The Art of Life

Sometimes if we’re looking for it, beauty happens just by living life in a thoughtful way. Do you know what I mean? There are times within the craziness that is life when things come together nicely and you have a little moment. I love those moments. I love beautiful things, whether it is a tangible something, or whether it is a beautiful moment. I find myself in search of beauty.

It happened a couple weeks ago when my kids and I went to the back yard and picked blueberries. I came in and made blueberry coffee cake at my Oldest’s request, and as I cut into it, complete joy overcame me. “Look at the beautiful treat these blueberries supplied us with,” I thought! We delightfully ate it warm with mugs full of ice cold milk and shared a moment together. A moment of beauty, which, when recognized, could be considered art.

It happened again today. There was basil growing among my flowers and tomatoes showing off in all of their bright red in the vegitable garden and there were hungry bodies to be fed. Although we were still smoky from our weekend in the White Mountains, I had the urge to start gathering and chopping. I may have experienced the art of the moment alone, for I was the one who has been weeding and watering and nurturing and noticing growth in my yard. But it happened, even if I was the only one to take notice. A moment of, “this is what life if about—nurturing growth and making it into something delicious.” An every-day moment—making food and eating it, but one of beauty; beauty because I noticed it.

It just so happens that both of the moments I described here are about food. Who knows, maybe most of my moments include food, but whether or not they do, I’d like to start recording some of them here. If you notice any art in your life this week, post about it with me—I’ll start posting The Art of Life on Sundays as a form of gratitude for my blessings.

And because Lucky Candice has specially requested recipes, I’ll include mine here:

Blueberry Coffee Cake (thanks, brooke)

¼ C. butter
¾ C. sugar
1 egg
2 C. flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ C. milk

cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg. Fold in flour mixture, alternating with milk. Fold in blueberries carefully.

Topping:

½ C. sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 C. flour
¼ C. soft butter

Bake in well greased pan; 350 for 40-45 minutes.

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Tomato salad—pictured above
(Rough recipe, add whatever tastes good to you! Thanks, Jessica.)

Tomatoes
Cucumber
Croutons
Basil
Parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar

Chop it all up, add seasonings to taste. The croutons soak up all the juices and get soft and mushy and delicious.

note: there is still time to enter the drawing if you are interested! I'm excited to pick a name :)