What is it about summertime that brings out the “maker” in me? I don’t mean the homemaker — that’s just crazy talk. No, what I’m referring to is the urge to make stuff, like meals or artsy-crafty projects; or, at least the incentive to make myself go outside and be all nature-y. I’m sure the nice weather and long days contribute to this feeling that I had better not squander away the summer by hanging out indoors and watching television. Even if all I do is make myself sit on our patio every evening so that I can observe the hummingbirds, rabbits and deer who regularly visit the Johnston property, I feel better. It was the author, Henry James, who wisely said, “Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
I want to share with you, dear readers, some of the books that have made my summer, so far, as couch-free as possible. Not every title propelled me outside, but I will say that each book prompted me to do something whether it was creating a grocery list for a handmade grilled cheese sandwich, concocting a tasty adult beverage or paying more attention to the birds in my yard. Perhaps these offerings will spark your interest, too. If not, take a trip to the library and search the shelves for something that makes you happy. Books and summertime just naturally go together.
• “Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest,” by Julie Zickefoose.
I was already a fan of Zickefoose’s other titles about birds, especially “The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds,” so I knew this book would be another charmer. Her artwork is finely detailed and captures both the frailty and wonder of a variety of baby birds. When I was lucky enough to observe an adult black-headed grosbeak feeding a juvenile just a few feet from my patio, I thought how amazing it must be to be able to paint what one sees in nature. If you enjoy books about birds, check out this beauty and learn about the development and growth of 16 different species of wild birds.
• “Grilled Cheese Kitchen: Bread + Cheese + Everything in Between,” by Heidi Gibson.
Why is cheese so delicious? With the exception of processed cheese products, cheese makes me a very happy girl (although I have to say that when I was a kid, Cheez Whiz sandwiches were a pretty perfect lunchbox item). And melted cheese on bread? Nirvana, baby. So, that’s why a cookbook devoted to grilled cheese must exist, and thanks to Heidi Gibson and her husband Nate Pollak, owners of the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen restaurants in San Francisco, it does — and how. From Mushroom-Gruyere Grilled Cheese to Truffled Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Chives — with some macaroni and cheese and soups and spreads thrown in — curds and whey never tasted so good. Little Miss Muffet is one smart cookie.
