Sister Hood

 I was able to stall the tears today, but they were running down my cheeks by the time I pulled out of the parking lot at The Wild Fern this afternoon & my long time pal Frank, looked upon me & if dogs could cry, I'm pretty certain tears would've escaped him too.

 And so A Baker's Tale of Kitchen Fairies & Long Lost Sisters & all the Beautiful Luxurious Doughs, The Kitchen Talk & The "Delicious" Sweets in between, came to "The End" today.

Or rather, shall I dare say, this chapter closed & a new chapter begins?
~someday..............

She left me $$ I paid HER!

Words, words, words. The world is full of words, sometimes over use of words, sometimes unnecessary spoken words, sometimes much needed words are uttered in the most wonderful of moments & at times, no words are needed at all.

With those thoughts in mind, finding the worded meaning behind the last two weeks &
particularly today at The Wild Fern, I struggle to put it into a readable story, for there aren't really enough words......

But Allow me to give it a shot:

Lily's First Croissant Action

Over the years I've made plenty of friends. Some have stayed with me, some voluntarily left, some passed on, some come & go on a regular basis, & some I see once to every few years.

All of them I keep in my heart with memories that could fill a giant book, laughter that comes in unexpected & often timely moments, once in awhile a tear, but always, always, remembered.


When Lily strolled into The Wild Fern just as November rolled over the calendar, an immediate friendship sprouted that very day.
She wanted to learn how to make Croissants.


In my world,
that means some serious sisterhood People! I found a comrade who loves Croissants as much I do! Someone wanted to learn what I was doing! & as I told her from the very beginning,

I am a Home Schooled Baker Cheftress who doesn't really know
much, but what I know, I'll share!

And she moved in just like that. Into my kitchen & into my home & couldn't have been a more perfect roommate in both living spaces. She was the best roomie in the 20 plus years I've been living on my own! No offense to anyone out there who may read this =) But its TRUE! LILY ROCKS! 

Her Family in Italy can be very proud of their Girl!

After Creole Celebration Night!

And before I knew it, she became a Great Friend to hang out with watching Audrey Hepburn movies, flopping on my oh so cozy $50 couch, eating popcorn, devouring shrimp over our Creole Celebration Weekend, eating "Delicious" Chocolate Brownies(thanks Alison=), making Pasta, frying Churros, practicing Yoga & discussing every avenue of Baking Ideas over Coffee. 

And though she is a Vegetarian, she even deboned The Turkey with me =)

As she left today from the Wild Fern, I told her I felt like I had just taken a much needed internal vacation these past weeks & learned a valuable lesson since she moved in, to slow down.
It was a great Lesson to learn. 

She's 19 & I'm 42 btw, & it wasn't all about me teaching her. 

It was All About, 

A Sister Hood Made In The Kitchen. 

My Awesome Girls, Lily & Zoe on Pasta Making =)

And so speaking of Sister Hood,                   

Our day at The Wild Fern also included another Sister, Cathy, who is fastly approaching her very own path unto Mother Hood. 


And I am most fortunate to be her Friend & Fellow Sister & to have the Most Cherished Honor of photographing her Gorgeous Baby Belly! 

At first, I wasn't sure how I would make time to do this. It took not more than speaking the words of, "I will try to make time" to Cathy to realize as I typed it, that of course I would have time. 

Cathy & Dawn, her Doula =) 

There is no way I want to pass by on this memorable opportunity to be a part of making her Belly a cherished Memory. 

Baby Bellies are absolutely one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen. Having now photographed three of my Friends, each Belly is different & each Belly is Extraordinary. 

You can only view these two photos though. 
Cathy hasn't seen them yet! 

So with that, 
Tuesday was a Poetic, Sentimental & Deeply Emotional Day at The Wild Fern! 




Thank You Lily, Cathy & Dawn for sharing the day with me! I love you LADIES!! 

sending our first overnight cake to Portland Maine =) 

 

x

                                                   New Creation for Pallet Sensation: Peanut Butter Honey Comb Pie =)

Now Everyone, 

Come TO The Wild Fern Today for Bagels & Pizza!

Thanksgiving!

As The Wild Fern continues to grow,
Friendships both old & new are sprouting up in this tiny little kitchen bakery near the junctions of Route 100 & 107 opening only a short 11 weeks ago!

So too does my heart!

Somedays I could swear the lil'ol thing could burst!
Its fun! It's scary! It's uncertain!
   
                      It's unbelievable!



~ all of it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank You for coming here these weeks!

ps. forgive me if I don't have a shot of you!

Honey Comb Candy, yum! 

Creole Gumbo YaYa!

Cheers!

Sweet William!

oh yeah.

Second Gluten Free Pizza, Breakfast Style =)

The Baba Yagas

delicious

Sweet Orin

 takin notes ? =)

Sweet Life!

The Wild Fern & Lily

Each week I tell you all how thankful I am. Perhaps you get tired of hearing it? I'm not sure, but it's the very truth of the matter.
I can't thank you enough.

This week the my Gratitude extends through feeling Good Fortune.      

And this week Lily came to me. It began last Saturday when she stopped by to get a croissant.

She offered herself as a volunteer in exchange for "lessons" in the kitchen. 
Well, the next morning was Sunday & I was baking croissants(the very thing she wanted to learn about) & thought about calling her, but felt it would be too obnoxious of me to call so early & ask her to come in. So I didn't.

In the few weeks since opening, many have volunteered their help. I haven't taken anyone up on it for a few reasons. Mostly, because I needed to just make this happen on my own.

So a few days pass & then I receive an email from Lily calling me out on not calling her to help! =) & if I didn't need her, she would be leaving Vermont sooner. I emailed her back & told her what I needed most was a dishwasher on Friday night, not the glorious of jobs, & one that not really anyone wants to do, but if she was willing, then we could talk about the next few days in the kitchen.

She came, & fit right in Friday night. Immediately took over the dishes & I didn't have to tell her how important cleanliness was, especially on glassware & silverware ;)

Friday night ended & I dropped her off & left it at, she could give me a call the next day if she wanted to come in, & I would be there by 8am.

I arrived 6 minutes late on Saturday morning & there on my back stoop on the cold sunny morning, was Lily reading & waiting on me.
She rode her bike & it was chilly & I was totally convinced that she was my kitchen angel. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Croissants

Over the weekend this sweet girl shadowed me in the most natural unassuming way.


 
We went to work on everything, from bagels to gluten free pizza
dough, croissants, cupcakes, frosting, cookies, eggs,  bread, soup.

She worked side by side with me devouring kitchen talk & was always 5 steps ahead of me backing me up, picking up where I left off, doing dishes, putting them away, & all the while reading various assortment of cookbooks, asking questions, & both of us learning about the other's life.

Lily worked with me all day on Saturday till 5:30 & as I took her home, I could tell she was tired. I told her to take it easy & not to worry about Sunday.

Well, as you may have guessed, Sunday morning I arrived & minutes later the phone rang. It was Lily requesting to come in & began Sunday Brunch with me =)


It was pure Kitchen Magic & I'm pretty sure she is My Kitchen Angel.

& her Humor is Much Like My Own ;)

Lily & My Creations 
for this Most Spectacular Weekend =)
& more to come on that!