2010:365:157 Food, glorious food....

You probably shouldn't play with your food but this is just playing with the photograph of it!  The original (above) was a little on the "pink" side so with the help of an editing programme I've tried to give a more natural look.  Maybe it is now a tad "blue"... but you get the idea!

Life doesn't exactly revolve round food... but it certainly does play an important part in daily living! Finding good vegetarian options isn't always easy but Monzu always has something interesting and today it was Gnocchi.  These thick soft dumplings are called after the "lumps" in wood and served with asparagus, tomatoes and other bits in a delicious cheesy sauce!  Yummy doesn't go even a fraction of the way to describe the taste.

There was still "room" after the main course so a popular dessert rounded off this great celebration meal.  

Crème Brûlée has to be one of my favourite desserts and it was served with a crisp shortbread biscuit.  

What was the occasion?  Lynne's last Sunday at Saint Nicholas' before her ordination.  She has been our student reader since September and it has been a very enjoyable year for me as she has shared in the liturgy, teaching and ministry of our church. 

This was Lynne's Latte... my Cappuccino wasn't quite so interesting for a photograph!  So, that was Sunday lunch!

Sunday afternoon gives a wee bit of space just to wander around and notice things in the garden.  The perfume from this rose grabs your attention as you come to the front door.  On the bush are now flowers at every stage....

Moving from bottom left it takes only a few days to go through the stages anticlockwise until we reach the creamy pale yellow of the top left.  As soon as the petals begin to unfurl the scent begins and in the warm sunshine it is both a treat for the eyes and the nose.

The bees find the flowers interesting for quite a different reason and the bushes were covered with their noisy chatter; this little guy was covered with pollen!

The bee's Sunday lunch was obviously a most satisfying one as well!  He moved constantly around the flower heads on the rhododendron settling scarcely long enough anywhere for me to get a decent picture. 

Eliot, the poor "neglected" dog, is about to have a walk on what is a gorgeous sunny afternoon in Belfast.  His Sundays are a bit restricted normally as he has to fit in around church activities.  But no complaints... though I know that the minute I move towards the lead there will be a frenzy of excitement!  That's a good thing!  Happy days!

God,
the strength of all those who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers
and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments
we may please you, both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Prayer

Collect of the First Sunday after Trinity.