Obsidian Essay] SUMMER NOSTALGIA: No Summer is complete without Peach Cobbler! #Hamptons #Toronto #Hawaii

EJ's note

What does summer mean to you?

For me, it's memories from Toronto, Hawaiʻi, and New York — a childhood spread across them.

• peach cobbler + vanilla ice cream.
• beach campfire + marshmallows. w/ friends.
• the lakehouse in Toronto. reading by the lake, under the tree shadow. swinging.
• journaling on the grass.
• biking through tree lanes.
• picnic in Central Park.
• kayaking. paddleboarding.
• lying down on the beach. whichever ocean in the world.
• hiking. whichever mountains in the world.
• outdoor cinema. Wes Anderson, mostly. Classical + Independent movies also allowed.
• floating on a surfboard under the moonlight, out in the ocean, under the fireworks in Hawai'i.

And...I could not help but share this poem from 2025...I moved to London from NYC in 2017, and homesickness is inevitable at times...the poem is about my Summer memories from the Hamptons.

What are your favorite summer memories? Have you moved to another country and tried to keep your childhood traditions alive? What are your summer traditions?

[Memory lane: a New York kid's summer in the Hamptons]

The lightness of being.
ice cream truck. hot summer night.
friends & family dinner.
laughter shared over campfire marshmallows.
the LIRR train to Montauk—
the soft clatter of steel on steel,
a hypnotic hum through the cabin.
model-looking moms.
baby strollers. summer dresses.
a frozen moment.
beach towels. linen shirts.
coastal town rhythm. fresh air.
paddleboarding.
endless white-washed sand.
long beach reading chairs.

such a bleak view, I thought then—
but maybe it was just peace,
a gentle breeze touching my face.

And of course, my favorite NYC shows and magazine cannot be missed...(RIP Stephen Colbert's Late Night Show...and long live the SNL!)

and Hawai'i...

Bonus: The easiest and quickest peach cobbler recipe below!

INGREDIENTS

- 4 tbsp (57g) unsalted butter
- 4 cups peeled and sliced peaches
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS (45-55 min baking)

1. Melt the butter: Add the butter to an 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Set the baking dish in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F / 180 C (176.667 C to be precise). Once the butter is melted in the oven, remove the baking dish, 4-6 minutes. Set the baking dish aside while preparing the batter.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the batter: Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Whisk to incorporate evenly. Add the milk and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.
3. Assemble: Pour the batter into the baking dish with the melted butter. There is no need to stir. Add the sliced peaches directly on top of the batter.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the cobbler is golden and set in the middle, 45-55 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and cool 15 minutes before serving.