdest way of growing.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?  

 Oh, opening day, that's so irresistible. But I have covered the Marathon for years, and its so strange not to be there now that I am not on the beat.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? 

CPA, yikes. Definitely.

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella?  

That's so funny. Umbrellas work, but they are SO awkward. Your umbrella gets soaked as you use it to get to the car. You get into the car, and then what? Ahh.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? 

Garden centers, most definitely. I love the fragrance, and anything seems possible. (And I truly did not realize why they were called nurseries until like, yesterday. I gasped.)

 

RHYS BOWEN:

Bear in mind that I am in Arizona. Spring is long gone. Temps are over 90. Any spring flower that thought of growing has been long fried and died.  But I do go back to CA in a week's time and it should be spring there with poppies, lupins etc.

 

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

I love tulips in theory but they never last long enough in the house. Daffodils are usually the first to be found in Trader Joes and come home with me to cheer up dark days.

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

We seem to live on asparagus. Having lived in Germany and Austria where there is an aparagus season of about 6 weeks, and white asparagus too, I think I'd really prefer that. The restaurants cook everything asparagus and then it goes.

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

I'll watch the Masters as my family are golf fanatics, but I'm a tennis fan and am watching Monte Carlo this week.

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

I have used HR Block's program for several years, after consulting both CPAs and Tax attorneys. Since the major work is assembling all the items not entering them it seems to work well for me. (and I got a refund for the first time in ages)

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

Usually raincoat. Who has an extra hand for an umbrella and it's impossible to navigate crowds.

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

None of the above this year, although I may try to get out to the Marin Headlands to the wildflowers when we return to CA.

  

 JENN McKINLAY: 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils are spring to me, but I love hyacinths and tulips, too.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus. My parents used to grow it in our garden, so also a core memory.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Major League Opening Day!!! Go D-Backs!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 I have a CPA but I'm so late this year I think it's going to be DIY - please, save me.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 A brolly, always! It doubles as a weapon if needed :)

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Cherry blossoms!!!

 

 HALLIE EPHRON:

 1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

Definitely tulips. I love the way they go every which way and then toss their petals at the end.

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

Spring peas. If I can find them. So special.

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 Dare I say? None of the above. 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA, please. Being self-employed is complicated.

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat... if only I had one. So most of the times it's just a hat and a fast run.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

GARDEN CENTERS! Gotta have a big pot of pansies and another one of basil. To me that says SPRING. Trying to outsmart thee rabbits is a losing gambit. 

 

 LUCY BURDETTE:

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 Daffodils--so cheerful and early, I find them irresistible! 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 Asparagus, but it must be from our garden or a farm nearby. Otherwise it has a bitter taste and I don't even want to mention the aftereffects!

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 The Masters! Even though most of the current golfers could be my grandchildren. I still love golf and look back fondly at the Golf Lovers Mystery Series!

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 CPA. Not even a question!

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 Raincoat.

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?

 Can we do all three please??

 

JULIA: Now it's your turn, dear readers! Cut and paste the questions and give us your answers in the comments!

 

1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?

 

2. Asparagus or spring peas?

 

3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? 

 

4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?

 

5. Raincoat or umbrella? 

 

6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?