An Everlasting Meal

Nature isn’t persistently bright; it wears and ages.

~ Tamar Adler, An Everlasting Meal

A few months ago, a friend sent me the book An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace.  It’s been sitting on the to-be-read shelf, and I’ve looked at it occasionally, thinking that I shouldn’t be neglecting it as I have been.  It is, after all, a gift, one I should explore and appreciate.  But I’ve learned that some gifts need to be approached at just the right time, and this book is one of them.

Yesterday evening, the last September day of this year, I sat on the deck listening to the birds.  It sounded like there were millions of them roosting in the trees, but I only spotted a few at a time gliding towards the feeder or the trees or some other place they felt they needed to be.  The sun was warm, soothing, melting.  The occasional yellow jacket buzzed by looking for something sweet.  My brain and body were relaxed when I decided to pluck the book from the table and read.  Honestly, I didn’t think I’d read much and in fact, I didn’t.  But it felt as if I’d embarked on a journey into cooking that was perfect for that moment in time.  It was like sliding into warm water and floating for a while.

Floating above the little fish in the pond

The first chapter is “How to Boil Water.”  I know how to boil water, but I never paid as much attention to boiling water as Tamar Adler does in her book.  Reading about it, I wanted to savor the first few pages, and think about the boiling of water and the possibilities that a pot of boiling water represents.  Adler’s words inspired me to slow down and get down to basics in a way I have never gotten down to basics.

Having recently finished a book I rushed to finish because (frankly) I’d had enough of it, it feels good to read a book I want to immerse myself in.

I really can’t tell you more about it than that.  I’m only on page 11.  I love it already and suspect it will take me a while to journey through it.  Food and I have had a tumultuous relationship.  At this point in life, I’m learning to appreciate the beauty of food because I’ve been growing it.  When you go from seed to table, you begin to appreciate the way it nurtures as well as nourishes when approached in a healthy way.

Hurrying through this book just doesn’t seem appropriate.

In other news…

The day started out beautiful.  Clouds have been moving in with rain expected sometime tonight and tomorrow.  Judging by the level of water in the pond and the creek, we need the rain.

Today’s view of the pond

M and I went for a hike yesterday at West Branch State Park.  I’ll have more photos (you saw a few yesterday) from that hike for you soon.  I brought it up today because of water levels and rain.  There is a large lake there and I was shocked to see how low it is.  Areas that are usually under water are now beaches and meadows.  Rain would be a very good thing.

Walking in the meadow towards the cattails and woods.

The color show continues.  There are quite a few leaves on the ground already, but still plenty in the trees.  The maples are just starting to turn.

That’s it from the Bogs for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your Monday has been as good as a Monday can be.

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