Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

One of my favorite hobbies is cooking. I love cooking.  Everyone asks, "How can you cook when you work with food all day?"  I don't know.  I guess it goes to the 'if you love what you do...' notion of things.  But I do love cooking.  I love the challenges it provides.  New recipes I try and new recipes I create.  They're all the same - a challenge to make it better than I did before. Better than anyone else.  No, not in order to brag about prowess or any of that nonsense.  In fact, it makes me somewhat uneasy when someone proclaims 'how good a cook Baine is,' or any like comments.  I'm just glad that someone likes it!  After all, my cooking is essentially my taste.  All one is saying when they love my food is that they love my taste.  Bon Appetit with Baine!

The Chill of an Early Fall...

The season I love most is fast approaching. Fall brings with it a fresh wind.  I am not a hunter. Fall sports are fine.  But fall doesn't need these to be. Life moves on with the seasons.  Sometimes I feel as though I might be missing out on the autumnal season by living here in Texas.  Then I feel the cool breeze and my mind wanders into reverie.  Growing up in north Texas I experienced what I would consider a great fall and winter - a respite from the steamy, hot temperatures of summers without rain.  I've always been a cold weather lover.  Fall is the promise of that best time of my year.

Along with a slighter crisp freshness in the air, fall brings to mind memories - of childhood, of blessings, and of a life, although passing further and further away with each successive trip around the sun, full of hope and love.  Hope for the newness that comes with spring.  And love that beckons me forward in silence and in awe of all that is and was.  Together with the perfect ethereal music flowing in the background, those fall days can remove me from the most hectic, labouring, worrysome moments to one where nothing else matters.  I seem to float on the air with each note.  Closer to my God at those times than any other.  A gift, a special moment that He and I alone can share together.  He knows me.  I am just learning how deeply He does...know...me. 

Come, now, o gentlest of seasons.  Refreshing breath of life. Come.

Howdy!

I am not a writer.  I am not very good at keeping up with things!  However, I am passionate about food, friends and my faith.  So that's what I will do my best to share here!  I welcome all comments, contributions and stuff like that.  Recipes, observations, points to ponder...that's what I'll be sharing.  (If nothing else, this will be around for my kids/grandkids to remember a little something about me when I've gone home!)

Cheers!  Blessings!  Peace!