The chickens have layed nine eggs now but until this morning we hadn’t eaten any of them. It’s like we were storing up treasure, lining eggs up in the refrigerator. Before Telfer left for the hospital and before I left for church with the girls, we made eggs. The first two eggs I cracked into the hot pan had double yolks. I am not all that superstitious but I am thinking this a very good omen.
It’s been a good week – full of work but lots of quality play time. Eleanor was here this week. She brought us bagels from our old neighborhood place and it’s like being transported back four years. Telfer and Eleanor and I went out to dinner and you know when the food and the company kind of meld together into just the best possible evening? Friday was like that and I so needed a night out. The above picture is before school on Wednesday. Jane looks like such a big girl. It’s an old outfit of Cate’s so I am doubly nostalgic.
Telfer and I went out to lunch on Wednesday afternoon and browsed through a vintage shop and found a small, vintage Le Creuset . Yes, I will take you home and love you forever little teal pot.
Thursday was probably one of our last warm days. Telfer had an early day so I left work slightly early, picked up the girls, and met him on the boat. Absolutely lovely. We dropped anchor and the girls were eating a snacky dinner and watching Toy Story 3 below deck while Telfer and I drank white wine and talked. I noticed a school of jellyfish off the side of the boat. Truly beautiful and peaceful.
You know you are officially a New Yorker nerd when the first thought you have on reading Putin’s editorial on Syria in the New York Times is, “I wonder what David Remnick thinks about this?” And then…”ooh, I hope he writes a Talk of the Town.” Can anyone relate, anyone?
In July, Telfer said on like a Wednesday, “I think maybe I want to get an older speedboat at some point.” I shrugged and said ok. By Friday we were the owners of an older speedboat. I never really pictured myself as a boat person, but you know what? I love it. We keep it moored really close to downtown and have loved going crabbing and cruising on the Sound. It has been one of the most unexpected pleasures. And both girls know their crab species and how to tell the gender. Awesome.
The girls have become sweet sisters this summer. We have our fair share of the whines and the fights and the crabbies. It’s not perfect or peaceful, not even half the time. But I am telling you: there has been some real kindness and sisterhood developing this summer. Telfer and I love these little moments.
We have done a lot of work in the yard this summer. And I can even use the prounoun “WE” and not be completely lying. Our garden beds have been productive and we have learned a whole lot. Our areas are more defined and the weeds have mostly been kept back.
I absolutely love this cookbook. I love the photographs and how it’s divided: by season and then by month. It just makes sense. It’s real cooking – fresh everything and simple preparations. I recommend.
And lastly, our week in Cannon Beach was just beyond lovely. We rented a house with a view and close access to the beach. We had Chris and Mendy for a couple of days, then Luke & Sherry for a couple of days, then my parents for a couple of days. The weather wasn’t spectacular but there was a hot pool (Jane’s name for the hot tub and I think so incredibly cute) that was very popular.
The chickens layed their first egg on Monday afternoon. Telfer heard a ruckous in the henhouse and went out to find a small, brown egg. The very first. Jane kept asking “what’s in it?” Well…not chocolate like you are hoping? So far there hasn’t been another one. We aren’t even sure what chicken is laying at this point. We are so urban farmers.
Sidenote 1: Doesn’t Jane look cute? It’s one of her birthday outfits. I am really liking polka dots and stripes (together) on the girls.
Sidenote 2: I am so done with summer cooking. Isn’t that terrible? I have all this zuchinni and assorted farmer’s market bounty and really all I want to do is roast some vegetables and make soup and drink some red wine. And wear a sweater. This time of the year is awkward.
Andrea Y. Griffith 