This same time, years previous: smart hostessing, sinking in, dobby and luna, magic custard cake, the quotidian (6.19.12), Kate’s enchiladas, cabbage apple slaw with buttered pecans, freezing spinach.

Yesterday afternoon I got an email from my brother alerting me to an impromptu concert at the local university that evening. Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame, was on the board of an organization that happened to be meeting at the university and would be giving a free concert that evening.

I grew up listening to Peter, Paul, and Mary records. I’ve Got a Hammer, The Great Mandala, Light One Candle, Blowin’ in the Wind, Lemon Tree, Day Is Done, and of course, Puff The Magic Dragon—these were the songs of my childhood. Plus, one of our records, Peter, Paul, and Mary In Concert, had PaulTalk. Our old-fashioned version of books-on-tape, I listened to that record over and over. 

And then last night, an elfin Peter, his shiny bald head ringed with white, walked up to the mic and started singing This Little Light of Mine. For the next hour (or was it two?) he sang new songs and old, interspersed with winding stories about his work, bringing together Democrats and Republicans. It’s a fabricated divide, he said, and so he travels around the country, getting people from opposite sides to talk, and sing, together. When we sing, he said, our masks come down and our emotions rise to the surface, and that is what keeps him going.

When it was time for Puff, The Magic Dragon, Peter invited anyone, but especially children, who wanted to sing with him to come to the front. And my younger son went.

Partway through the song, Peter had us sing the chorus on repeat while he took turns holding the mic in front of different people. The mic thrust in front of his face, my boy sang his little heart out.

And that’s how it came to be that my son had his very first solo with Peter, of Peter, Paul, and Mary, imagine that.

Afterwards, Peter signed my son’s cast—Peter Yarrow, Peace and Love (I guess we’ll have to ask the cast-removal technician to cut out that little square, for posterity’s sake)—and kissed and hugged all of us in turn.

‘Twas a puff of magic, that evening.

PS. As you can tell from all the photo credits, I left my camera at home that evening, GAH. Thankfully, a bunch of friends came to our rescue, sending me even more photos than I could use here.

This same time, years previous: language study, a dare, when I sat down, naps and mowers, old-fashioned vanilla ice cream.

Every now and then I get emails asking me to review stuff. Usually I ignore them, but sometimes, if I get a follow-up email, I respond with a polite (curt?) no thanks. A creative outlet is my only blog agenda. I have no desire to muddy the waters with commercial clutter.* Besides, who needs more stuff anyway? (Once a company sent me a collection of coconut oil body products—lotions and lip balm and such—basically just coconut oil with extracts added. I never even bothered to open the jars.)

But once in a while, the vendor’s query is a little more personal, like the one I got a number of weeks ago from an Amish basket company.

My response was candid. “You may send me baskets, if you wish, but I very rarely promote anything on my blog.”

The rep wrote back right away. “I’d love to do that! What is the best mailing address to send the baskets to?”

So I gave her my address, and then added, “And just to be clear: I make no promises about sharing on the blog…”

A few weeks later, a large box arrived. My expectations were low. Baskets are a dime a dozen, and my husband doesn’t approve of my basket-collecting propensities. Probably, this one would go straight to the thrift store.

I opened the box, peered in, and froze: A pie basket? I’ve always wanted a pie basket!

Pie transport is such a headache. I’ve seen the plastic carriers, but … plastic, meh. I usually end up sticking the pie in a too-big basket and then tucking towels around it to prevent it from slipping. How did these people know exactly what I wanted??

Cackling with glee, I yanked the basket from the box and examined it from all angles. A solid bottom! Thickly-woven sides! A wooden lid! Removeable (washable!) cloth lining! Leather handles! And inside, the best part: a pie stand on legs!

One pie goes in the bottom of the basket, then the wooden stand, and then another pie.

This was a two-pie carrier.  I was completely over the moon.

Later, I jumped on the website to look at their selection. The baskets are nice, and clearly well-made, but none of them struck my fancy…except for that pie basket (they even have a triple-decker pie basket!). Either someone knew enough about me to think the pie basket would be a good fit, or they just got lucky (because look at me writing about a product!).

Speaking of getting lucky, I know I sure did.

*I am an Amazon affiliate, so I get a little money (about 20-30 dollars each month, on average) if/when I link to their products.

This same time, years previous: the quotidian (6.16.14), street food, a glimpse, sourdough waffles, freezing strawberries, quirky.