Sharing, Teaching, Learning, Knowing.

             I’ve been spending some exquisitely enjoyable time on a food blog lately.  Not just ANY old food blog though, a well written one.  By a woman who is like many of us, a mom, a writer, a wife.  Additionally, she is not perfect.  And doesn’t  claim to be either.  She’s adorable, and I want to be her BFF.  Except, she lives far far* away.  Totally across the land.

*She lives close(ish) to Delia and Kate, and it just about kills me to say that.  (Gah, damn East Coast, so freaking far from here!)

             Here’s the back story.  About a month or less ago, I saw in our local paper (of which, I am still weeks behind) a book review.  The volume’s topic being about food and healthy choices, I immediately texted my Hurricane to see if she was already privy to this new release.  She was not, but promised to investigate for me.  THIS was the end result.  Go read it, we’ll wait.

            All done?  Good.  Well written wasn’t it?  And don’t you just want to spend all damn day in Alana’s kitchen?!  Me too.  There was a follow-up piece as well, HERE.  And as I said, I’ve been catching up with her archives.  Wow, some days I really wish I could at least boil water.  But then, I remember who I am, and just make notes with my grocery lists, or print recipes that I will later wave in Dan’s face with much need and urgency.

Well, huh.

             On the topic of edibles, here’s the last of our blueberries (probably).  They are tiny now, and I’m thinking they’re about done for the year.  Also, that carrot.  It was in a bag of organic babies I picked up recently.  I’ve since eaten it.  Legs and all.

             Did you read all of my son’s comments from yesterday’s post?  Well, we went to see my parents tonight, and he did, in fact, join us.  He also continued to be pretty pestery over how we never nailed down what his contribution to dinner would be.    So he stopped at a grocery store deli and just began ordering.

Not all the food, but I had to grab the shot when I could.

             Consequently, our meal was extraordinarily (even for us) side-salad heavy, and my father could not have BEEN more happy about it.  J.D.’s selections also included some yummy soft cheese, a crunchy broccoli mix, that large round loaf of bread, and pie-flavored ice cream (my mother made me a chocolate cake, so there was no ACTUAL pie in attendance).

             Before he arrived though, I used Daniel’s fancy-pants phone to read the complete list of items we MIGHT need him to bring.  When I got done, my maternal parent immediately handed me an old Coke bottle (the good glass kind, as her grandson described).  She’d found it in the barn.

So full he can’t move.

             After dinner, she posed him for all of you to see.  With her addition.  Then she dragged me down the hall to show me what she’d done with the gift we brought her from the fair.

I am flat on the floor to capture this.

             Her solar butterfly garden light is now part of an indoor flower arrangement.  Truly, no one understands how her mind works.  Not even her.  (She takes the sun-absorbing panel into their bathroom so it can “soak up the rays” and then puts it all back together again.  Not even kidding.)

“Of course I came to dinner, where else would I go?”

             Emma had to work a very long day, and Ryon had gym clients, so only Maximum Grand Dog represented that contingent of the tribe.  But he did it very well.

            Our daily draw is an encouraging one.  I like how our messages continue to be validating.  Read this one carefully, because I can see how it applies to so many of our situations right now.

“Higher Education  ~  Guardian Angel  ~

Your angel is guiding you to gain further education, either by attending school or through independent study.  Higher education refers to instruction with a spiritual basis, so this is a message for you to study topics that capture your true interests.

For instance, if there is a spiritually based service career that you yearn for, now is the time to begin looking at furthering your knowledge in that area.  This may mean attending formal classes, reading books on the topic, or working with a mentor.

Give any worries about having enough time, money, or skill to your angel.  You are being pushed to learn more as a result of your prayers for increased fulfillment   Trust that this door is opening for you at the right time, and walk through it with full faith.  Begin with simple steps, such as researching various classes on your chosen topic.

Even though you may feel that schooling will take time, remember that  you will be alive and doing something during that time anyway.  You may as well use your days wisely by investing in something meaningful.  By pursuing higher education, you’ll gain newfound wisdom, higher self-esteem, new friends, and exciting opportunities.”

             The part I was glad she said specifically was the “higher” education definition   Clever, and ideally suited for the work we’re all doing.

Today’s Deck:

Saints & Angels Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue

LateNight Link:

last night Corina shared this, but it’s worth repeating; if you didn’t click on it before, here’s another chance.

Late LateNight Factoid:

this is post number one-thousand-two-hundred.