Sunday, August 26, 2007

The Art of Life

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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.

~~~

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 :)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your projects are really beautiful and that recipe looks scrumptious. That may be what's for dinner... tonight.

Abby said...

You kindred, you! I can perfectly relate to this post, and I often want to take pictures of food. It is as much art to me as anything else. At the airport the other day I saw a scene so ugly it was artistic--does that make sense? I wanted a nice camera to show what I meant. You do live a beautiful and artistic life! (Ok, well, I suppose we all do when we see it that way, but thanks for sharing the beauty)!

eBay said...

Ok so you should do something with photography to make money. Your pics are always so beautiful!!!! I love you as always!

Clair said...

ryc: I know..I was thinking how fun it would be to have you in the postcard swap group b/c yours would be the most fabulous creation, I'm sure! So...you should organize one in the fall. I bet there are lots of people who would want to do it ... me included. :)

Tori said...

I was going to leave a comment, but your pictures made me hungry so gotta go and get something to eat! ;)

Dallas and Krista said...

Mmm... do you ever get sick of being the mom for a second and just wish that someone would bake you something fresh and delicious and just call you into the kitchen to eat it with a huge glass of milk? I wish that a lot and I am most definately having one of those moments. Your life is for sure a most beautiful one because YOU make it that way! XOXO