Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity

During that summer
When unicorns were still possible;
When the purpose of knees
Was to be skinned;
When shiny horse chestnuts
    (Hollowed out
    Fitted with straws
    Crammed with tobacco
    Stolen from butts
    In family ashtrays)
Were puffed in green lizard silence
While straddling thick branches
Far above and away
From the softening effects
Of civilization;

During that summer–
Which may never have been at all;
But which has become more real
Than the one that was–
Watermelons ruled.

Thick imperial slices
Melting frigidly on sun-parched tongues
Dribbling from chins;
Leaving the best part,
The black bullet seeds,
To be spit out in rapid fire
Against the wall
Against the wind
Against each other;

And when the ammunition was spent,
There was always another bite:
It was a summer of limitless bites,
Of hungers quickly felt
And quickly forgotten
With the next careless gorging.

The bites are fewer now.
Each one is savored lingeringly,
Swallowed reluctantly.

But in a jar put up by Felicity,
The summer which maybe never was
Has been captured and preserved.
And when we unscrew the lid
And slice off a piece
And let it linger on our tongue:
Unicorns become possible again.

John Tobias

Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle from a Friend Called Felicity

Come enjoy the carefreeness of summer at Thyme in the Country. Lazy days, cool night breezes, firelight, short sleeves and summer dresses. Campfires at night, hotdogs on a stick, fireflies, frogs croaking under a starlit sky. Waken to the smells of a truly farm fresh breakfast and sip your first cup of coffee in our back yard surrounded by gardens and nature.

Badminton, tetherball, long walks out our back door and of course our salt filtered swimming pool, the perfect place to cool off.

These long days are meant to be filled with memories and fun.

The high days of summer are here and now is the time to head to Hudson, NY to refresh and appreciate the season and all it offers.

There are wineries and distilleries, Art galleries and concerts, summer plays and historic sites, hiking and biking, boat rides on the river.

Just ask us, we know the area and we are here to help you plan a day or a week.

This summer spend a few days at Thyme in the Country and let the magic of summer happen.