Right now I am in my backyard hammock with my friend Laura, enjoying the smoke-free Valley while it lasts. The cherry tomatoes are ripening nearby. My hope is that there will be at least one ripe enough for picking before Laura goes off on her travels again Wednesday.

In the meantime, I’m making up some sauerkraut with a few beet slices and a batch of yogurt. I’m going need to get my probiotics after this regimen of clindamycin I’ve been on since last week. Tonight we’re going to make up a ragù sauce to be served over cauliflower. New combo.