July!
July has been stuffed to the gills, cooked over a raging fire, topped with a puckering, piquant, caper-heavy green sauce, and followed by ice cream and s’mores. It’s maximal; it’s absolutely too much in the best way possible. It’s HIGH SUMMER and I am saying yes to it all.
(previously: June; May)
Wait! Don’t stop reading!
I know, I know “I saw The Odyssey”—we get it, so did quite literally everyone else. But, I would be disingenuous if I started a recap of this month with anything else, really. Here’s a fun fact: I love The Odyssey (the poem). I read it my sophomore year of high school and have read it over1 a dozen times and in 8 translations since then. I wrote about it for my honors thesis in college. In my head, I keep hearing the echo of my stepdad: Odysseus?! Not him again!
Was the movie an accurate retelling? No! Were there things that irked me? Totally! But, I can’t describe the feeling of seeing your favorite story, a story you know so, so well, thoughtfully and lovingly and epically splayed out—WRIT LARGE—before you. It was overwhelming and it felt great. And if you are wondering, yes I did go to the first local showing, by myself, and sat smack in the middle.
For the record and because I have been asked this several times so far: My favorite translation is still the Fagles, that first reading from sophomore year. Modern language without being distractingly contemporary, it allows you to easily sink into the narrative, while maintaining the text’s beauty and poetry, to boot.
Oh me, I just woke up like this—I have never said ever, once. And so, when a popular website contacted me, months ago, for a house tour, I said “Why yes of course” and immediately started panicking, seeing all the things that need fixing and doing around here.
At the time, the stone facade on our fireplace was spot-primed, with a few lime wash sample colors on top. So, the heaviest and most necessary lift was finishing that project: Priming the stones, applying lime wash, and cleaning up the insane mess that I made in the process.
To the left: More or less where I left things after I applied the lime wash samples. Left—mid-wash (I know you’re not supposed to stop, OK)!
What it looks like now:::
Then, lucky for me, I have Katie Bowes—proprietress at The Post Supply and varsity shelf arranger—on speed dial, so she coached me on how to make a chaotic built-in look artfully arranged (but not too arranged, you know?).
It’s been a lot; I did NOT get to even halfway through my list; the inimitable Greta Rybus came and took photos on Tuesday; someday soon I’ll be able to share the result—a perfectly imperfect version of my living situation—and hopefully, we think, you’ll like it anyway!!
Last year, I bought a geranium with incredible dark leaves and DARK red flowers from Chase’s Daily. She’s really been thriving. So much so, I thought, OK she’s maybe getting a little out of control, frankly. So! I hacked her up and created about half a dozen geranium babies. It was so easy and so successful that I truly can’t wait for this next generation to also become massive so that I can do it again and give them away to all my pals.
This video is who taught me how to do it—she gives you a LOT of different approaches. I don’t do all the fussy steps recommended, but I have been using a rooting hormone, which I think may be the secret sauce of success.
Many years ago, Lizzie Mettler and I had a little brand agency outfit and one of our clients was a Japanese sock company. At some point in our delirium, we replaced the lyric “shots” with “socks” in the song “Shots,”2 something I have to admit, I think of frequently. Lizzie came back a few weeks ago with more stunning observations on socks, which I was delighted and little relieved to see. Thank goodness LGM is still thinking sock-wise!! I’d easily read another 10,000 words from her on socks, any day.
Remember when I said I was absolutely going to, had to, can’t stop me, gotta make an Eton Mess? Well, turns out I stink at meringue. I’m going to try again, but on the particular day I attempted it, we were due at some friends’ house for dinner. I had the whipped cream, I had the last-of-the-season local strawberries—and I also had a big meringue failure. I thought there may be meringue cookies at the store, but instead found *****ANGEL FOOD CAKE***** which is, obviously, heavenly and in this instance and likely many others, a dessert hero. Hopefully AFC makes an official comeback—it certainly is and will be in my world from now on.
One of the best things about here, I think, about Maine is that there are so many little businesses and ideas that people put together in their own back yard. You might even find yourself with a favorable New York Times review of some pizzas you made next to your mom’s garden. It’s incredible to witness—and to stumble across—people’s creativity just ticking away in these personal corners. It also reminds us of our own ability to maybe someday do that too; it can inspire, in other words.
Here’s a great example: My friend Allison Cekala had been getting together with Tyler Weeks and Ryan Kish to paint the sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly unfurling of spring in Alison’s amazing perennial garden. She wanted to put a show of the work up in her barn studio and so WAM—The Warren Art Museum—was born. It’s still on view until the 9th, so if you find yourself nearby, arrange for a stop-in. Or swing by the closing reception and artists talk on the final day.
I turned an errand into an INCREDIBLE moment by (1) bringing one of the dogs (canine) along with me, (2) ordering a hot dog (beef + bun) to go from my local watering hole, and (3) stopping at the beach with these two after said errand. We had fun.
We picked BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS and—again—ate hot dogs (a theme) at Half Hitch Flowers last Wednesday. If you find yourself in the area, they host a weekly u-pick, always with some sort of food accompaniment. Fun. And pretty.
I finally succumbed to the relentless advertising of the Beni bed and… Wow we all love it. It’s really, really unnecessary, but also a total delight to just sort of plop wherever you desire. Seeing this as a major asset for future kid sleepovers, too.
Taking a page from The King Of Summer, Jesse and Russ handed out leftover ice cream sandwiches and seltzers at the top of our road. Cute.
If you are having fun and would like to support my work, here are several ways to do that:
Throw a like or comment on this post
(it helps more people find their way here!!)
Share this post with someone who might be into it
(I would be so appreciative!)
Upgrade to a paid subscription
(wow, you rule.)
(we should be friends??)
🤍
I wish I hadn’t, but I have lost count of the official tally. :|
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.