For me, some of the best summer days revolve around lying on the sofa and reading, listening to music, (taking a nap), and eating and drinking indulgent concoctions (LOTS of gelato, ice cream and cocktails). I surround myself with vases full of scented flowers from the garden — right now there are sweet peas, roses, tuberose, plate-sized southern magnolias, gardenias, phlox, even tiny bouquets of spicy, bright orange marigolds. And, of course, I wear perfume.

For the past three weeks, Seattle has sizzled with temperatures often hovering between 89 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit (31-34 °C); on some days, it’s been downright unhealthy to be outside, with smoke from raging fires reaching us from California, eastern Washington/Canada and…SIBERIA. I feel zero guilt for whiling away a morning and/or afternoon “in contemplation.” Today I’d like to introduce you to my most recent “Summer Quartet” (the individual parts change, but the pattern remains constant)…

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