Day Ninety-Eight and Ninety-Nine

I didn't anticipate how easily we adapted to driving on the opposite side of the road than we do in the States. I experienced a bit of intrepidation when we decided to actually rent a car and drive around Scotland but we did just fine, especially with Bob at the wheel. I was the navigator with reading glasses at the ready and map neatly folded in my lap to display just the section of the map that we would find ourselves in at any one time. We did end up back in Edinburgh (by accident) and were pleasantly surprised when we made it through with no problems. After that, our think our confidence levels were pretty high. The only thing I didn't want to do was try to drive at night. So, with that in mind, we headed toward York with one night in between without any prior reservation for sleeping arrangements. If we saw a sign for something we thought we might like to see, there we went and when we hit Berwick on Tweed for lunch, we ended up at an Indian restaurant - Villa Spice - that was absolutely incredible. Bob had Sag Duck with saffron rice, I had Bhuan Gnosht and garlic Nan. After enjoying our find, we walked the town a bit. The whole journey was a blast and after leaving Berwick we ended up taking mostly coastal roads, we had no idea that the impending sunset would be so beautiful along the shoreline. As the sky grew darker, we decided to look for a bed and breakfast so that we wouldn't be driving at night. We pulled into the Boat House Inn right along the shoreline of the very small village we found ourselves in and were told that there was a bed and breakfast right down the road, within sight. So, we pulled up, knocked on the door and were greeted by a delightful couple who had just returned from the Dominican Republic after a two week vacation. Hazel was so cute, a bit nervous that she had her vacation laundry drying everywhere, but she and Maddy were more than accommodating. It was a great little place, very clean and every need was anticipated by the stock of items in the room. The shoreline was just across the street and we had a clear view of the two little fishing boats anchored just out past the surf. The full English breakfast we had in the morning was the best yet. We appreciated their friendliness and all the suggestions they made for our drive south the York. When we told Hazel and Maddy about the nice dinner we had at the Boat House Inn and how friendly and talkative the owner and his wife were, they were so surprised as the owner is not usually so friendly. We talked and talked while we had our dinner at the bar and found it rather revealing when the owner, who was also the bartender, likened he and his wife to Basil Faulty and his wife. It was so true though. Bob and I laughed and laughed when he and his wife had a couple of interactions while we were there. Very nice couple and great food. We pulled away the next morning satisfied that we had experienced the real England.

We took our time getting to York via some very fun backroads - barely one lane - and when one of the roads we chose to travel on ended up diverted, we had a late lunch stop at a place called the Carpenter Arms Inn. I'm going to have to set the guy straight who said English food is relatively bad, because we have had some incredible meals of which today's was one of the very best. Bob started with a Yorkshire blue cheese and walnut salad and had baked salmon on top of a potato mash for his entree. I had a pumpkin curry soup that was so creamy, with just a hint of curry so that the pumpkin taste was still the dominating flavor, followed by Mount Grace roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and small, baked new potatoes, all swimming in a heady beef gravy. I don't know what it is, but the potatoes they grow here are so very tasty and extremely creamy. We were very happy campers. So onward we went on our journey to York, following the signs to Rievaulx Abbey, one of my very favorite places. After winding our way through the up and down roads of the Yorkshire Dales, we came upon Rievaulx sitting in the beauty of the small, narrow Rye Valley, full of trees adorned with the colors of Fall, the green of the pastures resplendent with grazing black faced sheep, all through a soft foggy mist. It was magical, as Rievaulx usually is. At it's height, the Abbey housed over 600 monks and the extensive ruins make you feel as though, if you stood still enough, you could still hear their chants and prayers. It's humbling to see the skeletal remains of the this once impressive community, with the holy water vessels still protruding from the walls. Just touching them with my hand as though I was dipping my fingers in their contents, sent shivers up my spine. I love it there and could repeat the visit many, many more times. I would be content to know my ashes could rest there someday.

We had about an hour at Rievaulx as the park was closing and dusk was upon us. I ended up driving out of the Rye Valley, up and down through the Dales once again but this time it was dark. It was quite an experience and now I feel like a seasoned English countryside driver. We made it easily into York, found a hotel quickly and walked the streets near the Minster. There is so much to do here and I'm looking forward to showing Bob around in the morning.

Day Ninety-Seven

Scotland is truly an amazing place. There is so much variety in the landscapes of this ancient land. There are times when I am reminded of the vistas in Nevada, as the mountains here seem to rise right out of the flat valleys, and even though the tallest mountain in Scotland is only a little more than 3,000 feet, they still seem to rise to the sky. The rolling hills and farms are much like the hills and valleys of Northern California although less inhabited and the buildings are mainly of stone and much older. We took a drive along the Fife coastal scenic route and were impressed by the small villages and rocky shoreline, as well as the small, rock walled ports of little fishing boats. Very colorful. The crab baskets stacked in careless piles along with corked fishing nets strewn here and there was a homage to a simple and yet treacherous existence that requires a lot of mental and physical stamina only years of tradition can supply. Tea and coffee in a small shop along a warf, a stop at what I would call a gourmet food farm (frozen meals prepared for take out, their own butchered meat artistically wrapped in freezers along with vegetables that looked like they were ready for a photo shoot and much jam and jelly. I know where I would be shopping for food on a daily basis, and all in an old stone barn that probably housed farm animals at some time in its history. It was a visual delight and a gastronomes paradise.

Beautiful sunset on the water flanked by small villages - many pictures taken - and back to our hotel for our last night in Scotland.

Day Ninety through Ninety-Six

It's very difficult to discipline myself to blog while I'm having such a great time. It doesn't help to be utterly exhausted either when we finally get back to the hotel each night. I don't know where to begin. After having a couple of days exploring Edinburgh and sharing a wonderful dinner with a very dear person, John, and his friends Nancy and David, at The Witchery, we felt as though we had already experienced the best of what Scotland has to offer. Our Witchery dinner was perfection and the company made the evening sweep by. After saying our goodbyes and marveling at the fact that even though John lives only 225 miles away from our home in the States, we had to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland to have dinner together, Bob and I walked arm in arm through the brisk night flanked by a full moon. As John was leaving for the Lake District the next morning with Nancy and David and Bob and I were headed to the Isle of Skye the next day as well, we did part knowing that we'd both be in contact again before our journeys in Scotland were at an end.

The Isle of Skye excursion was part of a small Highland Experience Tour program which put us in a small bus/van with 11 other people. It was amazing to see the variety of people who come to this area to vacation. Of all 13 of us, only five were English speakers. There were three people from China, 2 from Switzerland, one from Australia, one from South Korea, and two from Turkey. We all got along so well - no one knew when they were being insulted, nor did anyone complain about any body else. It was a delightful trip as far as fellow trekkers were concerned and the tour afforded us a beautifully diverse cross-section of what Scotland has to offer. I just kept thinking how much my son Eric would love this Country - fishing and hiking is what it's all about and the endless beauty that surrounds you while you do either absolutely takes your breath away. It was a treat to be able to sit and look out the window of our little van just listening to the stories our driver most adeptly relayed while we wound our way through the countryside - Jed had a great sense of humor, typical Scottish dry, subtle wit, plus many wonderful Scottish tales. After three days and two nights on the road, we landed back in Edinburgh in the late evening of the third day feeling we had quite an education and saw some marvelous sites. We even stayed one night at a very comfortable hotel right on the shores of Loch Ness but alas, we did not see the beast! If I had of had a couple more Caol Ila whiskies, I might have caught a glimpse. That's another thing - this Scottish whiskey has become a real must have. We were also fortunate enough to be able to beg our driver to stop at a small distillery and take a tour which he did without question. It seems it hasn't been difficult to substitute a bit of the barley water for wine on this trip. All I can say is smooooooth.

We are now staying at a large estate in Kirkcaldy and just settled in after having a wonderful dinner in their dining room (of course, after we had our double shots while enjoying a duck breast and goose liver pate terrine). Bob had pheasant and I had gorgonzola-hazelnut gnocchi both accompanied with honey roasted carrots and turnips. I think all the pheasant we saw on the side of the roads and in the fields, not to mention the ones that almost flew into the van as we were driving along, when we were on our countryside tour gave us a good hankering for some of the wild bird. It was a dinner we won't soon forget.

The area we are staying in is the home of many of my paternal grandmother's people. Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, Wymess and Dysart are all along the coast just across the bay from Edinburgh. It was wonderful to drive right into Kirkcaldy on Nicol Street which is a family name. We went into the Kirkcaldy Museum and saw many of the family names there - Nicol, Bell, Hog - I can't wait to get to the cemetery tomorrow. There is also a research center in Edinburgh (Scotland's People Centre) where you can have access to a researcher for two hours while they assist you in finding your relatives. No need to call ahead and no reservations necessary. You just walk in. The only problem is, as I've just found out about this service, they're only open Monday through Friday and I'm not sure I'll be able to pop in. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to come over by myself for a couple of weeks! Anyway, I do plan to do some looking around this area as we have three days and two nights here before we begin our journey back to London. And, did I mention we rented a car? I already had to remind Bob to stay on the left side of the road. Cross your fingers and say a little prayer.

Day Eight-Eight and Eighty-Nine

We opted to travel by bus from Leeds to Edinburgh just because we thought it would be nice to see some of the countryside. The trip took two more hours than by train but we were both happy to have chosen this mode of transportation as we did get to see more of the rural landscape than we would have by train. The city I was most impressed with was Durham and would definitely make that a stop at some point, possibly on another excursion. We were very tired when we arrived in Edinburgh at about 4:30 pm and had to get our bearings in order to find our hotel. After walking a bit through a very brisk wind and different weather than we had encountered elsewhere, we hailed a cab to get to our hotel which ended up to be just a few blocks away, but totally uphill. It was worth the 3.65 pound cab fare. The hotel is very fine and we have a splendid view of the surrounding old town area. Edinburgh Castel is right around the corner, as are all of the other places of interest. After setting up, we took a stroll to find a restaurant as all we had eaten for the day was the full English breakfast before checking out of our hotel in Leeds. We choose a small cafe, Le Sept, around the corner from our hotel and I ended up sending my dinner back - rabbit stew that looked like the rabbit regurgitated it - mainly because it was inedible due to the amount of salt the chef used. I would not have been so bold to send it back if I wasn't akin to all the cooking shows, especially those that feature chef competitions. I think even though I find it hard to watch Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen - he is so mean and foul - I have learned a lot from his insistence on quality meals going out of anyone's kitchen. Even though I might disagree with how he goes about it, I now know how to be an empowered diner and am confident that I am doing the chef a service by letting him know the quality demanded by the public in order for an establishment to remain in business. I noticed that when Gordon Ramsey tries to rescue restaurants in trouble, his first questions involve asking chefs what the problems are. Most chefs, to their discredit, remain in the dark when it comes to knowing why their customers are dissatisfied and don't repeat bookings. If you don't let the chef know what is wrong, they will assume their meals are prepared properly and are appreciated by their customers. I can see how very important it is for a chef to get out of their comfort zone of the kitchen and speak first hand with their guests. For this, I must thank Gordon Ramsey.

After a good night's rest (even though I was waking up every hour to blow my nose), we started our day off with some much appreciated, hot and thick, Scottish porridge with fresh raspberries and a drizzle of honey, along with some brown toast and, of course, tea and coffee. It was just what we needed considering we got a late start and it was rather cold and windy outside. There are many more Americans, it seems, in Edinburgh than in London, or for that matter, Leeds, and many more people in general in the small Castle area of this city. I also noticed that people here are not as friendly as in England. I don't feel as welcome here as I have in other areas of the UK.

After booking a 3 day tour of the highlands and Isle of Skye (2 nights on the Isle), we headed up to the Castle for a tour. I'm not sure I would do that again except for the wonderful 360 degree views. Not much of the Castle is open to visitors as it is actively inhabited for other functions and the museum area displays are rather confining and small. For instance, you walk through a maze of corridors and displays, packed in like sardines, just to get a glimpse of the Scottish Crown Jewels in one little room at the very end. It's almost as if there isn't really much to display at the Castle and so they make these rather elaborate walkthroughs to get to the real item of interest, and then you're done. The real highlight however, was the Whiskey Heritage Museum right outside the gates of Edinburgh Castle. I would strongly recommend the Gold Tour as you get to taste more whiskey at the end of the little barrel ride through the museum exhibit. I feel like I know quite a bit about a beverage that is really rather simple but has taken on many different forms and varieties. I hope it's medicinal as well, as I'm still fighting this head cold.

On to dinner at a local pub and wow, was it great. Not only did we get to experience a bit of the local rowdy crowd of footballers, but we also had a wonderful meal of Irish Stew for Bob and fish and chips for me. The fish was firm, flaky, moist and tasty with a light batter that was not drenched in oil. With a drizzle of brown sauce over the top, I was in fish and chips heaven. Good and cheap with a pint of Guinness, and nothing sent back to the chef this time. We were both very satisfied and are ready for another good night's sleep.

Day Eighty-Seven

I can't believe I forgot to mention the quilt exhibit at the Leeds Art Gallery, being a quilter and all. I wish I could have taken pictures as the pieces displayed used a technique that I have never heard of in quilting. Just as wood inlay is done, these quilts were wool inlay. Both the background piece and the inlay piece are cut to the same dimensions, inlayed, and then stitched to hold in place with very tiny, almost invisible stitches. Because the wools were felted and of limited colors, the quilts were very dramatic and quite intricate. The designs were small and much embroidery was included as well.

We walked through the open air market in Leeds where you can get just about anything - bakery goods, fresh meats and fish, flowers, etc., etc., etc., grabbed a cup of coffee and a sweet and headed to the bus for Harrogate which is about a 1/2 hour ride. It seemed a good day to move at a slower pace as I have a bit of a head cold and we both felt a little worn, so the Royal Baths were a must. We needed to ask one of our fellow riders where would be the most convenient getting off point and, as always when you get out of London, the locals as so at the ready to assist! It makes you feel rather special and wanted. We made it to the Baths, reserved our spot and then headed to Betty's Tea Parlor. Bob had a tasty chicken caesar sandwich (open faced) and I had a very hot bowl of cream of onion soup which hit the spot nicely. After walking through their park gardens and around the little town, it was time to meet our scheduled appointment for some needed pampering. The baths were fantastic - Tiled underground chambers with different temperature dry sauna rooms and a eucalyptus wet sauna that I'm sure helped my head cold. After about an hour and a half alternating between the steam and dry heat, we were ready for our massage. Caught the bus back to Leeds and sat next to a real character who talked all about the love he had for his England and how much he loved Americans and Canadians. Quite a fellow - he said we "made his day." He was a right jolly bus companion to end ours as well. Back at the hotel we slithered into bed after making bus arrangements to Edinburgh for tomorrow.

Day Eighty-Six

Caught the train from Kings Cross to Leeds. We had thought about renting a car but since the train is so convenient, fast and relaxing, we decided to make the car decision once we get to Leeds. Our hotel was just around the corner from the train station in Leeds so we dropped off our luggage and went exploring. Just about a half mile from our hotel is the Leeds city center. Leeds is a large college town (Leeds University) and is very clean but cold. The trees are all turning and it really feels like Fall here. We made it to the Leeds Art Gallery in the old town hall building which is magnificent in itself with it's completely tiled interior walls and high vaulted ceilings and ended up in the cafe inside for tea and sweets. We sat at a table in the sun just inside a window that looked out over the hall steps where some men were playing sidewalk chess with the large plastic pieces on the cement squares. It was truly delightful and a nice bit of relaxation. The gallery exhibits were wonderful and featured many Yorkshire artists both past and contemporary. I can see why so many great artists came from the Yorkshire area as the landscapes are inspiring.

After walking around for a while and getting our bearings (much easier here than in London), we looked over some activity options, went back to the hotel to check in and get cleaned up for dinner. We went to a small restaurant which is supposed to be a local favorite and had a very tasty and beautifully presented dinner with our bottle of wine. The food here is impressive - we started with beet gazpacho and gorgettes of feta, enjoyed them emmensely with an entree of rosemary and baby leek breast of chicken. We usually try to get different entrees so that we can each have a taste of the other's but the chicken just sounded too good - and it was! Topped of with a glass of port and we were set for a good nights sleep.

Day Eighty-one thru Eighty-five

We arrived in London very tired and went straight away to our hotel and dropped off our bags. Since it was still early, we decided to walk as we've found walking really helps mitigate the jet lag and after sitting for ten hours with little exercise, it helps to start the adventure off with physical activity. Our three days here were full of tube hopping, walking and general site seeing. The British Museum was on the top of our list as it seems one cannot see everything and it's good to concentrate on a special area of interest each time you come. Bob loved the Viking collections and I tarried at the Medieval period displays. It's like being in a history themed candy shop. We included tea at Fortnum & Mason, the London Eye which gave us a wonderful nighttime bird's eye view, a jaunt out to Hampton Court as I'd always wanted to see Harry VIII's digs outside of London and a fortuitous tube hop which brought us out right under the "Wicked" marquee near Victoria. Caught the show that evening and what a show it was! We sat right in the front behind the orchestra about eight rows back and were even commenting on the artistry of the shoes the performers were wearing! It was fantastical.

Weather was perfect - only rained on us once for about 10 minutes - and the food in London is truly a gastronomic's delight. We had said we would, of course, do Indian and ended up at Delhi in Soho. The food was aromatic, hot and full of the essence of East Indian flavors. We really felt we stumbled on a good find (actually having my iPad with a London area app was sooooo very helpful). We also ate one evening at our hotel, the Windermere near Victoria Station, which ended up to be an above-average London B&B considering the city is notorious for bad B&B's. I had chicken with bubble and squeak - Bob had a rib eye that was perfectly cooked lightly flavored with a delicious black pepper sauce. We did have a rather marginal and quite expensive meal at an Asian restaurant called Bam Bou in Soho. I had sea bass which wasn't bad, but the chef had chopped up lemon grass which were like fish bone shards over the top of it and the cilantro was so tough you couldn't even pull the leaves off the stems. The bok choy it was crowning was tough as well, in fact, so tough you couldn't even eat it. I should have known what the food was going to be like when my champaign cocktail arrived at room temperature. I would not recommend this place to anyone. We always had a full English breakfast at the B&B, would end up skipping lunch in lieu of tea, and make our dinner meal the star attraction of the day. Two meals a day is quite enough for the two of us.

Our next stop is for two nights in Leeds.

Day Seventy-Nine and Eighty

News Flash - Today's headlines: "Is it possible that while you're asleep tonight, thieves will be stealing your tires?" OMG, just one more thing we have to worry about!

Day Seventy-Eight

Yesterday a grizzly scene of mayhem, murder, and death presented itself in an insidious instant while I sat peacefully at my backyard window gazing at the tranquil scene of birds coexisting for one purpose - to fatten themselves up before the impending cold of Winter. That's when it all happened, and within seconds, there would be one less bird. No, it was not the neighbor's cat, as I have seen it lurking in the background several times during my morning viewings but have not seen it actually attempt to snatch anything. A warning - this story is not for the faint of heart. Here I am sitting, sipping my tea and marveling at the number of quail in the backyard, big fat ones, all pecking away at the seed I had just thrown in the "viewing area." There were probably more than four dozen. I was also surprised to notice some of them mating (in the Fall?). Here is creation happening right in my yard and I am feeling that my backyard paradise is facilitating more little critters being brought into the world, when all of a sudden the peace is shattered. The young Peregrin Falcon frequenting the neighborhood swoops down out, I guess from the powerlines, and plucks a young quail from the feeding grounds. At that moment it was quail mayhem. Three of them hit my big picture window trying to get away...boom...boom.......boom. These were big thuds as I thought the window would surely not hold up and as it's happening, I'm still just sitting there with my tea cup still poised in my hand. If you sneezed, you would have missed the theater! It happened so fast. They were gone in a flash of time and they haven't been back since. I think a few unsuspecting quail ventured in this morning to eat but were probably soon warned by spectacle goers of yesterday and summarily left - none have returned this afternoon. Now my yard is probably known as the killing field. I haven't had the nerve to go on Facebook yet and see if any of them have made some posts. At least I have the Sparrows.

Day Seventy-Six and Seventy-Seven

Someday I'd like to thank that Earl of Sandwich guy who, I believe, developed one of the most unique concoctions in gastronomic history - the sandwich of course. But leave it to the Italians to take the idea of an English Earl and perfect it; as I would also love to meet Mr. Panini. I was so overwhelmingly excited when my oldest son presented me with my beloved Panini Press for Mother's Day. Ever since, I have been relishing the unique sandwich inventions dictated mainly by what's in the refrigerator and what I need to use up, and then taking those rather lowly ingredients to another height by toasting them between two slices of bread in this wonderful Italian invention. Today was perfection. A ciabatta roll sliced open from Schaat's Bakery, a healthy swab of blue cheese and chive spread on both sides, a good helping of roast beef slices, my homemade pickles and topped off with sliced tomatoes from the garden (which are put on after the sandwich is liberated from the machine)! I'm already thinking of what's for lunch tomorrow - my creativity knows no boundaries.

Day Seventy-Three, Seventy-Four and Seventy-Five

It's amazing what a little rain can do to the waining harvest season. The temperatures are still hovering around 70 degrees but the leaves have begun to turn and the vegetables are beginning to shut down. After raking a few leaves - there are many more to come - and taking our walk this morning, we've made the realization that Fall is definitely here. The grasses and trees along the river walk are all turning that telltale yellow and beginning to thin out. The shadows are long, making the colors of the landscape intense. The contrast between light and dark is measurable against the vividness of the sky dotted with a few feathery clouds, and the haze that is indicative of humans desiring the reassurance of a warm fire at night. Everything points to the season to come. It seemed Bob and I had the same thing on our minds once we rounded the last corner to the car - I began thinking about brunch at the Cafe Del Rio and Bob ended up verbalizing it before I had the chance to even finish the thought. So, we headed up and dined by the open window as we admired the view down Six Mile Canyon. We both ordered the Jack, spinach and mushroom omlette smothered with roasted red pepper salsa and the best shredded hash browns (nice and brown and crunchy). Afterwards, we took a stroll down Virginia City's Main Street relishing the warm sun. We were both a bit sleepy when we arrived home but jumped into the yard as we need to tidy up a bit before our vacation. Dinner is looming and the leftovers from breakfast will do nicely wrapped in warm corn tortillas.

I picked all of the tomatillos which feels close to 20 pounds and pulled up the squash plants and picked a few tomatoes. I'll have to make sure I pack all the tomatoes in boxes before we leave to preserve them for our return. I'm sure we'll get a frost while we're gone and I don't want to lose any to the cold. They will store nicely in the shed and will begin to ripen. The carrots can stand even the snow which is quite satisfying in the winter when you can go out, brush the snow off and pull out the beautiful orange, crunchy treats. The pumpkin is still maturing - it's bright, bright orange now - and is being reserved for the boy down the street.

Five more days!

Day Seventy-One and Seventy-Two

I am convinced that Anthony Bourdain needs a sidekick and it's me. After all, I can be just as sarcastic, if not more. For instance, while at a locals market in Australia during season 7, Tony and his guide were purchasing breakfast (spicy bratwurst and saurkraut) at a market stand absolutely packed with breakfast goers. After purchasing their breakfast of champions, Tony commented on the tight fit between customers and food by explaining they would eat their purchase in a place where collisions between humans and sausage could be avoided. Now, I would have added that I actually enjoy an occasional collision between human and sausage as long as I've been wined and dined first. I'm sure my warped perspective would be a good fit along side Tony's rather twisted one. I wouldn't necessarily have to be on every episode, just the ones where the accommodations are five star. Now, I am in big trouble having found the No Reservations season episodes available on Netflix for instant play! I am at this moment rehearsing by adding my comments as I watch.

As always, inspired by food, I picked a butternut squash from the garden, peeled and seeded it, chopped it up in a glass pan with herbed butter, a little brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, and have it in the oven for soup this evening. I wish I had of been born to be thin instead of just beautiful and smart. I guess two out of three isn't bad but what I could have done with that third attribute!!! Oh well. I am definitely ready to do some major consuming damage in Scotland, especially after watching Bourdain in Edinburgh. I've already printed out the info for The Kitchin near the Commercial Quay in Leith which is the dock area of Edinburgh. I have reservations at The Witchery and am not only looking forward to the food, but also the company as my best friend's cousin will be there to dine with. Oh my, I'm being reminded of how much I have to do yet to ready myself for the upcoming trip (I'm gobsmacked). Better get ripping!

Day Sixty-Seven, Eight, Nine and Seventy

It's been a few days as you can see but I do have a good excuse. On Saturday we began laying the driveway in pavers and have been working little by little each day, despite the rain which actually made it more enjoyable. At least we weren't sweating in the hot sun which has been rather relentless for the past month or so. I guess someone finally told the weather gods that the Fall season is upon us, so, with a flurry of trying to make up for their neglect, it's now raining cats and dogs. I can't complain though, I love the rain and the temperatures are supposed to climb again so the vegetables still have time to mature (I have loads of tomatoes still on the vines).

I don't know what it is about the rain but it sure lends itself to contemplation. It's as if ideas and thoughts become visual. A backdrop of grey must present itself as a nice canvas for profundity. Or maybe it's similar to dreaming while awake. Everything is in a state of darkness and yet light enough for guided thoughts that may be the basis for the dreams we have while asleep. For me, the rain magnifies the ancient nature of the world. After all, I do believe everything sprang from the water. Maybe it's a reminder of our origins and the power of nature to give and take away life. Mother Nature at her powerful best.

Definitely a day to spend in the kitchen. I've got a loaf of bread started and I just diced up some Aidele's habanero sausage to brown in the pan with some onion, diced tomatoes from the garden, diced green chili peppers, chopped carrots from the garden, and a bit of fresh cilantro. Once that's browned and leaves those nice browned bits on the bottom of the pan, I'll pour in some beef broth and a little seasoning to taste. Once the carrots start to soften, I'll add some fresh corn and a can of pinto beans. With a few pieces of corn bread I made the other night and froze, it'll be lunch! I also like to put some grated queso fresco and broken tortilla chips on top (you know, the ones that are always at the bottom of the bag that most people throw out).

Bring on more rain - I'm prepared!