Maple Sugar

The big news.

Okay. I don't think I can wait any longer to tell all of you this. No, I'm not pregnant! A friend pointed out to me that you all were probably thinking that, and then I put up those onesies, and...oh noooo!!!! How embarassing, no, I'm not pregnant, haha! But here it is. A while back, the adorable and talented musician and baker extrodinairre Michelle Branch contacted me about being head pastry chef/baker of a bakery she was opening here in Nashville. I was hooked on her concept from the beginning: a sweet little bake shop where you can purchase cakes, pies, cupcakes, and other old-fashioned homemade goodies, but also a place where you can go after dinner and have a specialty cocktail or local dessert wine with your slice of French vanilla almond cake. You know?!?! And not only that, but we will be sourcing as much of our ingredients as possible from local farmers...milk, butter, fruit, whatever we can. The rest of it will be kept organic and all-natural. If you are anywhere near Nashville, get excited, because this place is going to be sweet.

And, ya'll, this girl can bake.  As in, she makes up recipes from scratch. Baking recipes. You know how difficult that is. I am so delighted to be working with her, and I can't tell you how excited I am about this venture. Of course, I want to take all of you through it with me, so I've started a blog about it! And, consequently, I've decided to shut down this one. I have loved Maple Sugar and blogging about my leisurely life, and I have REALLY loved getting to know all of you, but I have been feeling for a while that my days of personal blogging were coming to a close. So please follow me over to the new blog! I will miss you sorely  if you don't! Here it is... and make sure you check out the "about" page from time to time for general information and updates about the bakery!

www.blog.thesugarbar.com

XOXOXOXX,

Rebekka

Thoughts over afternoon tea

Well, let me first clarify by saying, ahem, that I don't actually have afternoon tea (being neither British, nor Australian, nor nearly as charming as I like to imagine myself). I do, however, tend to have an afternoon snack, sometimes with thoughts.

It hit me today that I have three or four girlfriends that I am very, very grateful for. I mean just immensely grateful! So much so that I'd like to have a shelf for each of them in my basement, label-maker labeled with their names, to stockpile presents for them. So that when I get the new Toast catalog and think "Oh, so-and-so would love those slippers" I could just clip the page and put it on her shelf, for next time she comes over.  You know???!?!

I just realize I am one lucky girl. These friends have all known me for many years, and encouraged, loved, and mostly just not abandoned me through things and phases I will never talk about online! Most of them don't even live here, and it doesn't even matter. I know I rarely get sappy or personal on this blog, but I wanted to let you know...and you know you know who you are...that you bring more depth to my life than you can imagine. 

I am grateful

For a friend like this who goes to the flea market and brings me back earrings like this because she thinks I would love them, and she's right, I do.