1. Invite family and friends who are family. Think about the menu a few days in advance, and make up a list of ingredients (not only does it keep you organized, it’s very satisfying). Plan to buy most of your vegetables at your Saturday farmers’ market the morning of, but also check out [...]

[Cobbler, before the oven, July 2008.]
Well, that was an inauspicious 4th. I baked brownies, zipped up my jacket tight against the chilly breeze, wished for a sun that never made an appearance, and took them to a party where I ate: grilled veggie burgers, cupcakes, and quesadillas (not necessarily in that order). I [...]

I would like to call a do-over on this weekend. I had plans to sleep in, bake some muffins, go to yoga, go to Pt. Reyes, make some phone calls, enjoy some of the deliciously hot weather … but I was waylaid, unexpectedly, by some sort of cold/flu/unpleasantness that has kept me downing Cold [...]

[Cherries, June 2008.]
I must confess it’s mostly the little things that make up my quiet happinesses: a week of sun, waking up every day except Monday to warmth and light and summer; my near-daily americano, an indulgence at $2/per, with organic milk and sugar; a perfect peach, cut in long juicy slices for my breakfast; [...]

[Logan's cake, June 2008. Photo by Randy.]
The candles are blown out, the wine bottles emptied, and the dishes — hopefully; I didn’t stay to see — put away. Today I went to Armstrong Woods and picnicked under the redwoods, in all their cool, stately quiet. It was warm in the sun, and I [...]