The Naked Baker

I haven't blogged much about the bakery because I haven't been there much this winter. But it's spring now and like the proverbial bear coming out of hibernation I recently visited one of my favorite places on earth: The Bakery.
Well there's lots going on in this little hot spot. There's cooking classes now! Oh yes. Gluten free cooking classes, one pot meals, cooking for two and more.
Sometimes I seem to forget to mention that you can get food there too, along with bread and gluten free cookies. There's always a soup of the day (sorry not on Saturday), sandwiches, and something called a Doug omelette which is one of my personal favorites. I get mine with bacon and cheddar cheese. But just like many things in this piece of paradise you can get it custom made just the way you like it.
It was nice to see the regulars and they still remembered me and didn't make me feel bad for abandoning them all this winter. They survived quite well actually.
There's a new addition to the family who got snuck in for just a quick moment. (No health violations here, oh no.....that's for you guys from the HU)
Charlie is the new puppy in The Baker and Mrs Baker's life. He's part Chow, part Lab.....sorry SHE. Charlie is a girl. CUTE, CUTE, CUTE. Next time I hope I have my camera.
And I had to ask what else is new. That's when The Baker told me he will now be baking naked. Just something new to boost business in the sluggish economy.
He has wisely decided not to do bacon in the nude. He likes his flesh unsplattered and intact, thank you very much. He's been riding his bike to work for months and he's feeling quite fit.
In fact I have personally witnessed him driving to work at 3:30 in the morning in a snowstorm. I stopped to offer him a ride. And I got accused of being a stalker! Granted anyone waiting in your driveway at 3:3o am is a little suspicious but with my shift and gym routine that is when I am driving home and with the snow I just thought I would be kind and offer him a ride. He refused. Did I mention it was a snowstorm?????
Fine. I stopped offering.
In a way I understand, it is lovely on the streets at that time of the morning when the snow falls on the sleeping city.

Ohhh...I like that phrase. When the snow falls on the sleeping city. Maybe I should have made that the title of this post. I can't help but wonder how many hits I'm going to get from people searching for Naked Bakers.

For cooking classes, gluten free cookies, buns and Doug omelettes (or is that Doug buns and regular omelettes....???)call :

Nana's Bakery

Tuesday to Friday 6am-6pm
Saturday 6am-5pm
Sunday to Monday Closed

2936 Dominion Boulevard · Windsor · Ontario · N9E 2M8
(519) 966-2434

Be Happy...

We are really just acquaintances, saying hello and exchanging pleasantries about the weather or the day of the week. "TGIF". "Another Monday ." It's typical coworker conversation.
But one day we shared a moment about my recent trip and the real joy that vacation can be. We came very close to shedding a tear!
It was a lovely shared sentiment. I don't want to over analyze. For my part it may have been an indication of what a much needed break that was in the middle of the winter.
I still had a moment of guilt about enjoying myself so much when I know there are others suffering in this economy. And she just said the most important thing was that you are grateful and I nodded. Oh yes. I am very grateful for the experience. And I realize how very fortunate I am.
Recently she stopped by my desk to remark on my new location. It's a sought after spot for several reasons. I am very grateful for the proximity to all the important things I need access to. But again, I feel a little guilty. No doubt there others more deserving?

And she just said "It's your turn."

And she shared her personal philosophy that the key to happiness is being happy for others and sharing their moments.

I'll share something with you: I was a little envious of her. She is fit, funny, beautiful, competent, kind. But now I just admire her. And I'm grateful for the little moments of learning that sneak themselves into my work day.

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

~~Romans 12:15

Be the one.

What if it all depended on me to change the world...

THE POWER OF ONE.

ISRAEL HOUGHTON. MARCH 24.

What's Unknown

There's no solution anywhere,
but still I hope you know I care,
When life is dark and you don't see,
you'll still be standing next to me.

Oh, to have faith in what's unknown;
you'd rather sit and just be shown.
You know you'll never walk alone.
The light you see will bring you home.

Sometimes the load is heavy on.
We look around to see they've gone
beyond our touch, beyond our view,
left with pain we never knew.

Your home is shining like the sun.
It is the prize the racer's won.
And I will stand right by your side,
and in the light we will abide.

from Spirit and Song Music On Demand

by Trevor Thomson and Victoria Thomson

Organic and Thrifty: My Economic Stimulus Package

Organic and Thrifty: My Economic Stimulus Package: "When it comes right down to it, the economic situation we're facing as a nation has taught me that the best investments are relationships."

This is one of my new favorite blogs. And she's gluten free too. Wow.

Waiting in the Rain

They were all in front of me in the line up: three teen aged girls, and what appeared to be their mother and father. I'm assuming that because of the family resemblance. There was no way for me to know for sure because they spoke Spanish.

I tried not to stare intensely but it was hard not to watch their bright and animated faces on this wet and gray day. The girls were beautiful, each in their own unique way and my fascination was highlighted because I couldn't understand anything they said. They could have been talking about something trivial like buying souvenirs or clothes or gossiping about celebrities or reality TV.

It was the look on their faces as they talked that made me watch them. It was joy. Pure joy and happiness.

They seemed oblivious to the weather and the crowd of people around them. They only had eyes for their mother. She was in wheelchair.

Whatever story they were telling, they delighted in watching their mother's face. They never took their eyes off her.

And I couldn't help but see that the rain didn't matter to them. The crowd was of no consequence. The fact that the show would be stopped soon after it started wouldn't have mattered.

Somehow I sensed, even in spite of a language barrier, that all that mattered was that they were together. They were sharing the moment, laughing, listening and loving.

Love. I understood that loud and clear.

Remembering Part 2

There's another day in February that seems to sneak up on me. February 25 was my husband's birthday. He wasn't a big celebrator. There were no dinners out. No parties. He did like the desserts so there always was a cake. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
I know someone who still had a cake every year on her late husband's birthday and celebrated with the grandchildren he never got to know. Some might find that strange but I see it as sweet. Each families' history should be celebrated in their own unique way.
I had a vivid memory of John about a month before his birthday. I was at the airport facing an 8 hour delay due to a snow storm. I'm not a nervous flyer but I will admit to momentary thoughts of disaster. Do you have those? I try to block them out.
And then I remembered John's love of anything to do with planes. My uncle who had been in the Air Force, said he was amazed by John's knowledge. He had never met anyone who knew so much about World War II planes, other than the pilots who flew them.
So as I sat waiting I thought of how much John loved just being at the airport. For someone who found so many situations in life difficult and anxiety producing, the airport was one place he was totally happy.
I have always felt that the loved ones I've lost are still with me. And that they help me in ways that they may not have been able to when they were here. This was one of those moments.
Thoughts of disaster disappeared as I remembered John's almost child-like excitement for all that is aviation. He was confident in the competence of Pilots and the whole flight crew. He admired them and I know for sure, in a different time and a different place, he could have been one of them.