Failures and Successes

Thursday is the biggest day in the bakery. Other days, we're done by 10 or even before. Thursday, it's noon or 1. So I'm pretty wiped out right now, and my feet hurt from standing. And my glasses are smudged from the spray we use to grease the pans. And my fingers are wrinkly from washing dishes. And I'm tired because I didn't sleep well last night and you know, the whole getting up at 5 a.m. thing.

Today, I made a batch of pie dough that flopped. I have no idea what I did wrong, but it came out dry and stiff. It was nasty, and we had to throw it out and start again. I also rolled the cinnamon rolls too loosely and had to pinch them together after I'd cut them.

BUT! I love this "job." Not even sure if I want to call it that. Every day, being in the bakery and working with the ingredients rejuvenates my dream of someday owning my own bakery. I find myself keeping a mental list of what ideas to implement, and which procedures to improve.

Today, I changed the cinnamon roll icing recipe, and, in my opinion, improved it with a little salt.  And the scones were soft inside, with just the right amount of crusty sugar on the outside.

And I looked out the window, and I saw the green rolling hills and the fields separated by hedges, and I heard the customers' lilting accents, and I wondered if I should pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. Am I really doing what I love best in a place I love dearly?

I know there will be days when the tiredness and the throbbing feet and the flopped pie dough will feel bigger than the warm fuzzies I feel about bread and a good icing recipe. But for right now, I'm enjoying the enjoyment.


(By the way, do you know what I said when the pie pastry was ruined? "D'oh!") Sorry! Couldn't resist!