It doesn’t interest me if there is one God
or many gods. I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned. If you know despair or can see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need to change you.
If you can look back with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling toward the center of your longing.
I want to know if you are willing
to live, day by day, with the consequence of love
and the bitter unwanted passion of your sure defeat.

I have heard, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.

by David Whyte

saturday showed up in its finest form, doling out a three-hour hike along torrey pines path and black’s beach sands, followed by a wide-ranging feast with friends, which included everything from lime-laced salmon steaks to mouthwatering corn on the cob. in a perfect world, not dictated by life’s trivial concerns, each day would be spent like this one.

rather than the usual bbq, i celebrated labor day with a shrimp boil that included the most magnificent cornbread topped with honey straight from the comb and these fresh figs right off the tree, just before sunset.

Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.

- helen keller

XOXO

saturday was spent seaside, in honor of the one & only minna, whose presence will be missed immensely. san diego’s loss, san francisco’s gain.

these blueberries were bought solely for baking purposes, but ended up getting devoured (along with the other fruit in my fridge) before they ever touched a hot pan and after i spent the afternoon in the sun & sand yesterday. a berry cobbler patiently rests on my to-do list waiting to be brought to life, but may be delayed until the weather is not luring me outdoors.

i spent last week in texas with my family. while pictures can’t capture all the beauty that resides in the place i still call home, they give me an opportunity to reflect and remember when i return to what i now consider my life.

the last few days have been spent with these precious faces, shifting my perspective a little each moment, as i see the world through innocent eyes.

heading out of town today to see three of my favorite earth angels…

sending love to my other three.

xoxo

i love having the option of breakfast any time of day, especially when it includes beans, potatoes, & eggs. the coffee cup not only serves morning delights for lunch, but also has an amazing blue cheese walnut salad that i seem to be craving every tuesday after class. i spent the afternoon with my sweet friend talitha over some lunch, then took a walk down to the beach to see the seals.

i spent much of my sunday at the swap meet in san diego. the incessant odds & ends available at this place will keep you occupied for hours (maybe even days) if you let them. although my heart was set on an old nightstand that fits perfectly beside my bed, it remains to be found. a few old movies and untouched twizzlers amongst one-of-a-kind treasures was plenty to satiate my liking.

this little hunk of pure sweetness, known as miss v, becomes cuter with each passing day. i kinda can’t get enough of her and the sassy blonde pigtails. does that last photo speak for itself or what?

i finally got to taste the much-talked-about ravioli from assenti’s pasta at a dinner party on saturday night thrown by the world’s best dinner party throwers, sara and will (a.k.a. miss v’s parents). tossed in a homemade sage butter sauce, it was everything i could have dreamed of and more.