A 40th and a seriously summer dinner

T and I were extremely slow today as we spent last night at a friend's 40th birthday party and had a seriously fun time. For hours we laughed with some of our best friends and today regaled each other with memories of the hilarious, sweeping range of topics covered:

• mammograms, for those with an ample bosom and those without; 
• being asked your weight before climbing aboard very small aircraft and knowing you cannot lie but feeling remarkably disappointed in said fact because you're asked very publicly and are pregnant but not totally obviously so;
• male- and female- pattern hair thinning and baldness as we age;
• when your kids are assholes;
• when your kids are funny;
• tequila and good versus subpar margaritas;
• losing your shit in airports;
• bra shopping.

I'm still chuckling. I am also tired. It is abundantly clear that I am not remotely close to my 20s anymore. Neither is Tom.

Ol and I went to the farmers market where he inhaled a mango lassi and a croissant before declaring himself stuffed and ready to go home. A couple hours later, Jack and I went to the regular market where he inhaled a mango smoothie and a giant plate of tacos, rice and beans before shopping with me and inhaling a jelly donut. #boys

On a regular basis I consider it possible that Tom and I will declare bankruptcy during the boys' teen years: they eat that much! And where it goes, who knows? Observe J's back.

Don't you always wear pajama bottoms and a storm trooper helmet to shoot Nerf darts at Lego men perched on Magna Tile castles at 8:30am on a Sunday? I thought so.

Dinner tonight was the epitome of summer fare. Easy, beautiful, simply delicious. As I served our tomato sandwiches, T said he'd never had one before. WHAT THE HELL!?! Have y'all had tomato sandwiches? All white bread and mayo and salt? The best. And, the toms are from my garden. That is a simple joy not easily found elsewhere.

tomato sandwich with basil (so not traditional)

shaved eight ball squash with steamed beans, tomatoes, basil, croutons and buttermilk-creme fraiche dressing

Do y'all make your own croutons? You should. They are the cat's meow!

I gotta go- girlfriends and I rehashing last night via text. I'm laughing too hard to type!

For levity, food

What a week. What a sad, troubling week. America, there is work to be done. 

I'm tired and soon to bed, but y'all, I cannot even handle the beauty and flavor of summer produce. It just doesn't get better than this. And my garden this year? In a yard that actually receives all-day sun? Well, it's a winning combo.

Every day I pick handfuls of fresh tomatoes and herbs and yesterday plucked some zucchini blossoms and a dainty eggplant for a grilled pizza. 

Little makes me feel as warm and full as eating tomatoes still warm from the sun. This salad that I made up last summer is a great way to use some -and also summer peaches- and is as good as I remembered. 

Who said okra? My okra plants are thriving but are not yet ready to feed me the amount I want, so I supplemented today with these beauties. I cannot even talk about how much I love smothered okra nor about just how much of it I can eat at any one sitting. #havemercy #watchout 

I might eat your face if it were in this pot!

bacon + okra = win

And then there's this guy, just livin' the life.

I hope you're well. Remember, it is so tremendous to read, educate ourselves, and use our voices to stand up for what's right. Have a good conversation, challenge a friend or colleague, hold others in the light!

Pie, kids, cooking, to bed

I cooked all day, minus a quick trip to the farmers market. By and by, it was lovely. 

A sautéed mushroom, cheddar, speck and egg sandwich for T's Father's Day breakfast, lobster rolls and farmers market salad -fresh red leaf lettuce and snap peas and tomatoes- for lunch, chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches for Jack's birthday party tomorrow (Jeopardy; it's going to be epically fun), cold potato salad with tiny new potatoes and mustard-caper vinaigrette, and this gorgeous, scrumptious strawberry balsamic pie.  

A friend gave me the Four and Twenty Blackbirds cookbook for my birthday, and, having just bought two quarts of strawberries at the market, I wanted a special way to use them. 

This pie perfectly fit the bill, and it did not disappoint. Good thing as it took about three hours to make.  

I picked the boys up around 5. What a joy to see them, and how loud and kinetic our home now feels again. Here's hoping things are a bit quieter tomorrow. 

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, uncles, male teachers and mentors out there!