Small Things

Small Things

In the summer, if you’re quiet, observant, and live in the right place, you’ll see a hummingbird. My mother-in-law has them in abundance off her back deck. Most people sitting where I am notice the deer—plenty of fawns, yearlings, and does, and, on the occasional...
Going to the Fair?

Going to the Fair?

When I was a kid, vacations were rare, and summer consisted of two breaks in the monotony: swimming lessons and the county fair. My memory of swimming lessons involves 50° water and near hypothermia. My memory of the county fair is better. So, to tell America’s Story...
How to Eat Sweet Corn

How to Eat Sweet Corn

It is a well-known fact that, for two weeks out of the year, the finest dining is not in a restaurant in Paris, but at a table in the middle of America, within walking distance of a field of sweet corn. If you’ve never had real sweet corn, here are some tips on eating...