and the Cheese-makers? they are blessed too

I have just discovered persian fetta...

[window of Leura Gourmet Deli ~ a place where I go to shop, often]
in the mountains we have a lot of little delicatessens ~ mostly family owned and managed... we can buy cheeses from all over the world - creamy french cheeses, blue cheese, sheeps cheese & goats cheese. lavender cheese and cheese rolled in chilli

[I love to browse the shelves. there is Turkish Delight, condiments of all kinds, herbs & spices from exotic places ~ chocolate, biscuits & jams. there are oils & pastas & spiced nuts]
when I was a little girl, delicatessens were shops that you quickly walked past because of fear of the unknown.. 'those foreigners' and their very odd food - strange looking meat sausages hanging by string off metal hooks..odd looking bread which didn't come in a paper wrapper.... and the smells. oh the smells assaulted my little girl nose.... but as it happens, tastes change, views change, and all matures.

[there is a selection of gourmet takeaway. for tourists and locals alike. their Tandoori chicken salad is a favourite of mine..serve it with pappadums and chutney. sit outside on the grass and watch the world go by]
[the cheeses, oh the cheeses make my mouth water]
and as you mature, [just like that cheese you so much love], you start tasting a variety of foods, from exotic, faraway places. places that one can only dream of. hence the persian fetta...

Last night I dreamed that I was asleep in the hand of God.
Today, I bought myself a Paella pan. And shared a Chocolate croissant with dutch husband. tonight a vegetable and barley soup [to soothe the little girl in me] served with organic spelt [did you know that spelt was St Hildegarde of Bingen's chosen grain?]
& tomorrow we celebrate Valentine's day. more about that tomorrow!