A sparrow

Is a sparrow consequential? Does one sparrow make any difference? This seems a weighty philosophical, cosmological and ecclesiastical topic, doesn't it? It is not one of the ordinary subjects which I address for the calculated and happy advancement of modern living. I think it pertains nonetheless. There are those who subscribe to the idea that the flutter of a butterfly's wings will have a dynamic effect on matters far removed and apparently unrelated. I find this to be a useful precept to bear in mind. Whether one is of a contemplative nature or not, it is hard to deny the connectedness of life.

One can hardly live in the present and be unaware of the perils which many species confront constantly, whether it is at the active hands of trophy hunters and poachers or by the passive presence of glass window panes. My sister Livia is in the front ranks of the alarmists on this issue and she reminds me that to be a Cassandra is to be an outcast in many quarters. It does not prevent her from speaking out. This literally brings home the urgency and importance of the slow collapse of the biosphere which seems to be in motion all around us. Do not see the movie Melancholia if you are at all inclined to this point of view. It may put you over the edge!

When it comes to quality of life, we are certainly in a gilded age here in America. The privileges with which we are blessed ought to be seriously considered as precious and not to be assumed to be eternal. Stewardship requires vigilance. For example, now that we know that neonicotinoids (think nicotine) are anathema to honeybees, shouldn't we ask at the garden store whether the pesticide we are considering is safe in that respect? Talk about a buzz kill. Knowledge is good and action is the important next step. Those inspirational talks on the world wide web are great but what good do they do if no one acts on them? Apathy is the real problem. Ask any activist. How do light a fire under someone to not only pay attention but to take affirmative action? It's an age-old problem. It has been said that the definition of evil is what happens when good people do nothing. Hmmm.

Now, I know I am preaching to the converted, but it is a rainy day and that often generates introspection. You'll forgive me if I vent a wee bit on this topic lest we continue skipping along and blithely ignore signs of trouble. The particular sparrow of which I spoke has been an inspiration all this season. It is a song sparrow which begins its trills before the sun rises and continues to proclaim all day long. It is a life-affirming sound, expressive of an intrinsic need to announce presence and location. It informs my day with an appreciation of the vitality all around me. At just about a half an hour before sunset this sparrow arrives at the birdbath every day. It twitches its tail and then plops into the shallows to swivel and swish vigorously, pausing, I like to think, to appreciate the feeling of the cool water on its skin. We share that moment. We share so much.

Hugs, Celeste

Coming Summer Bounty

What is it about the bounties of summer that are so entrancing? Maybe it is that they seem to follow, one upon the other, in quick breathless succession. Or maybe it is that they beg to be conserved in some way, a bulwark against the scarcity of the next seasons. Or maybe it is the tantalizing colors and textures appearing in such diversity. It seems that we were just beginning to enjoy the tender lettuces of springtime! Wallace simply adores butter crunch, by the way, also known as Boston lettuce. Who knows why it is named for Boston? Was there a grower there who specialized in this variety? That is true of Bibb lettuce, its approximate equal, which has Kentucky origins. Boston gets the credit in name for bringing us lots of good things, including cream pie, baked beans and terriers, so I am not complaining.

What was I saying? Oh yes, the summer harvest. What would it be, at least in the United States, without tomatoes and corn? We are crazy about both. Real vine-ripened tomatoes from a farm stand or the garden are unequaled. My grandmother liked to slice, salt and pepper them and drizzle a little vinegar on them. You can call that a salad of sorts. If she were really going all the way there might be some juicy bacon bits, the real kind, liberally sprinkled on them. She put bacon into just about everything and I can't think of any harm that it did anywhere at any time. For sandwiches, what is possibly finer than bacon, lettuce and tomato on homemade bread with mayonnaise? Sitting in the shade on the front porch, we could have eaten those until we burst if we hadn't had some bicycle exploring down at the creek to do that very afternoon. Fortified by those BLT's we could accomplish just about anything.

Corn can't come to market soon enough to remind us of how we savor it every year during its productive season. Low in glamour, high in returns, this is what Americans crave no matter what state they come from. The hybrid magicians have created some very tasty types without resorting to the dreaded genetically modified route. Driving through the countryside recently I could tell it is going to be a great year, at least for field corn. The stalks seemed to be taller and stouter than I ever remember and the dagger like leaves appeared to be downright dangerous. Europeans mostly grow corn for livestock and there are few places where a steaming plate of sweet corn arrives to the table there to such unanimous delight as it does in America.

Really, it's all about the butter, if I must be honest. Corn on the cob has a wonderful flavor but its charms are greatly magnified by the generous application of fresh butter. If you haven't sampled some of the artisanal butters that have begun appearing at markets, then you owe yourself the favor of procuring some in order to exalt fresh corn to its proper rank in the firmament of summer stars. Don't be shy about flavored butters either! They can provide an undreamed-of enhancement to the experience. And be sure to wear a bib of the kind that protects your summer chemise from excessive enthusiasm!
Still, Celeste