Fancy Feast

Herself had an opportunity to attend a dinner at one of the local restaurants that touts itself as being one of the "finest culinary experiences in the region."  Ooooo!  She zipped herself into the traditional little black dress, put on her high heels, and off she went. 

It was, indeed, quite FANCY.  The water glasses were filled with water from carefully shaped and colorfully labeled glass bottles.  There were unidentifiable items on the menu.  The special of the evening was bison tenderloin with fois gras ravioli. Portions were either gigantic or miniscule. Every plate was artfully arranged with colorful garnish.  The fleet of waitstaff hovered carefully, performing tasks that included, for example, displaying a large basket of various types of sliced bread and pointing to each with delicate tongs, so that the diners could select their preferred item.  There was a flat screen television on the wall that slowly scrolled through photographs of various Monet and Manet artworks. Ambiance!

The food was tasty, to be sure.  As far as dining experiences go, though, Herself far prefers a homecooked meal consumed at the kitchen table in the company of her loved ones.  Nevertheless, it was pleasant.  And photogenic.  She has provided the below pictures for your entertainment. Enjoy!

First, a seafood appetizer:  Claws and Things!

This is another person's main course. 
Note the festive shredded garnish.

Mary had a little lamb....
Actually, Mary had Giant Honking Lamb Chops.

Cheesy...

Fresh mozzarella and tomato salad,
with mysterious green pickled plant bits.

And the piece de resistance: 
a wee tentacled bit that mysteriously appeared on Herself's bread plate. 
She suspects that another diner at the table placed it there for her. 
It was quite obviously anatomical - suckers and everything.  Oooo!

Aguirre

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
If turnips were swords, I'd wear one by my side
If ifs and ands were pots and pans,
There'd be no need for tinkers' hands.
- Scottish proverb

Herself, Offspring the Second, Offspring the Third, Beloved Husband, and Cherished Friend spent much of yesterday in Aguirre Springs.  The scenery was excellent, with many interesting trees, unusual flowers here and there, and a plethora of lizards, one of which jumped promptly onto Offspring the Second's pants when he sat down for breakfast.  It was a tad hot; there was an unusually large number of other people; and bright, bright sunshine on the trail. Nevertheless, the hiking was pleasant. A few sandwiches, a bit of rock climbing, and a couple of minutes' rest reclining on the bench of the picnic table rounded out the afternoon nicely.

Herself was pleased when Beloved Husband took charge of the bacon and eggs for breakfast. She likes to cook for the Menfolk and to look after them, and is usually quite happy to have an opportunity to prepare food for them. She was tired, though, and nursing the remnants of the previous evening's migraine.  She was glad to have him take care of the meal.

Herself also found the hiking surprisingly strenuous.  She felt slow.  Her hip, which continues to be a bit difficult, did not handle the trail nearly as well as she would have liked it to do.  The heat of the day caused her to perspire far more than she normally does, as well as to need more rests and water than usual. While Beloved Husband and Offspring the Third managed to ascend the path quickly and were soon lost to sight, Herself lagged behind.  Offspring the Second and Cherished Friend kindly kept pace with her.  Their presence was motivating and reassuring, for she knew that if she struggled, they were there with her.

She felt a bit frustrated and cranky.  So difficult to want to do things and not to feel up to the challenge.  She wishes she were more patient, more energetic, more adept.  More capable. More agile -- physically and mentally. More disciplined. And while she's at it, she wouldn't mind being thinner, wittier, or smarter, either. She feels tremendously imperfect these days. She hopes that others are not as aware of her glaring failures and weaknesses as she is -- and that when they see her imperfections, they will understand and forgive her.

Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections. - Saint Francis De Sales

Words Like Fire

Words can be gifts, words can be weapons, words can be magic; words can be prayer, poetry or song. - Lama Durya Das

Aloe Vera, Season Two

You may recall that last year, we planted a new aloe vera to replace the one that had perished in the bitter cold spell of the winter.  Look how it thrives!  We have added new yellow floral companions to replace the annuals of last year.  It seems quite happy. We are pleased.

  Look, there are feet there!

Mind The Gap

Sometimes, there appears within one's life a certain sense that something is missing - there is a nameless, formless emptiness of which one suddenly becomes aware.  One wonders:  how long has that been there?  Why did I just notice it now?  And, above all, what is it?

Identifying the shape and size of such a Gap can be tricky.  Determining what fits into a Gap can be even more difficult.  Assessing whether a Gap needs be filled, or must remain empty, is the hardest of all. 

Circumstances oftentimes contribute to the emergence of a Gap.  When one has the sensation of treading water in one's life, a Gap tends to arise.  If one is hoping for a change or is awaiting news that might alter the path into the future, the resultant anticipation can also open a Gap. These Gaps require patience. Time, and Change (either incremental or larger), can usually fill such a Gap; sometimes, even merely acknowledging that such a Gap exists is sufficient to cause it to fold in upon itself and disappear.

Sometimes, a Gap opens unexpectedly - a sliver of crescent moon, slung low in the sky, pokes a hole in the fabric of the night.  That species of Gap is most accurately described with the German word, sehnsucht:  that inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what. The sehnsucht Gap is a rift that exposes the very core of the human condition and provides a glimpse into the eternity of the Universe.  Such a sehnsucht Gap is usually best experienced as the yearning and emptiness that it is, for it cannot truly be filled.

Once in a while, an emptiness appears that is not actually a Gap, but rather, is a Void.  Voids are perilous.  One can easily fall into a Void, and it can be arduous to climb out again.  How can one differentiate a Void from a Gap?  A Gap is a noticeable space situated among all the other pieces of one's life -- an absence which will eventually be altered or filled as one walks along life's path.  A Void, in contrast, is a presence -- it is the black hole lair of a creature that envelops everything near it, until it consumes all that one can see. 

What to do when it turns out that an emptiness that one assumed was a merely a Gap is, in fact, a Void?  Do not be afraid.  Voids happen.  We have talked about them before.  Acknowledge the Void, and Name the creature of the Void, for the Naming itself can tame the beast of the Void before it consumes one.  

Sometimes, one cannot escape the pull of the Void.  If one finds oneself within a Void, a good strategy is to Own the creature of the Void. Allow it to howl and rage. Console it, for it is a wounded, angry animal. Embrace it, and the beast will be quieted and lay down to rest. 

Sometimes, it is easier to observe the Gaps, experience the sehnsucht Gaps, and tackle the Voids by oneself.  Other times, companionship is helpful, or even necessary. Remember always, my stalwart Readers, that should you wish for company, I am here to mind the Gaps with you.  And should you fall into a Void, know that if you so desire, I will sit with you in the Void and sing soft lullabies until the beast sleeps.

Violin

Today, I have Amos Lee's "Violin" stuck in my head.

This old violin was found at http://www.collectibleviolins.com/.

Tower

Brick by hard-baked brick,
I fashioned this high tower -
Safety for my heart.

With some misgiving,
I left one wall incomplete -
Lonely window eye.

Leaf-dotted sunlight,
Birdsong, flower-scented breeze,
Alluring, outside.

Distant voice calling,
"Rapunzel, let down your hair!"
Shall I bear your weight?

If you long for me,
Handsome Prince, gazing upward -
Go find a ladder.

This marvelous picture of the Cape Bojeador lighthouse tower was found at http://www.igougo.com/travel_blog/post-p848-Traveler_of_the_Week_in_Ilocos_Norte_Philippines.html