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.
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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,
Julie says
Thank you for sharing your letter. To you both, I am grateful that you share your perception of the world, as it is beautiful and so naturally true. We are all connected through time, and these beautiful moments of friendship are eternal. Thank you again, and my most heartfelt thoughts with you in this time.
Marylin says
My heart goes out to both of you, and to those that are suffering with this dreaded disease. One of the biggest worries, when having gone through this terrible time, is will it come back, and unfortunately in your case it has. You must conserve your strength to fight this, as you have in the past. Please take one day at a time, and accept our deepest prayers for your full recovery.
pat says
Louise,
I do not know you, but I will pray for you that you stay strong while you are fighting!
Patti
mj2 says
So very touching! And I “get” that connection to “water” – it speaks volumes to me about the vast, incomprehensible, infinite love of God, even to me, as a tiny grain of sand…Cancer is a horrible disease to fight, and I pray for complete healing for Lousie and all who are in the midst of their own battle. Keep trusting, there is a plan bigger than all of us! And with Jesus at your side, God will see it thru to completion…
A friend you haven’t yet met 😉
Margo Haynes says
I have just sent out the following prayer request to our prayer chain regarding your friend & kindred spirit chef Louise Mellor. Please let her know that many here in America are praying for her…
“I subscribe to a food blog by Chef Tori Avey, Chef Louise Mellor is also a talented Chef & photographer.
Both are young women & very close friends. Louise has fought this battle before, they thought she had beaten it, but sadly it has returned. Please include her family & children whatever their ages may be. I thank all of you for your faithfulness to pray. Margo”
Tori Avey says
Thank you Margo, that is very kind of you.
Stella says
Thank you, Tori, for sharing the story about your dear kindred spirit friend, I too loved reading about Anne with an E! I also purchase the video and DVD and have seen many versions of the book on film.
You write that you are continually swept up in the past and all it means to our present, I too feel the same way every time I cook or bake anything. I think of my father, mother, my grandmother and my aunt she was the baker in the family. Just this morning I made a Tex Mex breakfast and was talking to my husband how my father would put together left-over steak and eggs in a skillet. When I am in the kitchen cooking I bring all my spirit family memories with me especially during the holidays I feel and hear there presents with me.
Jackie says
Chef Louise Mellor;
My prayers are with you. I know somewhat you are going through having 6 family members diagnosed with cancer in the past 2 years. But I don’t know what YOU are going through. I am a strong supporter and believer in Israel. I follow what is going on there as it is the country of my people. I have been reading information from the Hospitals over there that they have found a cure for cancer. The drug companies here will not allow it to be used here because they will loose money if they do. If you have any way of going to Isrial to be treated please try to. I am so tired of people around me being lost because of this horrible disease. I have fought it 2 times myself. The last time in 1990.
May HASHEM be with you and carry you close to HIS HEART so that your heart will beat with his and in this way heal you totally.
AMEN AND AMEN
With the Love of YESHUA JESUS THE MESSIAH
Jackie S.
Romans 1:16
A JEW FOR JESUS
Susan says
Louise, sending you love, and keeping you in my prayers. Wish you could be here in the kitchen, canning apricots . Keep smiling that beautiful smile.
Sandra Parry says
Thank you for sharing your letter and your kindred spirit, with us. I had a kindred spirit once and I know the feeling you are talking about, you just know from the time you first meet that this is something special. I lost her in 2003 and I miss her everyday but somehow I feel she is watching over me. Sandra Parry
Sue says
Please send my wishes for a “Ri-foo-aw Shi-lay-maw” as well.
Sue
karen r. says
I was very moved by your openness in allowing Tori to share her letter with her blog. I believe by your openness you are allowing the healing energy of the cooking community to do it’s magic. I offer my energy, my yoga practice and my support to your full recovery.
Amy Kazmer says
This was such a thoughtful and beautiful letter.
Our thoughts are with Louise and all that have fought cancer and other diseases.
Judy says
Thank you for sharing this difficult time and such a beautiful, intimate moment between friends. I hope there is some solace in knowing among all those dear to you both, you are loved.
Mary says
Thank you for a glimpse of two hearts joined as one. What a treasure to travel this world with a friend. God Bless both, as you journey together.
Sue M says
Dear Tori, Dear Louise,
Thank you for your comments Tori, you are a steadfast friend, offering love hope and compassion to your dear friend Louise. Louise, you have a truly loving and steadfast friend in Tori. The two of you have so many shared memories that both of you cherish and in these difficult times facing cancer, it is the love of friends and family, shows the strength of character both of you have have to face; taking each day, making the most of it, being mindful of all the good times you both cherish. If I could wave a magic wand and make things better, as our mothers used to do when we were little tykes to make us feel better, I wish I could do that for you now. I may not be able to make the magic wand work but I want to send you many hugs and love your way to you Louise and also to you Tori for the love and friendship you both have for one another. Blessings to you both. Sue
Frances says
My heart goes out to both of you. And especially Louise’s children, no matter what their ages.
I was a Hospice volunteer for many years, and I saw a lot. But this is one of those rare times when I am really without words.
Linda Yoos says
Know that God is with you…. our spirit lives in a fragile body, but it is with connections like this that give us strength through our trials. When you share heartbeats, you are never forgotten. May kindness and gentle hands surround you both at this time.
MJ says
Dear Kindred Spirit:
Just to let you know that I battled cancer a couple times in my life. At times I just wanted to let go. But please try hard to not let the nasty bastard get the better of you. Enjoy every day. Look at the sky. Treasure the rain as well as the sun. Kiss the ones you love. I am sending you my strongest and most powerful karma. I don’t know you, but I do. Stay as strong as you can.
Cordie says
Dear Louise – I am praying and thinking of you and the path you are currently traveling . May you gather strength and health quickly. Take care my dear… Cordi
Binnie says
Tori-
What a lovely letter you wrote to your friend, Louise. Thank you for sharing those beautiful words with your readers. I don’t know how to write a note to Louise, but if you would convey to her the following: I wish you a Ri-foo-aw Shi-lay-maw, which is Yiddish for “a complete recovery.” I send you both hugs. God Bless.
Dawn says
Thank you for sharing that inspiring letter. Prayers for healing and strength and light ….many are praying for you