oatmeal

Friday Food – Writing Retreat

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One of my rituals when I’m on writing retreat is to take a photo of the first breakfast oatmeal of the retreat. I don’t always publish it, but it’s nearly always there in my phone’s memory. In addition to the taste and variety of the food, there is the wonderful blessing of not having to plan it or cook it or clean it up. It takes some of the stress out of the weekend.

Last weekend’s writing retreat, or was it two weekends ago, left me with inspiration as well as the dread of reevaluating my checklists and my outlines and my path forward. However, the food can still inspire even when the planned inspiration hangs like dew over the morning grass.

Added to my hot, comfortable oatmeal is butter, brown sugar, and dried cranberries. A very simple combination that always says retreat to me, and gets me in the right mindset for a writing weekend.

My tea this weekend was PG Tips. It is a good writing tea.

The flowers were not for eating, but we enjoyed them with our meals nonetheless.

(c)2026

Friday Food – On Retreat

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Saturday morning on retreat, and breakfast consists of oatmeal. Hot, solid, healthy, and filling. I add a small amount of butter, brown sugar, and craisins. My tea of choice is Bigelow’s orange spice, and a bowl of cantaloupe and blueberries round off the healthiest meal in my repertoire. I don’t know why, but I almost always take a photo of the first bowl of oatmeal on the weekend. I look forward to it every time, and I never get tired of it. It’s a wonderful start to a weekend of contemplation, inspiration, and learning.

Friday Food – The Comfort of Oatmeal

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I never ate oatmeal as a kid, but when I started attending retreats, I began to eat oatmeal for breakfast on any of the weekend retreats that I went on.

I can’t explain why or how much I love oatmeal on the retreat weekends.

I get an extra helping and add butter, brown sugar, and craisins.

I eat it slowly and savor it. It’s warm and wholesome, and all I need to start my day.

Well, with a cup of tea, but that is how I start my days on retreat.