Saturday, July 19, 2008

Dinner with the Coyotes

One of the best things we can do is to eat in beautiful surroundings. You may find your dining room, breakfast nook, or couch in front of the TV (although I cannot imagine how THAT is possible) to be your beautiful place. My beautiful place is on my back deck. It overlooks a creek and is shaded by tall, strong trees. I share my deck with all kinds of birds, which I have diligently documented in my birdwatching book. In addition, there are other woodland creatures who share my space...

Tonight, I sat on the deck to eat my dinner: tender cheese and herb ravioli with roasted vegetables and a tomato cream sauce, green salad with ripe red tomatoes bursting with the flavor of summer, and warm fresh buttery whole grain oatmeal bread and a glass of crisp chardonnay. It was delicious and as the sun began to sink in the sky and shards of light cut through the trees, I listened to the sound of the birds. The sweet and acidic tomatoes alongside the peppery arugula were perfectly cut by the balsamic dressing and I was thinking what a wonderful way to enjoy a meal. I should take all of my meals there!

Just then, I heard dogs barking and then...the sounds of the coyotes. Their bark is so different from the dogs. I could hear them calling to each other in the long way that they do...howling, but just a warm and excited sound. Five minutes, maybe less, and they stopped. What a blessing to share my dinner time with the coyotes...mealtimes should be pleasurable not just for the food, but also for the company you share.

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