Table Notes: June
Recipes, family, 4th of July table, roses, and a few moments I’m still thinking about
Before we turn the calendar to July — with holiday tables, summer gatherings, and all things red, white, and blue ahead — I wanted to pause for a moment and gather a few June notes from my table.
June felt full in the very best way.
There were blueberries and simple cakes, a first picnic of summer, a son home from California, roses blooming in the window, a family reunion in Eastern Washington, a podcast conversation I won’t soon forget, and a new little chapter beginning here at At the Table.
It was one of those months that reminded me again why I love gathering these notes in one place. Recipes are never just recipes, are they? They are often the thread running quietly through the month — connecting ordinary dinners, family visits, celebrations, memories, and the tables we return to again and again.
So today, I thought I’d gather June in one place.
It was a very blueberry-forward month, wasn’t it?
But honestly, I’m not sorry. There is such a short, lovely window when summer berries feel like they belong in everything — scones, pies, danishes, simple cakes, and quiet weekend breakfasts.
The post that seemed to resonate most was the Blueberry Scones, which made me especially happy. There is something about a warm scone, a cup of tea, and a summer morning that feels like permission to slow down for a minute.
In case you missed any of them, here are the June posts from At the Table:
A Son Home from California
One of the sweetest parts of June was having our son home from California for Seattle’s World Cup festivities.
And of course, whenever he comes home, there is one dinner he always requests: chicken and broccoli with homemade Alfredo sauce.
It’s one of those recipes I’ve made for years without ever really thinking to share it. The kind of meal that belongs more to family memory than to a content calendar.
But now that I think about it, maybe it deserves a place here someday.
There is something lovely about the meals people request when they come home. They tell you what they remember, what felt comforting, and what still tastes like home.
A Conversation with Joan
Another highlight this month was my conversation with Joan Paul on her podcast, Her Next Act.
Joan was incredibly gracious, generous, and thoughtful in the way she shared the story of 31Daily and At the Table. It was such a meaningful conversation about creativity, food, seasons of life, and what it looks like to keep showing up for the work you feel called to do.
You can listen to the episode here: Listen to the Podcast
It was also a sweet reminder that sometimes the work we do quietly, one recipe and one story at a time, reaches farther than we realize.
A New Chapter at At the Table
This month also brought the beginning of something new here: the paid tier of At the Table.
I wanted it to feel like an invitation, not a closed door. 31Daily will always remain free, and I am so grateful for every reader who gathers with me there.
But here, I’m creating a quieter space for a little more — extra recipes, seasonal notes, printable pieces, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and the kinds of table moments that don’t always fit neatly inside a recipe post.
For those of you who have already joined, thank you. Truly. It means more than I can say.
Roses, Reunions, and a 95th Birthday
June also brought red roses blooming outside my dining room window, which felt like a gift every time I passed by. And, of course, they perfectly complement this year’s table!
Later in the month, we gathered in Eastern Washington for a family reunion and my aunt’s 95th birthday celebration.
At least seven generations were represented from across the country, which is the kind of thing that makes you pause for a moment and take it all in.
Family tables have a way of doing that. They remind us where we came from, who carried the stories before us, and why it matters to keep gathering.
A Garden I’m Still Dreaming About
I also visited the beautiful gardens at Chateau Ste. Michelle this month, and I haven’t quite stopped thinking about them. The roses, the arbors, the soft summer light — it all had me dreaming of hosting a tea there someday.
A Dinner in Kirkland
And finally, one of my favorite meals of the month was at a new-to-me Italian restaurant in Kirkland called Como.
It sits by the water and specializes in handmade pasta and seafood, with antique silver at each place setting, hand-polished and imported from Italy.
That detail alone made me love it before the first bite.
I had Risotto alla Nerano, and the guys loved the saffron tagliarini, pappardelle with ragu, and, of course, homemade focaccia.
It was one of those meals where the setting, the food, and the people around the table all came together in that rare, memorable way.
Thank You for Being Here
As June comes to a close, I’m grateful for the recipes, the conversations, the family moments, and the readers who keep pulling up a chair here.
Thank you for being part of this new chapter of At the Table.
I’m still mapping out July, but I know it will include delicious summer recipes, more stories from the kitchen, and hopefully a little time to savor the season.
I’d love to know: what is one table moment from June you want to remember?