With dinner this evening...Bruschetta.

• 1 loaf french bread, cut into 36 slices
• 1 lb. plum tomatoes, chopped, seeds & pulp removed (2 1/2 cups)
• 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
• 3 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
• 3 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• sea salt & cracked pepper to taste

Preheat broiler. Place bread on baking sheet. Broil 2 min. each side, watch carefully, until lightly toasted. Brush 1 side of each toast with olive oil. Season with salt & pepper.

Meanwhile, mix tomatoes, about 1 tbs. olive oil, 2 tbs. balsamic, cheese, onions, parsley, basil, olives, salt & pepper.

Spoon about 2 Tbs. mix on each toast slice, pop back under the broiler for another 2 minutes. Serve.

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Emily has been taking watercolor classes this summer at the farm of one of my former students. Cheryl's approach to teaching art is to immerse children in nature first, to study, feel, and fully absorb it while traipsing all over her fifty five acre homestead. Then she shares painting techniques, which they apply in their uniquely individual and expressive ways. Melts this mama's heart.

What could be better than a summer morning spent painting a stone bridge and river, right beside them both? It really is magical for this little girl. And I had to share, how fitting is it that the farmer/art teacher carries her students supplies to the awaiting location with her trusty wheel barrow!

The bird house is in Cheryl's secret garden behind her studio, and the pony, well that's Miss Daisy. She is an older, very sweet lady, well into her thirties with sore muscles and tired bones, but with age comes wisdom and she has all the time in the world for some love and a good brushing from the girls after class.

In all of my years, I have never seen art classes like these. This group of girls will remember Cheryl's lessons far into the future. I know mine will, she fits in so beautifully here, this land of rivers, horses, frogs, and earth, everywhere you look, there is earth.

As for me? I spent the time entering the right space for the much anticipated retreat that lies ahead. And what better place to do so than by the river, in the shade, with the frogs...

See you all soon, be well.