Robbie, over at Tales From Beyond, lives in the high reaches of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. On most Tuesdays, he goes walkabout, hiking in the true wilderness. Yesterday he posted a most excellent piece about walking amongst the dragons...and had two photos to illustrate his adventures.
They reminded me so much of Scotland, it was near to breaking my heart. There's an area, in the northern Highlands called the Great Glen. It's a natural cut in the earth that runs right across the land for over 62 miles. There are lochs--Ness being one--and mountains and more glens and barren, raw landscapes that take your breath away. Once, when Alan and I were on one of our many road trips, I stood in the heart of Glen Coe and cried at the awesome, stark beauty. And for the tragedy that occurred there, but that's a story for another time.
Here is a map, and a few photos along the route of the Great Glen...
(The first shot, below the map, is Glen Coe. Still leaves me utterly breathless and teary, though now that's probably due to acute homesickness)
Check out Robbie's blog and look at his two photos. Other than the elevations, I see a real similarity in the landscapes. Or...is it just me and a big ol' heap of wishful thinking?
I had some upsetting news today from Scotland, and though I'm waiting to get all the details, I find myself up to the knees in the Slough of Despond. I can't stand being so far away. I'm missing the family, my friends, Alan; I'm missing the neighborhood, my old house. I'm just...missing.
Walking the boys this morning, I had to fight the urge to feel sorry for myself, struggle against pushing the elevator button to the sub-basement in my head, inhabited by mind parasites and an evil twin who loves to wallow and whinge.
I was going to drive to one of the covered bridges because it's the last day of Week Two, but halfway around the VA complex with the dogs, I realized I'd left the map and my camera at home--because I was too busy missing and not thinking. I barked out a slightly insane laugh, pondered the idea I might be going senile, then slumped in resignation that I wasn't going to accomplish my second week of the 52s.
But wait. As I'm driving home, I have an epiphany. I smile as the realization dawns: I can achieve three things by just doing one! A vision of beignets and chicory coffee, the Cafe du Monde on Decatur Street, the sounds and smells of Nawlins....
Y
ou're no doubt wondering what three things? What is she talking about? Has the poor girl finally lost the plot?
Allow me to explain:
1. Cafe du Monde beignets are the best in the world. I've had the recipe for ages but never made them. Aha! The Week Two fun and new thing.
2. It will take concentration and time to make these little gems, which will divert my mind from the sub-basement.
3. And, at the end of the day, I will have a most wonderful treat, a delicious cup of coffee, and can sit back, imagining good things instead of sad ones.
So. I stop at the store, buy the yeast, and a few other items I'll need, dash home and begin creating the beignets. It has indeed taken most of the day, though the dough had to rise for over two hours which gave me time to clean up the mess in the kitchen, and talk to Jan (BFF) for our usual Sunday phone call.
Here are a few shots:
Dough, risen to epic heights after 2-1/2 hours in a cozy warm place...
...after being rolled out into little bites, then quickly fried...
The most excellent coffee, brewed just right in my French Press...
And the best thing of all? Beignets, fresh from bouncing around in the paper bag of powdered sugar; my wee demitasse cup of coffee on the side:
So, it's with a big sigh of pleasure that I finally made these amazing morsels, I've cleared my mind by thinking of things other than my worries, and have another week under my belt where I found a fun, new thing to broaden my experience.
My day might not have started very well, but at the end of it, I think I managed okay...
