Plum-Cherry jam, ick

Friends, I'm having a discomfiting sense of déjà vu. Perhaps you recall the two weeks I spent with pneumonia last summer? I did about 84 thousand-piece puzzles, lost several pounds as I could only tolerate chicken soup and smoothies and recovered just in time for BlogHer. I was told that my posts during that time bordered on hysterical (funny not insane), so if you want to revisit and laugh, click here for the onset plus the time Jack cut his hair by himself in the dark and looked like a serial killer, here when I joke about not really turning a corner, here when I talk about just how seriously I was nerding out with puzzles and here when peevishness tips me into no-nonsense'ness.  In any case, I don't feel so hot right now and being that it's around the same time, I'm having flashbacks and the odd urge to get out that card table and start one of those puzzles anew. At least I already went to BlogHer so I don't have to recover rapidly. Oh wait, I do. Cuz I have children.

I blame this on Oliver because last night I was up late rocking and snuggling him because his tummy hurt and it had two nights before that too, but I thought he was angling for a "Tum" then. Last night he really did seem a bit droopy, so we sang and I showered him with kisses and he attempted to cup my boobs and I had to slap his little paws away, and now I'm achy and my throat is just not right.

I have zero patience for being sick although the damn puzzle is sounding more and more appealing.

The whole plum photo session this morning made me want to make jam while those pups were perfectly pre- to just-right-ripe, so I did. Having just made a large batch of my plum-basil jam, I went in a different direction today and created a new recipe: Plum-Cherry with both brown and regular sugars. Now, lest you think I was just on a magical tear of creativity, no. I ran out of regular sugar after three cups so could either put on a bra and go out to the store OR find a work-around. There was absolutely no chance of the former, so the latter won in uncontested fashion.

I gotta say, you win some, and here I surely did. 8 cups chopped Shiro plums, 2 cups pitted and quartered bing cherries, 3 cups unrefined sugar, 1 packed cup brown sugar. That's it. Fab!

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)