Sabbá

Eva Stratt:

My grandfather responded by calmly explaining what he was doing, step by step. Explaining why he was skinning the deer, and quartering it, taking it from this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer to this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venison

By the time he was cooking tenderloin medallions and plating them up to me with grape jelly (don’t knock grape jelly on meat until you’ve tried it!) and instant mashed potatoes, I wasn’t startled or concerned anymore. I had a deeper understanding of the way the world worked, of my role as a consumer, a predator. Of the responsibilities that entailed. I couldn’t have explained it then, of course, with my 4-year-old mind and vocabulary - but Philosophy had been set into motion. This is a core memory for me. 

I did not have nightmares about the butchered deer. 

People have such a romantic view of farming and growing food but a lot of my summers as a kid was spent trying to come up with ways to stop birds from eating our vegetables, planting other plants and releasing insects to keep other insects away, and pulling weeds.

Food doesn’t just sit there all pretty growing in the sun. Everything wants to steal it away from you. Agriculture even on a small scale is a never ending battle against insects, other plants stealing water and sunlight, birds, small mammals. You are not the only one who wants the fruits of your labor.

My grandfather responded by calmly explaining what he was doing, step by step. Explaining why he was skinning the deer, and quartering it, taking it from this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer to this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venison

By the time he was cooking tenderloin medallions and plating them up to me with grape jelly (don’t knock grape jelly on meat until you’ve tried it!) and instant mashed potatoes, I wasn’t startled or concerned anymore. I had a deeper understanding of the way the world worked, of my role as a consumer, a predator. Of the responsibilities that entailed. I couldn’t have explained it then, of course, with my 4-year-old mind and vocabulary - but Philosophy had been set into motion. This is a core memory for me. 

I did not have nightmares about the butchered deer. 

People have such a romantic view of farming and growing food but a lot of my summers as a kid was spent trying to come up with ways to stop birds from eating our vegetables, planting other plants and releasing insects to keep other insects away, and pulling weeds.

Food doesn’t just sit there all pretty growing in the sun. Everything wants to steal it away from you. Agriculture even on a small scale is a never ending battle against insects, other plants stealing water and sunlight, birds, small mammals. You are not the only one who wants the fruits of your labor.

if you see this or are tagged in it, tag a couple of your favorite mutuals/blogs and let them know you appreciate seeing them on your dash!

@shedoescalcforfunsies first of all thank you for tagging me and for your too kind words, you're one of the kindest souls I know and the might of your love for Everything inspires us all <3 also thank you for being my designated Dante FAQ

@legendoflins you're brilliant, full of knowledge and eager to share and I lowkey getting FOMO that I won't get to be in your class, thanks for Mao May and matching my freaking out over amazing professors <3 I wish we got to see more of your acting and that you didn't forget to eat

@lucio-moonchild you're Epic man! (Ba dum tss) srsly you are, you don't post that often but I love hearing your takes on the Odyssey and Epic and you're an Arcane Viktor fan so your opinions are correct by default. Thank you for giving me a book to write <3

@zzalina Spain Awareness ambassador, first source of news for all things musicals, cosplayer supreme, and Rosalía de Castro initiation guide! Man you bless my dash and I need you to know that I can't even pick one thing of all I want to thank you for <3

@lace-miserables you! Maker of old men yaoi and doomed world saviours yuri! You know what you've done to my dash and I will not let you forget! Your music is brilliant too, I can't wait to see what you'll make next, we're never too old for that hope in our hearts <3

@dykeionysus how are we even mutuals, you're far too cool to be following me! Your hair? Flawless. Your takes? Laser precision. You inspire me and I don't say that lightly, beauty is political! You and Jess are adorable btw