This is my friend, Chef Louise Mellor. She is a regular contributor to this website; her photography and vintage-inspired recipe posts have their own devoted following. I like to think of her as my food photography soul sister. She is able to capture my recipes in a way that nobody else can. We started as blogging buddies, and our friendship blossomed over our shared love of the vintage lifestyle. The picture above is from a day we shared at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. We both adore old decorative utensils– slightly tarnished, imperfect, every piece with a story behind it. In so many ways, Louise “gets me.”
Louise is battling cancer. It’s been a long fight for her. For a while we thought the illness was gone for good, but it came back. Both privately and online, she has shared her challenge openly and honestly. In the face of a painful reality, she has given us all a lesson in grace.
Louise is a wife, a mother, a chef, and one of the kindest souls I know. She is a spiritually devout Christian who lives her life with love and purpose. Our friendship is only a few years old, but I feel like I have known her much longer than that.
I wrote a letter to Louise a few weeks ago. Louise encouraged me to share the letter publicly, so I am doing that here on my blog where our friendship began.
If you would like to send a thought to Louise, please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I know she would love to hear from our community. She has put a lot of time and effort into making my website a special corner of the web, and I am grateful for her friendship.
—
Dear Louise,
Thinking about you tonight. The post you wrote about water resonates with me. I am called to the water often, feeling my spirit drawn there, especially in difficult times. We have that in common, like so many other things.
When I was a young girl, my stepfather’s stepmother bought me the book “Anne of Green Gables.” For a few years it sat on my bookshelf gathering dust. I was a book nerd, but that particular story just seemed too “old,” too “classic,” too far from the realm of my existence to understand or enjoy. How could the tale of a red-haired orphan girl from the early 1900’s have a thing to do with me? Then one day, when I had read through everything else in my collection, I begrudgingly picked up “Anne” and started to read. It was an important day in my life, a turning point in which I understood that the past was fully connected to my present. This character—this little girl—shared so many of my dreams. Though she lived in the Edwardian era, she could have been my soul sister. As the character of Anne felt when she met her best friend Diana, these characters were my “kindred spirits,” my “bosom friends.”
Louise, when I met you I knew almost immediately that you are a rare and beautiful “kindred spirit”- somebody who appreciates the past, who reveres it and celebrates it. You feel the energy of our shared history in every recipe, every object, every craft. You see the poetic beauty in a vintage utensil or a pair of cat-eye glasses. Behind the camera, you capture the spirit of the food. Your pictures tell a story, grasping a moment in time, fleeting energy made permanent. You put your heart into it. I see it in all of the beautiful photos you take for me. You see the details that others skip over. You recognize beauty in the ordinary.
Do you know I always aspire to make my food photography “as good as Louise”? I’m not there yet, but I keep trying! Many times when we have worked together, you have taken a moment to teach me something new—sharing some little nugget of knowledge that I can carry with me. You have always been so encouraging. I remember those moments often while working, and I am grateful for them.
I am continually swept up in the past and all it means to our present. At the same time, I feel that time is just an illusion— something to give our souls structure, to help us better grasp the meaning of our life experience. The energy of God is watching over us, guiding our journey. When times are hard, I do my best to place my trust in that energy. I know you do too, and I know it is why you are called to the water now.
Kindred spirit, my heart is with you and your family!
Love and Light,
Tori
This ode to friendship is lovely. How fortunate you both are to have bonded in such a strong way. Faith has much to do with that. May you find strength in all the beautiful things that you share.
Hi there, it’s sad about Louise’s cancer… Keeping her through my prayer… May God bless her heart… Thank you dear Tori for your wonderful recipes especially your love to everyone… ♥
What a beautiful letter… I have been drawn to your Website, Tory, since you opened it as the Shiksa in the Kitchen. Your grace, your love of food, and your love of the history of the food were (and are) amazing. And Louise, the love that you put into the photos was part of that – even though I didn’t know who you were.
Like the others on this blog, I wish you a miraculous recovery Louise, and a long, healthy and food/fun/passionate life for both of you…
Drawn together by food, sharing your passions, you both inspire us to do for others, pray for miracles, and continue to seek a world beyond mundane. I pray for the medical professionals in your treatment, Louise, and thank you, Tori, for opening up your personal heart to those you feel close to. God’s blessings on you both.
Beautiful letter to your friend. I will put her in my prayers. I also have an Anne of Green Gables story. When I was around 45, a friend gifted me with a copy. I had the same reaction as you and wondered why she would give me “a childrens book”. I put it away on a shelf. A few years later I picked it up and read it. I loved Anne and loved her story.
Louise does such beautiful work! I was first stopped at your website by one of her photographs. Whatever the recipe, Louise had made it so interesting and tasty-looking that I just had to read about it.
I kept on reading your website because you make your recipes simple enough for someone like me to try. I’ve cooked food for my family since I was 9 years old. Note I didn’t say it was excellent food; it filled up stomachs, and nobody else was going to do it. Now I’m 84 and don’t have to cook unless the spirit moves me. I share your recipes (complete with gorgeous photos) with my son-in-law and husband, both of whom love to cook.
Thanks to both of you, Louise and Tori, for creating a readable, attractive website. — Bjo
Bjo, I have to tell you, in my other life (apart from this blog) I write and produce for TV and film. I am currently working on a short film for a children’s museum about how the technology foreshadowed by science fiction often becomes reality– and Star Trek is a big part of the project. 🙂 So I owe you a big thank you as well!
Dear Louise,
Tori’s letter brought tears to this old guy’s eyes…you must be a very, very special person and I wish you the very best in your courage struggle with cancer, I leave this Irish prayer for you:
May the sun shine warmly upon your lovely face,
May a soft warm fragrant breeze be always at your back,
May the love of those you know always be at your side,
And may God always hold you close in the palm of His hand,
Tori and Louise,
Your blog really inspired me as I could hear both of you getting down to your true feelings and emotions. And want to share the Hay House Heal Summit coming up July 25 through the 31st. It was the videos I watched with Anthony Williams and Anita Moorjani that may inspire both of you. The issue is how do I forward that email to you so that you can get those videos. Please email me at (edited) and I will forward them should you be interested.
Many blessings to you both. Be well and thank you both for sharing your passion .
Rita Hale
I remember the packet of tissues a friend gave me on hearing my diagnosis . The note said ~first you cry , then loved ones share , support and love you . This carries one through . My take is that cancer is a condition,I’m not the condition but when I am tired etc I lie down and relax . Hope you can too .
All good thoughts to you and family
Dear Louise,
Obviously I don’t know you but have just read Tori’s letter . To have a life shared with a ‘soul sister’ is special. I too have such a friend and she and I uphold each other in difficult times and good. We too have shared many tears, both of sadness and also of joy and laughter. We too are connected by our love of Almighty God who knows our every moment and upholds us with His Mighty Right Arm. (Oh, and we appreciate good food, art and history too!)
God is our refuge, our strong tower and in Him do we trust. Whatever comes against us can be overcome by His strength and as Tori says His Energy. When I have been through the darkest times i have found the Psalms to be a great comfort to me, for in them is all life. How often do the psalmists begin in anguish and finish with praise? This has encouraged me never to stop praising Him.
Isn’t it interesting that water draws us all? Whether it be raging seas, rippling brooks or still lakes, gentle mists or torrential rain, water can soothe our souls, refresh us and cleanse us both spiritually , mentally and physically. Water is even more essential than food, and we all know how important food is don’t we? That is what has drawn this group together.
May you continue to be watered by your friendships and most especially by God Almighty who knows you and cares for you . Shalom in all it’s fullness- health, wholeness,prosperity, tranquility ,peace , Ruth
I immediately looked at the picture and thought how both of you had such soulful eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and you two definitely have beautiful souls. I then noticed the vintage utensils which brought back memories of my Mom and friends going to the open air flea markets in Connecticut and scoring such lovely “treasures”, but the greatest treasures are the people we love in our lives. I’ve been missing my sister and brother who both are looking down from above, and your story was just what I needed. My beautiful cousin Annie has been fighting a rare breast cancer for four years now. She, like your wonderful friend Louise are superwomen, and I will be praying for your pal Louise each day and night that she always meets the challenges ahead. That God fixes the back for the burden. My cousin Annie is doing so much better, although the journey has been rugged, she is amazing in her spirit, strength and courage and winning the battle. Sometimes we just know that a person was meant to be in our lives, as Louise is meant to be in yours, and you in hers. I love your food photography, and it’s cool that you and your kindred spirit met over a common love. Food photography is one of the hardest to capture, it takes real artistry, as does preparing and plating a dish to get a beautiful shot. I am so happy that you have found each other, and can be there in good times and hard times. Each moment is a gem to be cherished and you both are enriched by your bond. Sending you both hugs, love, prayers, blessings and healing! xo, pam
Your blog is very inspiring.. I am from India and the recipes you share here are drastically different from what we generally eat.. however I get tips and ideas to modify my recipes and concoct something different and new.. I am touched and saddened that such a beautiful person is enduring so much pain.. Well.. hope God’s hand will help you to endure the pain and complete this journey… (I understand this because my pain is my disabled son who is unable to see or understand or enjoy any of the food I prepare.. I am waiting for a day when that would be possible..) My prayers are with you…
Dear Louise,
I have not met Tori, but I am tempted to say that any friend of Tori’s is a friend of mine. And though I haven’t met you, it’s clear from the way she writes about you that you are an extraordinary spirit — one who knows that food and art sustain us so we can sustain one another. God bless you now and always.
Louise, wishing you well on your journey.
Stay strong Louise
Louise, from what Tori has written it is clear you have strength above and beyond you illness. My thoughts and prayers are with you. a woman called Sam
Beautifully written. Praying for Louise to stay strong, positive and want her to know there are warriors out here praying for her.
In my thoughts ,
Shelly
*** The energy of God is watching over us, guiding our journey. ***
I am sorry Louise is going through this. Your letter brought me great comfort as my family is experiencing the final journey for my Aunt. Another reminder that this is not our home. We are only passing through. How great to make friends on that journey! I wish you both peace and the comfort of God.
Beautiful words. Thoughts of love and warmth and peacefulness to your friend.
God bless you and your soul sister. May she finally conquer her cancer and return to the things she loves.