I proceeded to drink the coffee sassoon had brought. 5/11/54

Such salt-sweetness. 1962

We browned hot dogs on the public grills at the beach, and by watching Jody and Mark and Cal very carefully I managed to cook my hot dog just the right amount of time and didn't burn it or drop it into the fire, the way I was afraid of doing. 1963

Electrifyingly-colored sherbets, scooped from the freeze;
By pale girls, travel the air in scorched hands. 1962

Have a proper lunch ! And be calm !

Franz Kafka, 1913.

Could you bring some of your yummy cookies? 5/7/54

Bob Thornell was home cooking steaks, a charming, virile, 34 year old chap. 5/6/55

a sumptuous lunch in the plush dining car of the train, which thrilled me to no end 5/5/53

I want to eat my cake abroad and come home and find it securely on the doorstep if I still choose to accept it for the rest of my life. 1952

We took off for the country with poetry books, Bordeaux wine and chicken sandwiches for a picnic. 5/3/54

Now, at last, I think I can bear cold water and brown bread, hotdogs and coffee for two months with joy, so glutted am I on escargots and huitres! 1955

We had dinner at Wiggin’s, only I had a huge fruit salad and sherbet, as that was all I could swallow. 5/1/51

Virginia Woolf works off her depression over rejections from Harper’s (no less!---and I can hardly believe that the Big Ones get rejected, too!) by cleaning out the kitchen. And cooks haddock & sausage. Bless her. I feel my life linked to her, somehow. 1957

I’m so struck full of joy and love I can scarcely stop a minute from dancing, writing poems, cooking, and living. 4/29/56

Ted eats a lot of steak & salad & is in fine health. 4/28/58

Auden - beer he drank, and smoked Lucky Strikes in a black holder 4/27/53

John Ciardi drank scotch with me for hours over the kitchen sink at someone’s party. 4/26/55

Last night I had a celebratory at the Brown’s and the dears got a whole bottle of champagne to celebrate! 4/25/53

Auden came to dinner at the house last night, and I had the honor of sitting at his table. 4/24/53

It was just as Ted said - - - if we get to know people too well here they will be using our garden as a place to come get a pleasant stroll & free tea. 4/24/62