Summer enthusiasms

After a tough spring

Someone left a sock on the stair.

It’s been a season of bittersweet endings. Lucian completed 12 years of Waldorf education, which began when he was around 2; now he’s graduated from 8th grade. I couldn’t be prouder of the friendships he’s forged, his creative endeavors, his curiosity and confidence and love of learning, or his steady, quick-witted, compassionate presence. At 6 feet 2 inches of height and growing, he is, as always, his dad’s and my greatest joy.

Our older dog, Rufus, who turns 10 this summer, has had a series of health challenges culminating in a lymphoma diagnosis. We know we will be saying goodbye to him sooner than we’d hoped. He is my cranky, wise companion, and I love him.

May brought a killing frost to much of the fruit where I live and very little rain. Fortunately, with June has come the rain, a few thunderstorms, and lushness. Right now we are in the middle of our second several-day stretch of dangerous air quality from wildfires north of us in Canada. I want to be out in the garden, or walking a trail, or sitting on a patio drinking a cool drink, but during these days we stay inside and wear masks when we go out.

But this newsletter is meant to be about joy and enthusiasm, and having gone through two months of uncertainty and tears both happy and sad, I have been resting and enjoying my home and my family immensely. I am here to bring you a random collection of my current enthusiasms. Let’s go.

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• The garden. I put in a lot of hard work this spring—I was fairly obsessed for a while and was gardening many days until dusk, and asked for (and received) a pair of loppers for Mothers Day—and I am enjoying the fruits of my labor, while itching to get back out there. Someone left campaign literature on our porch, and they scribbled “Love the garden!” in the margins. That made my day. (Yes, I did vote for that candidate in last Tuesday’s primary.) I’m adding more and more native plants; as I may have mentioned, this longtime interest has become a full-blown obses enthusiasm.

• Also preoccupied with gardening is Anne Helen Peterson, of Culture Study fame. She just started a Substack called Garden Study, and darn it if that didn’t make me hit the Subscribe (for money) button. I’m a longtime fan of hers, since her “Celebrity Gossip Academic Style” days on Facebook, and I’ve been a paying subscriber to Culture Study in the past. A while ago I switched to a free subscription in order to pay for some other newsletters, but I’m afraid I just cancelled a subscription to another newsletter (never yours, Perdita or Sophie!) in order to pay for Culture Study/Garden Study. Anne Helen’s first post is about how to make an inexpensive and pleasing window box or container. Her first two posts have received well over 200 comments, so I have a feeling we will be talking about everything garden over there.

• The new taco place in Press Bay Alley. I’m sorry if you don’t live here. The guy who’s been selling tacos in the parking lot of the Re-Use Center now has a spot in Press Bay (where rents are kept low in order to encourage creative entrepreneurship). That’s right, fantastic tacos right by the public library. Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Today I inadvertently followed another local writer (of much greater fame and publication than me) as he hit the library and then the taco place. (Jen Kelly, you know who I’m talking about.) I mean seriously, what could be better than tacos and books? I didn’t try the vegan taco, but they do offer one. They also have carne asada, al pastor, pollo, and lengua. I got two tacos and a nice homemade hibiscus agua fresca to go.

• Blackwing’s latest limited edition pencil is a tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat. The design on the lacquer is beautiful. The pencil has a soft graphite, though, which is my least favorite of their cores.

• Summer reading. Masha Raskolnikov recommended The Whalebone Theater, a debut novel by the British writer Joanna Quinn. A fat historical novel about a house and a family, with an orphan heroine and feral creative children and irresponsible bohemian parents, it turns into a WWII spy novel. Very well written. 100% up my alley. Masha should start a Substack where she matchmakes humans with books. (Masha, call it Book Yenta. You’re welcome.) She is exceptionally good at this matchmaking, and she is always enthusiastic to make recommendations (in case you run into her at the coffee shop).

• Last night we met friends at Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg. We’d hoped to sit on the beautiful new back patio, but wildfire smoke kept us inside. I had this mocktail, which I’ve declared the official drink of Forest Hag Summer, for obvious reasons. It’s cucumber juice, rosemary simple syrup, and club soda. Delicious if you like cucumbers.

  

• Forest Hag Summer. I’ve gone . . . not all in, but in. My toenails are painted a mossy green black. I set up a space dedicated to Baba Yaga and general haggery (see photo at the top of the newsletter and below). I’ve hiked a little. I’ve foraged a little (in my own yard). The gorges open for swimming this weekend (smoke permitting?), and I am ready to swim in the cold creek water.

  

• The real official drink of Forest Hag Summer is iced herbal teas and waters. In the morning I fill the kettle with water and the large tea pot with any combination of fresh and dried herbs (some foraged in previous summers). (I’ve been favoring linden, lemon balm, tulsi, and mint, because I have a lot of those. I also love the combination of hibiscus, tulsi, and mint. Hibiscus is slightly astringent, which is great if you live in a swamp. It looks like red kool-aid, tastes delicious, and has lots of vitamin C. During the smoky days, I’ve added some marsh mallow root to the linden, lemon balm, and tulsi.) When the water reaches a boil, turn off the heat, pour the water over the herbs, and let steep for, eh, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, the rest of the day. Add some honey if you like it sweeter (add honey when the water is still warm). Pour over a glass of ice whenever you want something to drink. If there is any left over, it will keep overnight, covered, in the fridge. You can also make herbal waters by adding fresh water (not heated) to herbs and fruit, chilling it, and drinking it throughout the day. Strawberries and basil are nice in June. So is elderflower and lime. Whatever is edible and sounds good to you. Blackberries and rosemary?

• This aji verde, or Peruvian green sauce. I’ve had it on chicken, beans, and rice. I’ve dipped shrimp into it. I’ve smothered it on a veggie cheese omelet. It’s amazing if you like strong and complex flavors. (The recipe site is called “skinnytaste.” I’m sorry about that. The recipe is legit, though.)

• Playing the piano and wishing there were summer music camp for adults

As a family we’re watching “Only Murders in the Building” and “Veronica Mars.” David has next week off, through the 4th of July, and I predict lots of swimming, gardening, grilling, games, walking, and afternoon naps.

I’d love to hear what you’re reading, growing, eating, drinking. What is the summer like for you?