Corsican Bean Soup

and the power of seasons that change

I woke up to a darkened room this morning, the sky one thick, grey cloud. Anaya next to me, on his belly which is often how he sleeps in the early hours of the morning. It’s the time he sleeps the hardest, and the time I stir most. It’s not raining but everything is wet and I can smell it.

It’s fall.

Officially, actually. But in every way, my favorite ways, tangible ways, fall has officially arrived.

Anaya isn’t a morning person but without fail, is out of bed before me to grind beans and begin the ritualistic task of pour over coffee. He does this because he knows how much I love it- hot coffee in the mornings, and I love him for it. 

I join him in the kitchen and silently slice strawberries for his breakfast and begin toasting bread for mine. My brain is on in the mornings, his is not, and because I love him I make a mental note of all the things I want to tell him or discuss for later in the day while he acclimates to being on The Other Side of the darkened room.

It’s these tiny, small acts of service that I love. That tend to look different when the kids are home with us; the coffee pot being set to Auto to afford everyone a few more minutes. There were no tiny bodies rolling across us today or voices coaxing us to get up. Soon enough there will be, and I very much like that version of our lives, more so even but it’s different, and if you’re a parent you understand. But these quiet, still mornings that become rhythmic themselves are a welcome reprieve to what mornings with small children (chaos) look like. 

This won’t last. not quite yet. The essence of fall, that is. The weather here inconsistent and sporadic, it’ll make its way back into the 80’s several times over the next 6 weeks or so and I know this. But today is fall in every form and since I can’t pour a glass of it, I relish in the dark, the damp and my hair that has twisted itself into waves during my walk. 

I found myself pouring over recipes and inspiration last week, keeping tabs on the upcoming weather and planning our meals accordingly. I decide I’ll dip my toe into the cooler weather by way of a pot of beans. No matter the kind, I generally make my beans the same way-

Beans, fat, herbs, garlic, onion.