Because why not have a cucumber in your 15th century religious painting?! Live a little!

Early open thread today, and stop by for Bargain Bin at 1pm!

The Bartender's mother lives far far away from The Bartender.

Toasties! The Bartender used sour cream instead of milk to make quiche and life shall never be the same.

Just a little butter and garlic salt and joy is in your plate.

Toasts! Happy Halloween weekend! What are your plans? The Bartender went to Vancouver for work last weekend and found no poutine. But the nachos you see before you made up for it.

Toasties! The best is having a steak burrito so covered in green sauce, salsa, and sour cream that you can't see anything else.

Sometimes the best dinner is burnt cheese on toast (!) and some cold cuts (basturma, for the curious). It's been a WEEK. Filled with disaster but also incredible generosity and love.

Toasties! It's pecan dessert season! Also, movie watching season.

Toasties, let's all eat cake. Also, what's your favorite vegetarian entree that doesn't involve carrots, bell peppers, or tofu?

Tootsies, why isn't every salad covered by a huge piece of cheese?

Toasties! Did you read that Washington Post article about fruit and vegetable allergies being connected to pollen allergies? This explains EVERYTHING.

The Bartender is doing all fun things in the next few days (seeing dearest friends! Family! Steaks! Wave Hill! Cloisters! More fun things!) and spirits are high. Also The Bartender's mom made the cookies pictured above (all made by her including the apricot and sour cherry jam) and The Bartender ate them ALL.

Toasties. Other people's homes always seem so perfect and beautiful. Especially when people in said homes provide you with endless food and coffee/tea and flowers from the garden. And let you just enjoy it all with your Kindle.

Toasties! For The Bartender eating homemade pelmeni with sour cream and butter is guaranteed to bring on thoughts of kindness and goodwill toward fellow everyone.