Posted tagged ‘lunches’

“One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.”

August 30, 2015

The house feels hot and a bit clammy. The humidity has returned. Gracie just sits in front of me and pants. If I were a dog, I’d do the same thing.

When I was a kid, I was a morning cocoa drinker. Two of my siblings were tea drinkers. My mother would put a nice tea pot on the table rather than putting the teabags in mugs. For my cocoa, she’d mix the powder with some milk, stir it together then add the water. Some mornings she made eggs. Other mornings we had cereal. We always had toast. She sometimes made soft-boiled eggs and put them in yellow, chicken-shaped egg cups. She always lopped off the top of the eggs. I loved how she used to cut the toast. It was the perfect size for dipping into the eggs. Oatmeal was common in the winter, the old-fashioned kind which took some time. My mother kept a good variety of dry cereals, including each of our favorites. I never gave those breakfasts much thought. It never occurred to me how early she had to get up. Not only did she make our breakfasts but also our lunches, great lunches, the envy of our friends. We never said thanks. We finished breakfast, grabbed our lunches, kissed her good-bye and ran out the door. Kids just don’t think sometimes to say thanks for the every day.

There is a slight breeze as I can hear my chimes now and then. The birds are noisy. I don’t hear any people.

I have nothing to do today except maybe the laundry still sitting by the cellar door, but it doesn’t bother me much so it may sit there a while longer. I am not even dressed yet. I don’t care. There is no urgency in putting on clothes. I do love this life of leisure.

“We are born charming, fresh and spontaneous and must be civilized before we are fit to participate in society.”

June 21, 2011

Maybe the string of lovely days needs no further mention here because every day is lovely. This morning, when I was on the deck, my back was to the sun so I could watch the birds, but I had to switch chairs. My back got too hot. Gracie, smarter than I, stayed in the shade under the trees and fell asleep, but she followed me when I came inside. She’s now asleep on the couch. The nights too are wonderful, cool and perfect for sleeping. From now on, I’ll mention weather aberrations, like rain.

I don’t remember minding the heat when I was a kid. I also didn’t mind getting sweaty or dirty. My standards for cleanliness were minimal. My mother’s were a bit higher, and I always had to wash my hands before I ate lunch. Something about my grabbing a sandwich with filthy hands was too much for my mother’s sensibilities. I didn’t really care. The faster I ate, the faster I could be back outside.

My friends and I used to do rides, and we’d take turns packing lunch and choosing the surprise destination. Some rides meant hitting the highway for a while. One ride was an all day trip to Vermont. Another was to Brewster, the next town over. The only rule for the ride was it had to be completed in a single day. I always made mint brownies for my dessert. They were a hit.

We were far more spontaneous, spur of the moment back then. I remember the doorbell ringing around 2 am, and I opened the door to find my friends standing on the step. His first tomatoes were ripe, and I was invited for BLT’s. I got dressed and joined them. We had BLT’s and mimosas until the sun rose.

Now I have all the time in the world, but I don’t tend to do the impromptu. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s time to pull out that mint brownie recipe and make a few calls.