A breakfast sandwich hack, a sexy green lacquer coffee table and a fantastic moisturizer from Costco

plus reading all about ancient 'woodhenges' that tracked the seasons

I'm writing this while Ben takes a squash lesson. The sound of balls being hit echoes over the sound of people coming and going, chatting and catching up; there's a tiny baby in a stroller, a just barely walking toddler, and a passel of teenagers. I love these kinds of spaces and sounds. Five years after COVID, I still feel so grateful for this kind of low-stakes social interaction.

Reading Notes

This week I enjoyed this article that describes Cahokia, an ancient settlement along the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois that became the largest pre-Columbian city in North America - housing up to 40,000 people across nearly 4,000 acres! The Mississippians constructed these massive earthen mounds by hand, carrying soil and clay in baskets to create structures that served as platforms for temples, political buildings, and burial sites. The most impressive structure, Monks Mound, contains over 25 million cubic feet of soil, rises 100 feet high, and covers 14 acres. The Cahokia complex also featured multiple "woodhenges" - circular arrangements of wooden posts that functioned as calendars to track the sun and seasons, when to plant, harvest, and celebrate solstices and equinoxes. The term woodhenges fills me with such nerdy joy!

By 1000 CE this city (on the banks of the Mississippi river) became a center of religious and political power and controlled a vast trade network from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico!

Then, I listened to this episode of "Good on Paper" about a groundbreaking paleoanthropology discovery that happened by chance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, paleoanthropologist Hélène Rougier could not travel to the Czech Republic for her planned research. Instead, she examined 120 boxes of bone fragments from Ranis, Germany that had been excavated in the 1930s and largely forgotten in a basement since World War II. Forgotten boxes of history also fill me with nerdy joy! From these boxes, Rougier identified about 120 human bone fragments. When analyzed and dated, her discovery rewrote the timeline of homo-sapiens’ evolution as far earlier than previously understood. I find it reassuring that there is always more to be learned about the world and people who are obsessed with doing so.

Design Notes

A. Coffee tables are some of the trickier pieces of furniture to source; I get asked a lot for recommendations. This one from The Lacquer Company is good shape and size (and, of course, expensive). I also just ordered and really like three of these ottomans from Studio McGee's Target line to use as a coffee table.

B. Electric blue is my second favorite color after neon.

C. A great tone on tone frame. Nine of these in a grid would be stunning!

D. John Derian's 'Feast' Linen Tablecloth and his Central Park tablecloth are both on my wishlist for a rocking summer party.

E. This baguette candle was a gift from Tim for my birthday - I love it! He also gave me the Swiss Cheese candle. Right now they have pride of place on my coffee table.

Kitchen Notes and Found Objects

F. I made this recipe for Fish Fillets with Tomatoes, Squash, and Basil this week, and it was a big hit! I did not use parchment paper at all—I just roasted the veggies until they were mostly cooked and then placed the fish on the veggies for 10 minutes. It's an easy recipe made even easier!

G. The morning Olympics in this house are intense; every family member enjoys a different morning meal - in desperation, I have taken to microwaving the eggs for Alex's breakfast sandwich. It's a time and pan-washing saver, but the outer edges of the egg always cook faster than the center. Last week, I thought to myself - someone must have already solved this problem - and indeed - they had! I don't microwave plastic for all the reasons, so these are both good options! This one is from Etsy, and this one is from Amazon both cook eggs perfectly (and quickly) and are just the right size for a bagel breakfast sandwich (often eaten in the car as we zoom to school). The struggle is real!

H. L. A. Burdicks is one of my favorite chocolate makers (the mice!). This charming cookie box would make a lovely birthday or just-because gift.

I. After looking down at my scaly, dry hands while pushing a cart, I purchased this Cetaphil moisturizer at Costco —and boy, what a great surprise. The copy claims to offer 48-hour moisturizing power, and you know, it certainly could be accurate. As ever, I'm ridiculously sensitive to scents and textures, and this one is unscented and absorbed quickly.

Snapshot of the new Target ottomans in our snug front room!

Ben is finishing up his lesson. As I wrap up this newsletter, I wanted to share a conversation I had last night that reminded me how everyday interactions contribute so much to our sense of belonging, of being in community. (Speaking of meaningful conversations, if you haven't listened to The Art of Small Talk, I highly recommend it...) I'd dashed into the wine store just before closing, soaking wet from an intense March rain that two weeks ago would have been a blizzard (ah, March!). I beelined for the Italian section and grabbed a slightly nicer bottle than usual to celebrate some small good news with Tim (if I've learned anything so far, it's that you celebrate any and all wins).

Just as I turned toward the register, the proprietor asked if he could help me find anything. On a whim, I mentioned that while I know it isn't a particularly sophisticated choice, I happen to really enjoy a bottle of Montepulciano and wondered if he had any. I wasn’t expecting much more from this conversation- maybe a new-to-me bottle of Montepulciano. However, what followed was a true small-talk small joy as we delved into his deep knowledge of various wines! I learned why it is that I enjoy Montepulciano so consistently - the area where those grapes are grown is small, and the production is tightly controlled. Unlike Nebbiolo, which comes from a larger region with less prescribed guidelines (explaining why sometimes I order it and love it, other times it's not what I expected), Montepulciano delivers consistent pleasure. In that moment, I had such a flash of insight - what I love about Montepulciano is that it never surprises me. It's dependably enjoyable; I can taste fruit and soil and, in my more fanciful moments, the taste of sunshine on Italian grapes. I appreciate the predictability. It's a rare commodity these days.

From ancient history to current events, I've been thinking about how people make their mark and build community across time. This evening, reading Chop Wood, Carry Water (a daily political activism newsletter), I was struck by a mention of the Visibility Brigade in Paramus, New Jersey which has been presenting public messages on a pedestrian walkway over a highway since 2020. What caught my attention wasn't just their message, but how they've created a toolkit for others to form similar groups in their own communities. In these uncertain times, seeing people find creative ways to engage with issues they care about – and have fun doing it – feels both inspiring and necessary. The reminder to create public displays so people realize they're not alone resonated with me. I spent some time researching slogans and stickers I might use in my own community. After all, finding connection – whether through ancient woodhenges, small talk in a neighborhood shop, or shared values – seems to be a thread running through human experience.

Until next Sunday, Abbey

Sunday Daily Dose of Green

Wildflowers in a park in Paris, June 2012. Each morning, I share a single image of nature, delivered quietly to your inbox. Think of it as a moment of visual meditation before your day begins. No commentary, no analysis - just space to pause and observe. If you want to receive this daily email, select the "Daily Dose of Green" section in the Substack settings here!