Sunday, May 20, 2012

Red pepper, aniseed balls and dandelion clocks.

1. To peel a baked red pepper (the skin lifts off and the juice runs out as the bell collapses).

2. I love aniseed balls and always have done. Anything licorice is good to me, and they are pleasing objects to hold and see: bullet hard and pearl smooth, perfectly spherical and rich mahogany red.

3. I stop to show Alec dandelion clocks at the side of the path. He blinks at the seeds flying in his face, and then when I give him one of his own, waves the stalk to make the fluff fly.

Magnolia, pagoda and station.

1. Late magnolias -- always a pleasure. 2. We like everything about the pagoda -- including the long climb to the top -- but particularly th...