A Backyard in August
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The sprinkler's going. It's not for the lawn — it's for the kids who keep running through it screaming like it's the greatest invention of all time. Nobody's correcting them.
Bella Coola's been steeping in a pitcher since noon. Pineapple, papaya, hibiscus — iced, it turns into this ridiculous sunset-colored drink that disappears faster than you can make it. The Bahama Mama's doing the same thing in a second pitcher. Coconut and tropical fruit, cold enough to fog the glass. Lemon Mango Punch is in the cooler for whoever gets there first.
The ribs have been on since morning. Mesquite Blend rubbed in last night, low smoke all day, and they've hit that point where the meat pulls from the bone if you look at it wrong. The chicken thighs got the Chipotle BBQ treatment — smoky, a little sweet, a little heat that sneaks up. BBQ Seasoning on the burgers for the kids who think ribs are "weird."
Hickory Smoked Sea Salt on the corn. Smoked Applewood Sea Salt on the tomato slices. Because August tomatoes with good salt is one of the few perfect things in life.
Eight products. One backyard. The kind of day that sunscreen was invented for.
