September came without warning. The temperature didn't change and the leaves didn't rustle and maybe that's because the temperature never climbed too high to begin with this year. Every Autumn I do this - expect it to come sooner than it does. Last night as the sun was setting, the water was warmer than the air. I felt grateful to feel it crashing onto my legs, watching the sun reflect in the clouds. September is a pensive month, a slowing down, an in-between.
I cooked okra today at a house in the Hamptons. The flame was hot, the air temperate, the sun bright and reflecting loudly from the metal grill. A fall breeze was blowing, the ocean roared, the okra sang like a tea kettle. Grilled from raw, until crispy and a little charred -they were flavorful and didn't get slimy. I served it with a creamy salsa verde.