How can it be that I bake almost every day and have not taken the time to write a post in weeks? I can’t explain it except to say that I can think up many reasons to bake something – but by day’s end, it’s hard to find the energy to write a single word! Yet I can’t begin to imagine going for weeks without baking.
Chocolate Cream Pie topped with chunks of Cary’s Toffee
It seems I am always finding a reason to bake. Recently, I baked a chocolate cream pie for my friend Judi who was leaving her job after 28 years. She is looking forward to what the future holds for her – and to spending more time with her seven grandchildren (who I hoped would be able to help her with all of that chocolate!)
And then last weekend was the first anniversary for the Medford Food Co-op and I was asked to make some cakes for the celebration. I made three cakes – two of which were chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sour cream frosting. The third cake was also chocolate and had a chocolate frosting but with raspberry filling – and this one was gluten-free and dairy free as well! That made a lot of people happy… and I was tickled to provide a cake that worked within those dietary restrictions.
Lest you think I have forgotten, there was a “pie recipient” in the mix. I’d been listening to Jefferson Public Radio on Saturday night not long ago, and the program that was on is one of our favorites. It is called American Rhythm. The host of this program is a man named Craig Faulkner and this is what is said about Craig’s program on the JPR website: Craig Faulkner uses his extensive archive of classic R&B, Swing, Jazz, Blues, and the popular music of a time gone by to honor and celebrate the Golden Era of American Music.
As I was preparing dinner and listening to his show that night I thought, I should make this man a pie! You see, we’ve listened to his show for many years and I realized, he doesn’t know how much we enjoy this music. I wanted to bake him a pie to say “Thank you for bringing us this lovely gift each week!” However, this was a little bit of a challenge because I didn’t know Craig Faulkner at the time. But after a few emails and a few phone calls, we became acquainted… and I was able to meet him and give him a berry pie (his wife had said he’d like that).
Fresh Blackberry and Raspberry Pie
You see, I think it is important to take the time to let people know when they’ve made a positive impact on our lives. Even if all we offer is a simple “Thank you” to the person who has changed our lives for the better, we will have acknowledged their efforts – and that is the least we can do.
Oh – I forgot to mention that we are hosting two lovely Japanese students for a few weeks. Their names are Hitomi and Saya and they are here to participate in an intensive English program at Southern Oregon University. Each day we talk, ask questions, and laugh at the differences in our languages… and each day their English gets a little bit better. It’s been quite an amazing process to witness!
Saya and Hitomi
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust
Pie a Day Give Away 
There’s someone I’d like to thank for making a positive impact on others’ lives — you!
Here at Sanctuary One, what with there being a wildfire burning 20-25 miles away in the mountains, a week ago we took out our handy-dandy emergency plan that you helped research in grad school and are using it to get ready for a worst-case scenario. Not that we’re in any danger now or predicted to be — the fire is moving away from us — but still, feel good to be prepared and have a plan, just in case.
If you’d like to visit the Sanctuary with Hitomi and Saya for a morning or afternoon of fun down on the farm, please don’t hesitate to email/call me and I’ll help set that up.
By the way, I’m a big American Rythyum fan, too!