Last summer we (well, Stu) built a small fire pit in our yard. We had visions of friends gathered around the campfire, sharing food, laughter, and conversation. I'm happy to report that the fire pit has worked out exactly as we hoped. Yesterday evening we hosted some dear friends for dinner prepared under the stars: fresh wild salmon cooked over the flames on cedar stakes, accompanied by potatoes and apple crisp cooked in two Dutch ovens over charcoal. I swear that food cooked outside tastes better than food cooked indoors. Plus nothing beats seeing friends' smiling faces lit by firelight. Everything about the evening was a most welcome antidote from the head-exploding aggravation of the ongoing oil "spill" in the Gulf and continuing crapification of American politics. Sometimes it's grand to just focus on the blessings near to hand.
On a different subject, here is a quiz for my friends with an interest in theology:
Question: What did Jesus have to say about homosexuality.
Answer:
Today's front yard critter count:
Deer: 2
Raccoons: 5 (Crabby Mama and her young adult children are healthy, happy, and still hanging out together. They stop by occasionally in hopes of a snack. They occasionally get one.)
Chipmunks: 2 (living in the fenced vegetable garden)
Squirrels: many (still loud)
Rabbits: 1
Stellar's Jays: 2 (probably with a youngster stashed in a nest nearby)
