Chef Dudley

A few days late... but I am here, and writing, so i am alive.

What a wonderful weekend we had. The weather was great and we enjoyed the dryness after a long summer of rain, but the good news is that I may be able to 'can' another batch of tomato soup !!! YEAH !!

Sunday was like any other day, it was very cool when I awoke at 6:30am and went with Charlie to the front porch. If you sit very still, you can hear the collision between the night and the light happening, so, because it was a Sunday and no one was traveling on 321 early going to work, i heard what I knew was there. First, it was a long distance crying, then a yelping, then a greeting , not so much different than Charlie does when we come home, then the unmistakeably howl. yes, the rumors were true, we had coyotes in the neighborhood. I was fascinated as I listened to the centuries old sounds of the young pack greeting the provider of the night's catch, I wondered if it was one of our own previously abundant rabbits. Finally, the dawn was quiet, all was as it should be. I sipped my coffee in the comfort and safety of my borrowed human space.

This was the day that Dudley was to go to his first 'cooking class ' at the Crestview Resort in Blowing Rock. Debbie , his sister, had informed him of the class and he immediately signed up. So for the next month he will be instructed in the ways of a Top Chef and then his 'bestest' friends will be invited to a dinner that he will prepare for us at the Crestview. La Te Da !!!! So, Andre, Leesa, Randy, Patricia, Debbie and me will go on the 30th to a fantastic dinner, no wonder i have problems losing weight !! but it is worth it.

Around noon on Sunday, we received a call from Patricia, she wanted to get together for a impromptu supper . So we all got what ever we had,which was mostly fresh, and canned vegetables from our gardens and had the most wonderful dinner with paper plates and wine filled mason jars. The 500 mile view from the deck was the dessert and none of us complained of being too full.

An update on neighbor Brandon. He did bring his driver's test book over for me to look at, it is far over his head, i fear he will never be able to pass . but we had a lesson and i am encouraged that he at least wanted me to be involved. One day at a time. He may be a life long project, but I will not mind. He is enrolled in the local auto mechanics school , so we will see how that goes.

Our best goes out to Brian tonight, he got a job at the American Cancer Society at Emory Univ in Atlanta. He will be analyzing data for them. This is in conjunction with his Master's degree in Public Health. Maybe this will lead to a further degree for him. All things come to those who wait... but you have to pedal real fast while you wait....

I will blog one more time this week, I am traveling to my sister's in DC to help her during her eye surgery. I have no doubt she would be there for me if I needed her. Blood is thicker......and that comes real clear as we get older. So I will update when I return from the big city...Love, Sandi