a special prize

I walked to work today. It was very cold and gray but i really should be walking to work. Walking is important. And so are mittens.

I made lemon raspberry coffee cake today. I made it yesterday too, for a special order for a customer who thought she didn't want almonds in it. So today i made one with almonds, as usual. You don't really notice the almond, because it's ground up so small, but it adds such yummy flavor and texture.

I also attempted to make chocolate biscotti. I tried two different recipes, because i wasn't completely happy with the last batch.... but both were disastrous. I think i know why -- an ingredient substitution that just didn't work -- but it's too bad. They didn't rise...they just spread out like huge brownie-like cookies. It won't be a waste though, because the crumbles were delicious, and tomorrow i'll use them for cheesecake crust. Yum!!

Shortly after i got home, the sun came out and soon the sky was bright blue! That was cheering. It was still very cold though.

Got coffee with Hannah, and to honor the Halloween Festival (day 5 is it?) i got a pumpkin latte. THENNNN we walked down the street to look closer at something i had spotted on our way to coffee.... something that turned out to be everything i had hoped for! Or at least as far as i can tell a week before they're even open. But here is what we saw:

• gazebo
• porchswing
• cute little umbrella tables
• a menu including "heart-shaped waffles"...
• ...and "high tea"!

It's the most exciting thing to come to Farmington as far as i'm concerned.