Know that every day that passes here, every day that I get to see you and every moment I get to spend with you I consider a gift, and I treasure it dearly. It was not long ago that I resigned myself to a different fate. But now things are different. This is all so strange and funny and absurd - but the knowledge alone that you are here is my anchor.
Words alone cannot convey how proud I am, how thankful I am of all the things you have done. I eagerly look forward to all the moments we are yet to share in the future, so that I may come to know the person you have become, too.
May you find the love that you seek, and may your harvest be bountiful.
You'll need about 1 and ½ pounds of redfish fillets, about half an inch thick, with the scales still on and bones removed. You'll also need a stick of unsalted butter, salt, crushed red and black pepper, onion powder, parsley, garlic, and two small lemons.
Prepare your baking dish with a light spread of butter at the bottom. Gently pat down the fillets with a towel to dry, and place them in the dish, skin side down.
Melt half a stick of butter over a low flame. Freshly squeeze a small lemon, and add the juice to the melted butter, with two pinches each of salt, black pepper, red pepper, and onion powder. Stir to combine.
Pour the seasoning over the fish fillets, and bake over a high temperature on the lowest oven rack for 10-15 minutes. Test with a fork: if the fish flakes easily, it's finished!
With the remaining butter, mince the parsley and a clove of garlic and season the fish. Cut your remaining lemon in half, end to end, slice each half into three wedges. Plate, and serve.
I truly hope you all have been having a wonderful time on the island so far! I know things were rough and uncertain in the beginning, but this really is such a fun little getaway in disguise!
If you are struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out for help! I think you'll find many helping hands if you put yourself out there.
[There's no words on the note, so good luck identifying it!
What it is is a painting of a forest, with the colors added with natural paints from the plants around the island. The forest is painted in shades of pink, purple, and teal, and there are crystals floating in the air, making it all seem a bit dreamlike.
On the back of the note, should anyone check, is a small section of sheet music, written by hand.. When played, it sounds like the fragment of a song that is incredibly somber - almost like something you would hear at a funeral.]
Dry-cleaning solvents, like ammonia, tend to cause discolorations. Use them sparingly.
Clean any furniture harboring mold in an open area, if possible. Mildew spores are dangerous to inhale.
Blood on clothing will leave a residue behind if you allow it to set too long. Treat it right away by using a paste of cornstarch and water. Baking soda may also prove helpful.
Removing stains can be tricky. The trick behind it is to avoid making them at all.
There are countless paths before you. Some are winding, tight, whilst painful, pinching. Others yet are short, luckless in the unending dark. Blessed, if you find yours in light and ease, but there is none in a life unlived, chosen in the end by never choosing to know oneself at all.
[ There's a message posted on the memo board throughout summer in very neat handwriting: ]
I have been wanting to try out new recipes lately, so please send ingredients to Ellis in the rural farm area with what you want made. I will send the finished product back to you!
[ There's a simple map of the rural area with Ellis's farm marked plainly.
Please start threads over at Ellis's toplevel. This can also be done through exchanging letters like this for example. ]
If you have any experience with being a barista or cook, please send a letter to Lucia Lee. Or you can approach me if you see me walking around. No resume is required, this is based off of an honor system.
If anyone wants a helping hand with the scavenger hunt, come join me! We'll make a picnic of it.
[ Crudely attached to the note is an out-of-focus snapshot of the lake situated at the very base of the mountains, obviously still gurgling from its centermost point. Killing two birds with one stone, maybe? ]
Dare you seek me out? Accept at your own risk. Let's enjoy ourselves today, shall we?
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