Beachy life

I'm alone on a second story balcony, feet propped up on the railing. Though the sun has started to set, it is still vivid out; the blue sky is streaked with salmon, peach and yellowish white brushstrokes. Awnings and tree tops blow gently in the slight breeze. Birds are all around. Some gulls and their avian kin fly by, low across the horizon, while others sing in the background. A crow just glided to a soft stop atop a chimney.

I just cooked dinner for everyone -first for the kids and then the adults- and feel wholly sated now. It was a simple meal but a thoughtful one, prepared with in-season produce and a hot grill. 

tricolor quinoa with grilled veggies and peaches

These sorts of dishes make me feel so happy and good. They aren't fancy or frilly (though those can be fun to prepare and eat too), not difficult or overly time-consuming. They aren't even mine, really. I riffed on recipes I'd eaten before and remembered clearly, or read about and wanted to make. 

grilled peaches with mozzarella, toasted baguette, mint, olive oil and salt

They're healthy and beautiful and full of flavor, and I just can't imagine it gets much better.

The sun is sinking lower, ever so slowly which is delightful. You know those evenings where it drops like a guillotine? All fast and furious, and if you blink, you miss it. Not tonight, not here.

The crow has relocated to the other end of the roof. His tail is still moving up and down, up and down. Is it leverage? Is it a signal? He's not in a rush, and I like that about him.

It's a wrap

I'm thrilled to be heading to bed. I didn't get to the strawberry shortcakes -boo- but did delegate baked bean-making to Tom. Delicious! We also enjoyed a fabulous cheese plate and some grilled corn and vidalia onion salad plus Real Time from last Friday and Mad Men from Sunday. What in the sam hill was going on during this most recent MM episode?

Speaking of dandelion greens, did you see this front page-Sunday review article from yesterday's NYTimes? What an interesting piece. Made me all the more excited about my bunch of dandelions just waiting to be enjoyed.

And speaking of Real Time, did anyone watch S.E. Cupp's argument about how gun registries are a complete violation of all rights/privacy/justice while driver's licenses, dog licences, car registration and insurance are not? It was a complete joke. Give.me.a.break, S.E. You are smart and boy do you know your talking points but the second amendment did not mean, when written, what you and your pals want it to mean today. There is A) no militia, and certainly no B) regulation. The latter is most unfortunate.