I have been so busy lately, I haven't taken the time to cook anything worth posting about, let alone snap a photo of the food and upload it. I miss my blog! And I always have the urge to say something, about food or otherwise, which reaffirms what I've always known, that the writing is as important to me as, and probably more than, the cooking.
I've often thought that if the worst happened, if I had no money and lived in a horrible little old shack with no electricity and only a mattress on the floor, or if I got in a horrible accident and couldn't walk, or if I were sentenced to life in prison even, I would be okay and find a way to be happy because I would just focus all of my energy on my biggest passion, writing.
So with that in mind, I bring you a post about nothing... and everything! Here is a picture of a wee little pancake Chris made for Meeks. It was part of our yummy breakfast we had the day of the Little Five Points Halloween parade, which is the best Halloween parade you could ever imagine.
And here's us, at the parade. This picture is one of my favorites because it captures one of my favorite things about Chris, which is that he is a comedian.
Moving on. I grew up in a tiny, rural farming town in Southeast Georgia. We always had a garden, and our neighbors had farms, so every spring, summer, and fall I worked hard, planting seeds, weeding, digging up peanuts, potatoes, and carrots, picking berries, tomatoes, squash, and peppers, shucking and creaming corn, and canning vegetables and pickles and anything you could imagine. So I really appreciate food and where it comes from. My mom has her own awesome garden right now, and these are tomatoes from last year's garden.
I'm very proud of where I grew up. Growing up in the middle of nowhere forced me to use my imagination, and made me the creative person I am today. It also made me love physical labor, which is weird to love, but comes in handy. Oh, and it made me a minimalist. When you grow up surrounded by fields, you learn to appreciate the little things in life, like that fleeting moment between dusk and dark, when everything takes on a greenish hue... I don't think the city has ever been that color.
Though, even as I talk about the things that growing up in the country "made me," I don't know which came first, the chicken or the egg. Because, just as likely, I was inclined to imagine, create, move, and crave authenticity. And nature is the best place for these things.
I used to climb the pecan trees in this picture.
Living in the city now, I crave nature from time to time. That's the great thing about Atlanta; there are tons of parks. There are also tons of dogs, so I get my animal fix, too. I've always loved animals. Growing up on a "semi-farm," that can be a good and a bad thing. I had plenty of pets, but I also had to deal with their deaths, either because they got old, or sick, or killed for food. And now I'm a vegan.
This is my parents' horse, Lance (he's blond like Lance Armstrong).
And here are the other horses, minus Tootie (yeah... I know). If you are ever having a bad day, and want to feel better, go stand in a horse's stall and brush his coat and braid his mane. You will feel better, like everything is right in the world. If you don't have access to a horse, you should find your version. :-)
And some other "critters" around my parents' house. They're baby birds, but they look like little monsters!!
Well, that's enough indulgence for now! Thank you for reading my my post about things that make me happy that aren't only food, and since this is a post about joy, I'll end on the sweetest of notes.
I've often thought that if the worst happened, if I had no money and lived in a horrible little old shack with no electricity and only a mattress on the floor, or if I got in a horrible accident and couldn't walk, or if I were sentenced to life in prison even, I would be okay and find a way to be happy because I would just focus all of my energy on my biggest passion, writing.
So with that in mind, I bring you a post about nothing... and everything! Here is a picture of a wee little pancake Chris made for Meeks. It was part of our yummy breakfast we had the day of the Little Five Points Halloween parade, which is the best Halloween parade you could ever imagine.
And here's us, at the parade. This picture is one of my favorites because it captures one of my favorite things about Chris, which is that he is a comedian.
Though, even as I talk about the things that growing up in the country "made me," I don't know which came first, the chicken or the egg. Because, just as likely, I was inclined to imagine, create, move, and crave authenticity. And nature is the best place for these things.
I used to climb the pecan trees in this picture.
This is my parents' horse, Lance (he's blond like Lance Armstrong).