Maine diary: Tuesday morning

[ellenkushner]

Back at the house in Maine, now. Relaxing takes some time! Not quite sure I've got the hang of it yet, but working on it. Fri morning we drove to the farmers' market in Stonington, and bought more Provisions. I'm all about Provisions here, esp since Delia loves this kitchen & insists on making yummy dinners; it's kind of like being in France. With ravens & pine trees. (More ravens this year? Could it be the pin csecooney gave me? - Don't worry,ktempest, she gave me an extra one for you!) Also, grilling. I used to grill a lot in Boston, and I miss it. I collect pear & apple twigs - covered in lichen - from the trees that sprinkle the property, and make sure everything comes out nice & smokey.

Yesterday, Elizabeth Hand & John Clute drove up - she lives here year 'round, a little further down the coast - we'd seen them at R'con, of course, but she was GoH so not a lot of time for quiet conversation. I made a big lunch of overcooked brown rice & a bunch of packaged Indian dishes I'd loaded up on at the amazing Indian grocery in Burlington - including a jar of "gooseberry pickle" which turned out to be large, hard, cherry-like fruits w/pit in the center - not "gooseberry" as I know and use it - floating in a bath of chili oil. Surprisingly good when cut up & mixed w/the food. Then we all sat out on the back porch (Liz & I snabbled the porch swing, w/Delia & Clute arranging themselves decoratively along the railing) and talked and talked.

Comments

[csecooney.livejournal.com]

Dear Lady E,

Could it be I neglected to tell you of the enchantment laid on those pins? They are set to lure unkindnesses about you -- not of people (never that!) but of ravens. This is very helpful if you are ever stuck in a battlefield and would like the carrion eaten promptly before the much anticipated zombie apocalypse occurs.

Hope this helps. If anything funny starts happening (i.e., the appearances of a one-eyed god, or a woman washing clothes or armor in a river), do inform me, and I'll see what I can do about, erm, arranging matters in the otherworld.

Remembering you not unkindly,

C.S.E. Cooney

P.S. Food sounds lovely. I am very fond of prepackaged Indian food, and as for brown rice, well, I never CAN seem to cook it properly, no matter what I do. Is there a TRICK to it? Or must the pan always burn? - csec

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

I'm missing my beloved New England dearly right now. Be sure to inhale the pine-laden air for me, and should you drive by Ogonquit, gaze over that liliputian harbor for me.

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Your time with Liz and John sounds wonderful -- now that must have been a terrific conversation, the four of you, oh to have been a butterfly in the garden close by.

Best to you and Delia -- may your idylls linger, and inspire.