The Gourmet

   Back before I tossed the television from the Little Bayou House, I would  occasionally try to find some show to watch.  Since I consider most of the current shows a bore or simply not worth watching, more oft than not, I would tune to a cooking channel.  At least there, I might learn something.  I have to admit that I was impressed more with the presentation of the foodstuffs than the actual chef's ability to cook.   Most everybody can at least prepare a dish but to make it look gorgeous as well, takes talent.  My food looks like food.  It is edible but rarely beautiful.  Lately, I have taken an interest in preparing "pretty" foodstuffs.  I want things that taste and look incredible!   I have a long ways to go before I can say I have reached my goal but I did, indeed, come across a budding gourmet that has talent in this area!

  While out and about the hillside, Mark and I happened upon something that made us both stop, stare and smile.  On one of the pier posts, a squirrel had obviously been preparing its meal.  What a gourmet chef this squirrel was!  The "table" had been set in a delightfully artistic manner.  The menu included "Nuts from the pine cone topped with the aromatic hip of the Cherokee Rose".  The squirrel had gnawed the pine cone down to just a stub and then decided that dessert should be a rose hip.  Our arrival on the scene must have interrupted the squirrel's dinner as the rose hip was left untouched...for the moment anyway.

  We continued our hike forgetting about our fancy squirrel. By the time we made our way back to the post, the dessert had been eaten or perhaps the squirrel requested a doggy bag and took his rose hip back home to enjoy later!  I figure if a squirrel can make his dinner look so pretty, then I should be able to achieve my lofty goal of prettier food.  (And, yes, I am easily amused!)