June 08, 2011

Breathing and Fava Beans

Breathing and Fava Beans

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I pushed the tablecloth out of the way and dumped the bag of fava beans onto the table. I looked at the clock. This shouldn't take long.

The chair was pulled away from the table, but I didn't sit. I hunched. I snapped the tips and pulled the fiber like a zipper. I ran my thumb down the crease. Sometimes it was smooth. Other times it was not. Breathe. Sit down. Relax.

I breathed. I sat down. I relaxed. I looked at the clock.

...

Fava Beans

...

She told me about a lovely dish. Small potatoes. Onion. Fava beans. Wild fennel. So simple. The way it should be done.

With some cheese and bread, this could be a meal. A respite from pasta.

Even better at room temperature. I'll pile it on the bread, no doubt. Making a mess. Salt on my lip. A tiny cube of ice floating to the top of my half consumed glass of red.

...

Dirty Nails

...

It was already too late when I noticed. The work of shelling fava beans beneath my nails. The door was locked. My arms loaded with bags.

I noticed again at the light. I wondered if others would notice. I didn't care.

I ran my thumbnails beneath my fingernails. This will have to do.

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful piece...in terms of photos and your writing.

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  2. lovely lovely lovely fava vignettes
    terrific writing, Tracy.

    I've been saying the same thing about my fingernails
    for years.

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  3. I know what you mean about the staining of your fingers from broad beans, new potatoes do the same thing too, oh and mint. I look like I never wash my hands just lately. It's worth it though.

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  4. beautifully written. isn't it great that the very act of shelling the favas offered respite from other activities and enabled you to consider the process? these days, I find myself so damn busy all the time, that the opportunity to do something that demands my physical but not my mental attention is a welcome break from the every day (not that i'd like to spend my entire day shelling beans, of course).

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  5. They are such a special bean. I really like what you've mentioned here -- the fava, potato, onion, fennel dish. An inspiration!

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  6. Lovely writing. My nails are currently sporting much strawberry gunk from jam making. Hours, and hours of strawberry cleaning.

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  7. Oh... lovely photos, lovely words...

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  8. I can see the breath in your photos!

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