On Sunday, we were lounging in the front yard, where it was bright. Grace and her friend Julia were sculpting animals from long sheets of aluminum foil. Lydia was reading Harry Potter for the first time. Jimmy was sitting in the shade, and I was sitting in the sun. (Eli is still at photo school in Maine.)
I went in the house for a glass of water; I came out with an old quilt, a pitcher of lemonade, strawberries, cheese and crackers, and peanut butter and crackers. How much nicer than snacks from a bag.
On Monday afternoon, we were hungry, and I hadn’t yet gathered the will to make dinner. To eat only a piece of cheese or an apple seemed paltry. An early-day trip to Russo’s with Julie meant that I had on hand the ingredients for some simple surprises. I prepared Marcia’s fava beans for Jimmy and me, and I put out chips, guacamole, and mango salsa for the girls. If we had beer, I would have drunk one, but we didn’t, so we had water and lime. We sat on the screened porch.
Monday afternoon snack
Since August 1, people have been saying, “Summer’s over.” They still say it. These leisurely snack periods are my way to put the breaks on, I think. Let’s not be in a hurry to eat lunch, to eat dinner. Let’s not wish away our time. It’s nice to sit for a while, talking and eating, and watch one part of the day segue into the next.
Also, snacks do not exhaust the cook. I love making them — they are like little gifts — and eating them. They should be quick to make and slow to eat.
Today? Popcorn (with butter) and lemonade, in the backyard. Someday soon, a snack picnic.
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that looks delish! I might need to try those fava beans…
How very “Tree Grows in Brooklyn” of you!
Every day can be special, and should be.
I was going to compare this to my favorite scene in Jane Eyre, when Miss Temple serves tea and toast and seedcake to Jane and Helen. Simple but utterly sustaining.
One thing I love about snacks is the word “snack.” It sounds so delicious. And the names of snacks are often so great. For example, “guacamole” is one of the most satisfying words I can think of. “Chips” and “crackers,” I love the way these words sound like what they taste like. “Popcorn” imitates the sound of making it. And lemonade… mmmm… that “m” just goes on forever, like the word “summmmmmer.”
A snack picnic sounds wonderful.
JLR, there would be no fava beans without you. (Russo’s is the only place I’ve seen them, and you introduced me to Russo’s.) I’ll make some for you, before school starts again.
Emily, you make me want to read “Tree” again, which I’ve been meaning to.
Dr Poppy, a few years ago, in my first year writing class, we had a long, digressive discussion about food words in writing. Everyone agreed that simply the word “toast” stirred something up in them as they read it, and I absolutely agree. I also feel something when I read the word “coffee.” It’s a trigger. How does this work?
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