Why today was special!

No pictures today. I want to share a moment of my day with you. I am grateful to have moments like this nearly everyday. A woman ordered an egg salad sandwich from Doug , who was working out front at the time. I was in the back and made the egg salad sandwich for her. I brought it out and I had put a couple of slices of watermelon on the plate with her sandwich. She looked at the watermelon and thanked me so much for it . I think I heard a yummy! As she was eating I asked her how everything was. She said it was sooo good. She had decided to treat herself today, something she doesn't do very often, she told me. I said good for you , I'm sure you deserve a treat. You probably have put everyone else ahead of yourself your whole life. Oh she said, I hope I didn't give you that impression, looking embarrassed at the thought. She continued to tell me how fortunate she had been her entire life and how good her family is , especially her son. He had had an organ transplant and she had felt blessed that he was doing well and giving back. I told her that was also a reflection on her , how she had raised her son. Again she was embarrassed at that thought. When she was ready to leave, she looked for me. I came back out front to say good bye and thank her for coming in. She leaned into me and asked if she could give me a kiss. I said of course. She reached up and cupped my face in her hands and gave me such a sincere kiss on my cheek. It felt so nice and heart warming . I hugged her goodbye. What a nice day I had!

Another week at the Bakery!

Linda working hard at keeping the glass clean!

Pies , squares and tarts!

Doug has been growing pineapple plants at the bakery for years. This is an actual pineapple growing out of the top. It is the second pineapple he has grown. The first one didn't get this big. I think we should have a party to celebrate the pineapple if this one gets big enough to eat!

Another big cake this week. Enough for 150 people! This is a huge cake to decorate. The customer has an idea how they want it decorated but for the most part I have to decide how I'm going to put everything together. I only really get one chance to do the writing , especially when it's black. It takes me a long time to get the cake smooth, if I had to scrape off black , if I made a mistake , it would be like starting over. So a customer comes in about an hour before we are to deliver the cake , he's checking it out and says why did I spell congratulations like that! My heart sank. Oh my did I spell it wrong? Nah....he was just kidding! Thanks Ed!

I made a gluten free lemon meringue pie. It was so nice not to have to deglutenate something before I had a piece. It was yummy!

We have this penny game at the bakery. If you get it in you win cookies. By the looks of it these kids won cookies!

I guess they did!

South Windsor, Do You Remember?

This post is looking back. This past Saturday we had a book signing at the bakery. In preparing for it I decided to put together some pictures from the past. South Windsor is where I grew up. There are some buildings that were part of that childhood that no longer stand. I am sharing a few photos that bring on sadness when I look at them because I wonder why they had to go. Progress I guess and also a reminder that things change. People change, places change but oh those feelings of days gone by, they are still there. We all have them , some good , some not so good. They helped make us who we are.

These two pictures are of Grand Marais and Dominion facing Grand Marais, south west corner. The one with the barbers out front was taken approximately in 1962. The other one was taken much earlier , in the 50's.

This is St. Mary's Acadamy. It was an all girl's boarding and day school. It was imploded in the early 70's.

This is Christ The King Church. It was at the North East corner of Grand Marais and Dominion.

Book Signing

May 29th 2010, Nana's hosted a book signing by Lloyd Billingsley. Lloyd wrote a book, Our Time After a While. All baby boomers are children of their time. In Our Time After a While, writer Lloyd Billingsley backpacks into that time, the tail end of the tail-fin era, in its very birth place. In the motor cities of Detroit and Windsor, the streets, schools and parks jostled with a vast cast of characters.

It was a great evening , Lloyd sold all of the books he brought. I put up some pictures from the era and it stirred many conversations. I enjoyed walking around and hearing people say remember the time....

Lloyd's book is available on Amazon if you would like a copy.

unit 7 - operation manna

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Today we attended a celebration at Windsor Airport. It was a party to honour those who participated in Operation Manna during the second world war. As you may recall, from a previous post we at Nana's Bakery are collecting Canadian Tire Money to pass along to Unit 7, a drop in centre for the homeless. I've put up some pictures to show you the festivities of the day , including Richard ter Vrugt, Consul for the Royal Netherlands Embassy. He spoke of the warm friendship between the Netherlands and Canada. It was heartwarming. Colin and Pauline put on a great gathering. Thank you for bringing us all together. We continue to collect Canadian Tire money, personal hygiene products, sleeping bags anything that you use, they could use.

Doug made and decorated cookies with Operation Manna's logo. Doug and Linda also did an amazing job on the dessert table.







































































Oh, Mom, Dad and the kids....just a nice picture to share!

Cakes

It's been a busy weekend at the bakery. Friday night I was busy decorating cakes for Saturday pick-up. Saturday night I was busy decorating 3 cakes for 400 people. Lakeside plastics ordered cakes for their 33rd Anniversary and to celebrate that they are the 2009 Award winner, GM supplier of the year. A noble achievement! Thought I would share some pictures of me decorating these cakes. They are the largest I've ever done. I also will include a picture of what Doug would like for his birthday. The newest Camaro was on display, as Lakeside Plastics supplies GM with some of the parts. Doug had a Camaro back in the day. I think it was a '76 , red with white leather interior. You remember the ones that had that pointie front end. He would let me drive it once in a while and he'd say whatever you do just don't wreck that front end...well guess what, I slipped on some ice and smacked my Dad's big old Chrysler back bumper with the front end! Don't think I ever drove it again!