Busy Nothings

There is just something so lush, so delectable about going out into the garden and just standing there snacking on whatever happens to be ready that day. It makes me feel as though I am living in the lap of luxury. It also makes me feel unreasonably happy that my daughters do this as well, that they learn about where food comes from in this small but vital way. They know that you plant a tiny little lumpy seed and giant purple pole beans grow, their plants towering far over their tiny human heads. How cool is that? It can be as simple as planting a tomato in a pot, or in one of those very fun upside-down hanging planters. Watching something grow, and then eating it juicy and warm from the sun is such a small but mighty pleasure in life.  So, what is growing well this summer? Snow peas have been demolished already, their crunchy deliciousness being irresistible to all. Strawberries are everbearing, so we have been picking them for months now. Raspberries have been

When I was a kid, I was not popular. I might have been a bit odd, eccentric perhaps and maybe annoyingly brainy. You know those kids. Anyhow, I struggled. I had a wonderful friend who stayed next door with her grandparents for the summer, and we spent every day together, blissfully running restaurants, hotels and doll daycares, or just running wild in the woods and fields. I also had a best friend who was a grade ahead of me, so while we spent many nights having sleepovers and playing with her far-more-exciting Barbie gear, we didn't get to play together at school. As I got a bit older and arrived at high school, it was a glorious realization for me that there were other kids who were just a little off the grid of sunshiney perky high school student council cheerleader athlete types. (not that there is anything wrong with those types, I just would never be mistaken for one.) The smartest thing I ever did was join the band, where I found a loyal troupe of people that stuck tog