Susan Troccolo

Porch Sitting: an August state of mind

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  We told the realtor: “the porch swing is included in the deal, or no deal.” The house had a big white wraparound porch. How could the sale not include the porch swing? It would have been a porch sitting day too, but only after that scorching ball of heat went to bed. It was … [Read more...]

Summer Pasta

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This is one of my favorite recipes for fresh heirloom tomatoes and basil right from the garden. Everything about it is fresh and light and speaks of summer. The tomatoes are not cooked, they are sliced warm right from the garden, so the dish is quick—once the pasta is al dente, … [Read more...]

Barging in France: The Canal of Burgundy

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  Barging. The word alone doesn’t conjure much excitement, but here’s what I’ve learned: it all depends on how you do it and who you are with. There are 3,000 kilometers of canals alone in the region of Burgundy, located in central France. Burgundy contains France’s richest … [Read more...]

Getting to No: when yes doesn’t cut it

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It’s about time I would say. Most people have had theirs for a while now. Some people have been trying like the devil to put a lid on theirs. But I had hit the age where I wanted one: a real honest-to-goodness do-not-give-me-any-shit No. I used to have one—but I lost it—and now … [Read more...]