Sunday, July 18, 2010

Murry's senses

Murray was a good dog that did not get on the furniture or chew up Grace's Shoes. Like all dogs that I have known, he was present in the MOMENT of Now, and much of this was based by how in tune he was with all of his senses. He trusted his nose, his eyes, and his ears. His interpretation of behavior was something processed through all of those senses as well, and as a result Murray had instantly liked Bennet Wimmer. He did not smell like fear or aggression, or anxiety. Bennet smelled vaguely of bacon and that was GOOD. Murray liked Bennet's voice. It was not deceitful or angry or Frightening. And that was Good. Bennet had also stood his ground when Grace had angrily advanced upon him. He had been calm, assertive and confident. All that was Good. In addition, he had invited Grace back the next day for some further meeting, which may or may not mean sharing food...and that may be Good too.
And so it was that Murray had a hard time understanding why Grace would be so agitated and angry with Bennet. What was her problem?
Murray laid on a rug made of leftover strips of Grace's sewing and old clothes. He laid his head on his out stretched paws and breathed in the scent of the rug, comforted by all the familiar smells of his own SPOT. Grace's movements in the Kitchen disturbed his mind, and his ears twitched as Grace jerked open the silverware drawer. Its contents nearly scattered all over the floor.
Murray did not comment. He knew that if he waited with patience that Grace would tell him the Why of her anger. In the meantime, he formulated his own opinion based on her smell. She smelled angry, anxious and...interestingly enough...aroused.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Lavender and grapefruit Turnovers

Ok so here is a recap. Bennet Wimmer is kinda spying on Grace, she confronts him , she is MAD, he is calm, he insults her then invites her to meet him at the gate the next morning....OK Right!

If we had Bennet's monocular and could train its lens upon him, this is what we would see...Bennet sat at the base of an old oak tree and seemed to be speaking out loud.
"So, I should just be myself, and when the time comes that seems appropriate I should just tell her about my secret," at this he stumbled a bit like the word "secret" had cleverly tripped him.
he plucked a blade of grass and stuck it in his  mouth, glancing upward and leaning back into the hard ridges of the trunk.
The tree seem to cradle him then, and if the branches could nod "yes" in a singular fashion, then they did, as if to affirm his suggestion.
"Ok , well that's a plan then..." He stood up, albeit not as sprightly as he was as a boy, and the tree seemed to try to gently lift him to his feet as an afterthought, with an outstretched limb.
Bennet gently touched the trunk and said "Ill talk to you later."
At home , Bennet Wimmer stood in the kitchen and thought a minute. He would make a breakfast picnic for them tomorrow. He would make his favorite breakfast treat to share with Grace. Hopefully it would help assuage her anger towards him.
Here is what he made:
Lavender and Grapefruit Turnovers
one sheet of frozen puff pastry
one block of cream cheese, softened
one egg
3/4 cup of raw sugar
one large tablespoon of sour cream
one tablespoon of lavender buds
one teaspoon scant of grapefruit zest
two tablespoons of grapefruit juice
Roll out the sheet of frozen pastry dough and cut into 6 equal squares. Set aside.
Beat the next ingredients until light and fluffy.
Heat your oven to 400degrees. Butter a cookie sheet and place all six squares on it. Place a heaping tablespoon in the center of each pastry square and fold inward, pinching the center points together. Bake for approximately 20 mins or so...but check at 15 mins. especially if you have a fast oven.
If these pop open during baking, not to worry, they can be reshaped when cooling. Dust with powered sugar, and serve with nice hot coffee.