Essence of Summer

My favorite summer icons are homegrown tomatoes, cicadas and tree frogs singing in the woods, and Colorado peaches. Colorado peach season begins late in the summer, usually in early August, and it’s over by the first week of September.

When Colorado peaches first appear in the market I always mark the event by making peach pie. This year, however, my arm was still paralyzed and I could only dream of pie making. The season came to an end and I thought I had missed my chance.

Then, yesterday, Dennis called to say he had stopped at the grocery store on his way home. He wondered if I needed anything. On a whim I said, “See if there are any Colorado peaches.”

He inquired of a produce department worker, who exclaimed, “I finally got two boxes of Colorado peaches in today!” Dennis bought peaches and I made a pie, fulfilling at last an essential summer ritual.

Here it is, ready for its top crust. The little pale yellow bits are chopped preserved ginger.

It was the best pie I ever made.

Copyright 2013 by Shirley Domer