Breathtaking plums

A few nights back, awash in summer squash and tomatoes, and absolutely tired as get out, I whipped up this "primavera" - more accurately, "estatevera" (spring v summer) - bucatini because I just didn't feel like ordering take-out. The bucatini was perfectly al dente when T (because at this point I'd told him to manage the pasta) tossed it into my veggie sauté, and I then added some mozzarella di bufala and grated pecorino. It certainly didn't render me speechless, but it was good enough and made for a satisfying segue into bed. Pretty, huh!?

Yesterday, Ol and I made quite the haul at the farmers market. I'd missed going (it'd been three! weeks) and we really made our way through: popsicles at Pleasant Pops (yay for the return of Chongos); Shiro plums and peaches from Spring Valley Orchard; rhubarb, baby peppers and Sungolds from my favorite place whose name I can never remember (why is this?!); baguette and croissant from Bonaparte; cheeses from Everona Dairy; heirloom tomatoes and basil.

We actually had to return to the car in the middle to unload too-heavy parcels.

I plan to use the peaches in a canning class I'm teaching on Wednesday, but these little Shiro plums are all for me. Aren't they positively resplendent?

Thoughts on this fine Friday

Yeses and most-definite NOs

When I see people mistreating their pets (or animals in general), I A) think immediately and without the possibility of redemption that they are assholes, and B) want to gouge out their eyes. It is the height of despicable inhumanity to harm animals just for kicks or because you're a jerk. If an animal is actively trying to eat your child or hurt you, sure, knock yourself out. But to be walking a dog and kick it?? That is undoubtedly a horrible person I don't ever want to know. (NO)

Hand-written thank you notes, y'all. Classy. Thoughtful. Appreciated. Always casts the writer in a lovely light. (YES)

Unicyclists waiting at bus stops. Why? Where are they going where they need a unicycle or cannot unicycle to? No idea. (SURE)

When someone follows you on Twitter and then unfollows you if you don't re-follow them within two hours. Classless. Silly. (NO)

You know when you see someone heading to her car in a busy parking garage or a spot on a swamped street, so you follow politely and maybe even motion to confirm her leaving and then put your blinker on to wait patiently? That girl then needs to get the eff out of her spot. I find it SO rude when people know you're there and then get in and start texting or emailing or just sitting a spell. (NO)

Sincere compliments to random folks. Make someone's day. It feels great to reach out and provide a smile. Go for it. Be generous. Always a (YES)

Butt-selfies. (NO)

Scourge of earth, catsomeness, meatloaf

To the chaise. And then, foiled.

So after going like a madwoman today and taking the boys out to dinner after camp and treating cupcakes and bathing their filthy bodies and trimming their grimy nails, I finally made it out to my chaise. It is heavenly, not least because we have been treated to the most glorious of weather in DC the past couple days. 48 degrees at Dulles this morning! Wha, climate change?! Those cool mornings sure make for lovely days.

Anyway, I came out here so enthusiastically. I'm pooped, eager to drink my glass of rosé, be quiet and work on a crossword puzzle. And damn if scourge of the earths, aka, mosquitoes, aka POSs aren't trying to drive me back in.

What good are these little flying asshats? Other than bat food, I can think of nothing redemptive (and all the damn bats are dying, so we may soon be in a real bind). Quite the contrary actually. When I was 11 or 12, a mosquito in Natchitoches, LA, bit and infected me with Western Equine Encephalitis. Doesn't that sound fun?

It wasn't. It presented with a headache the likes of which I'd never seen, then I thought my stomach was eating me from the inside out and despite being hospitalized, I almost died. The whole episode really sucked, as might what my husband is doing now which is lying on his stomach and trying to pull our dishwasher out of its nook to assess why it suddenly stopped using any water last night. You can imagine that a waterless dishwasher is not terribly effective.

So if this puppy is broken, can we call it quits on repairs now? I mean, this would mean that the mechanized Trinity of home care has completely gone to hell in just a few months: washer, dryer, dishwasher.

But I digress. Mosquitoes. They are nothing but a bane, a complete downer for all involved. Except the poor bats. I hate mosquitoes with the fire of 5,000 suns.

The Nut = catsomeness.

Have I mentioned just how terribly besotted with my cat I really am? He is fabulous. Just look at this napping pose. Look at his rear paws, all curled in and snug. His tail is wrapped just so, his arms thrown across his bow as if that's just where they landed when kitty dreaming commenced.

I love him with the fire of 5,000 suns.

Meatloaf.

Pesto-turkey meatloaf for dinner. It's cooking now and happens to resemble a slab of brain, but I know it will be delicious.