My son is in New York right now for part of his spring break and I must say, I am jealous. Happy, as a Mom, that he is having a great experience….but wishing I were there with him. It doesn’t seem possible that I moved there, not much older than my son is now, and took on the Big Apple. As he walked around and explored the city this weekend, he sent texts and at each place I was able to immediately recall memories and pass along stories. Although he was born there, he has no recall at all of those few years he lived there as a child. However, now he will have some of his own memories and I am hoping, a taste of a different pace and life. Seems funny in a nice way that he is there, walking the same streets and riding the same buses and subways that he did as an infant- I don’t know, I just love when life brings us back around to things, people and places we think we have left forever.

Picking up and moving to NYC after I graduated from college was a huge step for me. After the excitement of jobs falling into place and what seemed to be a force pulling me in that direction, I was scared. Very scared. I never went to summer camps, never ventured too far from home and even the college I chose, DePauw, was a small and very safe cocoon. I hung up the phone one summer night in 1978 and told my Mom I was moving to New York. She was very excited but my Dad took some convincing;a lot of convincing.The fact that my first years salary as teacher combined with the position I took at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was less than the yearly rent I was to pay, could have been the source of some worry. But they let me go. They sent me on my way with the basic tools I needed, whatever furniture was in the storage room that older siblings hadn’t confiscated ( took a fold away cot for my bed, my dresser from 3rd grade that stil had bunny stickers on it, two chairs that were in my parents first apartment and exactly two knives, two forks and a few plates)and a security that I could come home anytime. Believe me, that thought crossed my mind more than few times those first two weeks! But they let me go…I know, I know, it is now that full circle I mentioned earlier.

I “let go” and my son is now in college, traveling the world, and beginning his life. My daughter is awaiting news this week of her own college experience and where that will be. I see ahead a few months and again, I will “let go”. Lots of mixed feelings to be sure. In another two years, I will have come full circle and my last child will be off to college. I will have entered another segment of my life where life itself brings you back around. My youngest wants to go to NYC for college….if that remains true, my journey of returning will truly be complete. Letting go and coming back. The one thing about change is you can always depend on it that it will happen.

I still wish I was looking at the Egyptian Wing with him, having a cannoli in Little Italy and walking through Central Park. But it is his time, his life…and I will love every single text I receive!!!!

This weeks blog is filled with news and invitations for you…here goes!

***We have an email newsletter that I would like for you to join. You may do so on the website or also email me and ask to be added. Now that I am 50 and so much more organized (ha) I will be doing my very best to send one out every month. It will have news of events etc. at To The Last Drop as well as recipes and fun cooking tips, discoveries… In addition, there will often be “specials” that will be offered as far as menu items, giveaways and discounts. So, please consider joining- it would be wonderful to have you.

***To The Last Drop will be closed on the following dates…. March 26-Tuesday, April 6 and also on May 10-May 23. We will be available by email and phone for your catering orders and event planning. However, the shop itself and any cuisine to go will not be available. Many apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and if we can assist in any way prior to these dates with your needs, let us know!

***We will be publishing all new menus by the end of this month. We have refreshed and added many new and delicious offerings! Our catering menus as well as menus for the Private Dinners will all be online- check the website for updates as to when  they will be posted.

*** I will be taking a trip to England in May (hence the closing of the shop for a week) I will be in London as well as Cotswold/Oxford. My son will be studying there for the month of May and we will be visiting him as well as doing some great sightseeing…. which of course, will involve lots of food!

It is rumored that English Cuisine leaves much to be desired but I intend to form my own opinion. However, I would also love your opinions and suggestions. It is my first time there and I would love any suggestions or recommendations for restaurants, menu items not to be missed and any fun and memorable stories from your travels. Upon my return I will post an email newsletter with my own reviews and travel stories. Email me or comment on this blog page to me- I will look forward to hearing from you. Any comments will be placed in a drawing for a cookbook that I will purchase when there!!

*** Our Saturday Morning Breakfasts are attended somewhat sporadically. Since I was asked to take down our banner on the front of the shop (and it was a very nice banner I will say) I know it is not serving as a reminder. So, I hope you will help and spread the word a bit and if you haven’t stopped in, please do join us for a warm and delicious breakfast to go or at our table. Each Saturday from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Check the website at “What’s Cooking” and see what we will be serving. If you bring a copy of this blog with you, your breakfast will be 50% off! Hope to see you!!!

Have a great week and enjoy the break from Snow. Although beautiful it was a bit much….don’t you think? Remember to comment to this blog and let me know your adventures in England and I will hope to see you on Saturdays!

Claudia

I have heard it said…”I only know what I know”. That is one of those statements that seems so obvious but still makes me stop and repeat it several times. It is true, simple, but true. In our lives we are formed and driven by that which we know. I’m not really referring to facts such as the length to boil and egg for the yolk to be firm or the correct answer to a complex algabraic problem. I mean what we know about ourselves, about each other and about LIFE.

I am on the eve of a milestone birthday- 16 has passed along with 21 and my 30’s but a memory and 40’s were life changing to say the least… 50 is here. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about this birthday and the significance to me. I am not hung up on the age aspect at all or all the “changes” that I have been warned that it brings. True- there are some changes and I am keenly aware of them as they not so subtley hit me on the head… a new level of scatteredness, the inability to function on just 4 hours of sleep day after day, and the unfortunate realization that I can no longer eat whatever I want whenever I want without feedback in my stomach or on the scale.

No, I have been thinking a lot about “what I know” as I turn 50.

I know that I love my kids more than words can express and I know that I love them unselfishly and unconditionally. I know that they love me and see me as their Mom and as a friend and as a person.

I know that my heart can endure great sadness and that through that sadness and pain, can endure and remain open. I know I am capable of giving love and receiving it- open hearted all the way. I know what real love feels like and the immense depth of its riches.

I know that my faith has been challenged, questioned and broken at times but that it remains at the core of who I am and that those times of enormous struggle, it has not failed me and has grown stronger and deeper.

I know simply that if you live your life with only intention and no action, you are only scratching the surface. It can be a scary place to go where you are unsure or without more than instinct. Frightening and quite intimidating to admit you really don’t know how to take those steps but that the action simply must follow the intent you are feeling. I know now that this is LIFE and on this downhill side of the hill, I don’t want to miss a single opportunity to put into action all my lists of wonderful intentions.

When I opened To The Last Drop I was equipped with what I thought was just one piece of knowledge- cooking and teaching both brought me great joy and I was hoping to combine the two. Then followed a whirlwind of things I did not know- business plans, health codes and regulations, exhaust systems and marketing. My learning curve was huge, still is in fact, and suddenly I was feeling that I didn’t know much of anything. I took a big leap of action- I opened the shop but also knew that this was a long and sustained action which requires constant assessment of what “I know”. My intent was constant it just requires a lot of action.

On the eve of this milestone birthday, I see things a bit differently. While I know that I must continue to gain knowledge that is fact based and that I may never be the wisest or most savvy business woman in spite of my actions, I have all the knowledge I really need. What I really needed to know, I knew all along.

I have the love of my kids and those in my life- this I know.

I have an open heart and an ability to love and care deeply about people and their needs- this I know.

I have a strong faith that keeps those white lines in focus even when it is foggy and the visibility is low-this is know.

I have really learned a lot in my 50 years and I am happy.

This, of all, I know best.

I just returned from two wonderful visits with those I love. I saw my son for a few days where he attends college and then on to see my parents for another few days. I say, “few” days as that is what it was. I wish I could have had an endless visit until we all knew it was time to go, but that is sadly not the way visits seem to go. I am very thankful for the time I did have, however, and loved every single moment.

It is always such a comfort to see people you love in their element. I think about my son avery day- what is he doing, who are his best friends, is he getting enough rest, enough food, enough happiness in his days? Seeing him with his friends, in his environment and doing what he does every day was great- it filled me up and gave me a deep sense of peace. He took me out to dinner at a favorite place of his- Farm 255. It is an organic restaurant which uses all its ingredients from their local farms- including the meats and vegetables.We had a great meal and I was able to try all of Todd’s favorites on the menu. If you are ever in Athens, Georgia I would highly suggest a visit to this special place.Of course, my review is a bit biased asthe best part of the meal was the company with which I shared the evening!

Then, off to see my Mom and Dad. Every minute I am able to spend with the two of them is precious to me. My Dad has Alzheimers and each time I am able to see him, I am thankful for the memory that is left. The laughter and teasing shared and the hugs which have taken on a newer and deeper meaning than ever before are beyond words.  My Mom is truly a remarkable person and in a completely unbiased review of her- she is by definition….perfect! We spent most of our time at home, around the kitchen table.

Breakfasts would start at 7 a.m. with coffee, a bit of food, my dad then joining us, and before I knew it, it was lunch. Dinners lingered as well and the joy of cooking for them and sharing the kitchen with my Mom was well tucked away in my heart and memory.

I wish those visits were neverending-truly I do.

Please note that To The Last Drop will be closed the week of Monday, February 8-Monday February 15. We will re-open on Tuesday February 16 for regular business hours. Have a wonderful week and Valentine’s Day!

Don’t forget to stop by on Saturday mornings for our warm fresh bakes breakfasts to go. We will have our special Biscuits and Sausage Gravy along with our House Granola, fresh bakes Croissants, Scones and Muffins. Join us for a complimentary cup of coffee or cocoa (if it is snowing!!) and either take home your breakfast or eat it here at the our table if there is room!

We are already booking for graduation parties, weddings and spring events so please call ahead to reserve dates!! We would love to be a part of your special events! See you on the 16th!

Claudia

In a culture and civilization that preaches we should love ourselves first and shouts examples of that to an extreme to the point of self-absorption and self-centeredness, there is an area in which we tend to think of ourselves last. We will spend hundreds of dollars on workout equipment, memberships, clothing, beauty supplies etc. without a second thought. However, fast food lines are always seemingly long, the prepared and robotic style food counters at markets and large chains are growing and the frozen food section at most stores occupies far more space than the fresh produce and meats.

What does it say? It says we will go to great lengths to take care of the outside of our body but not the inside. I think a huge part of that is because of fear and a lack of a true sense of self-worth. Loving someone is all about really tuning in and giving that person what they really need at the deepest level. We don’t love ourselves enough- sad but true.

I have spoken with many people in my cooking classes at the shop and one of the most prevalent reasons that they don’t cook at home is surprising. The reasons such as skill level and knowledge, money, convenience are all secondary to the answer…”it is just a lot of work for just me….” Whether these are single people or empty-nesters, most people do not feel they are worth the time and effort of a good home-cooked meal. All the other things which consume our time and finances are acceptable- but preparing a healthy and delicious meal and sitting down to enjoy it are not. How odd-

We need to break that way of thinking and begin at the start- we should care about ourselves, feel comfortable with ourselves and allow ourselves to treat our own selves and admit we are worth it. Buy a cookbook or go online and look at some of the things you really enjoy. Instead of ordering it at a restaurant or buying it prepared by someone else- do it as a gift to yourself. Instead of wandering the aisles that have package after package of pre-made foods or frozen entrees that at some point probably were actually food- stroll through the fresh produce aisles and meat cases and see for yourself that there is a step you have been missing. The journey from the farm, the stream or the ground does not go directly from there to your box, bag or microwavable container. It stops along the way, just waiting for someone to grab it and cook it into a delicious and healthy meal.

I realize that with today’s faster paced lives, there is not an ability to always sit down to a full meal at home every night- but there is time, and if not….make the time. You will not regret the decision.  Create a time for yourself to cook and relax and enjoy a nicely prepared meal for YOU! It is worth it- for so many many reasons.

You may find yourself repeating that “date” over and over again.

There was not a morning when I was growing up that my Mom didn’t make a full breakfast. The aroma of something cooking, waking me up even before my alarm clock did and the warmth of starting my day in such a caring way. Even now, when we visit her and stay in my parents home, breakfast is ready and waiting for us each and every day.

Breakfasts start our day- they offer a new beginning to look at the day in a fresh way and greet those you love as well as yourself with warmth and care. We should care about ourselves as much as we care for those we love- we should nourish the bodies and minds that will take us through our day, face challenges and make the most of that which lies waiting. Breakfast is like a security blanket, it stays with us and protects and comforts as we leave the warm covers and enter the cold reality of life outside that front door.

Breakfasts don’t have to be a four course meal- just healthy and nutritious. Our lifestyles unfortunately don’t allow for the joy of sitting down and sharing in those long and wonderful breakfasts-even on weekends. However, making the time to fit those in from time to time and when we cannot, at least having something quick and love-filled in the morning can make all the difference.

There was a time when all three of my kids were in a flurry in the morning- showers, gathering homework, running out the door to catch a bus. Then came all driving in different cars and going different directions and I saw very quickly that our routine had to change. For years they all sat shoulder to shoulder at the kitchen counter waiting for their breakfasts from the short order cook named Mom. Feet barely reaching the stools foot rest and pj’s with hockey players on them and kittens and puppies. Hair everywhere and precious faces waking up slowly. They still have hair going all directions, pjs are now sweats and t-shirts and feet touch the ground. In the summer and on weekends, the short order cook returns and the kitchen counter has customers. However. like most families, breakfasts have evolved into a quick on the run meal. I still bring breakfast to them occasionally and make that extra effort to see that they have something to start their day but for the most part- it is caught on the way through the kitchen to the laundry room or shower.

So, what is the answer? Having great choices available and when able, making the time to sit down and start the day together. Start the day with those you love, share the warmth of good food, prepared with love and put on that security blanket. I am a firm believer that there are some things we never have to give up when we grow up- ever.

**To The Last Drop offers breakfast to go each and every Saturday from 8 a.m.- 11 a.m. Each week there is a special entree and quiche to go by the slice or ordered ahead to take home whole. Fresh baked croissants, scones, muffins and our house granola. Take home warm and fresh for your family- all you have to do is call them to the table! If you prefer, you can eat at the dining room tabel at the shop….if there is room! Complimentary coffee is available and cocoa when it snows. Come in and feel the warmth, feel the best way to start your day…..you can even bring your own security blanket and slippers are welcomed!

This last week has been a particularly difficult week. There have been losses at every turn it seems and challenges to keep a tight hold of hope. People far away from our world here are suffering, asking why tragedy has come upon their lives and doing all in their power not to lose hope. Here in our community, we struggle in the loss of a young life and a loss of his hope for his future. We look into our own hearts and look for the hope in what can be taken from this to again instill hope for his loving family, his friends and our youth. In our own personal lives we struggle with hope which has been taken and disappointment- perhaps in others, perhaps in ourselves.

Yet, hope is resilient. It teaches us that although lives may be taken, dreams shattered or hearts broken- we can continue and move forward. That which seems unbearable becomes a mountain we can climb. That which threatens to break us apart, pulls us together. That is hope. One of my favorite sayings is by Oscar Wilde:

“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise”

To remain hopeful allows us to see those blessings. I wish that for the many many people that have been struggling with hope this week- hold tight, hold fast.

Claudia

I have been thinking a lot about transitions this past week- mostly because I have about ten going on simultaneously in my own life. Some by choice and some thrust upon me. I have come to the conclusion that either way, they feel the same. Those by choice have a bit more forewarning and come a bit more slowly unlike those that appear and suddenly knock the wind from your sails- but both insist upon change.

My son went back to college and I am also preparing to send off my second child as we speak….applications, graduation plans, special trips this summer to gather as much of “family” time that I am able. Changes and transitions- I suppose it is best to just dive in because they will come anyway.

I had a transition at the shop last weekend and one that will continue to come on slowly as this one was planned. The Saturday morning breakfasts have been an idea for awhile so I saw it coming and it is a great addition. I am looking forward to next Saturday already- a change in routine, an extra chance to do what I love to do which is cook for others, and a nice transition to a new part of my business. I hope you will stop by some Saturday for a warm breakfast to go- it is a cozy start to your day and I would love to share it with you.

This comfortable transition will undoubtedly help with all the others going on- perhaps in your life as well. Sometimes that comfort food, a warm cup of goodness and a smile can do wonders!! Winter months can be cold as can change- but they too shall pass! Saturdays at To The Last Drop may be a small ticket on that road!

Here we are, another year ahead and the many experiences awaiting us all! I always look back and try to reflect upon all the many new people, experiences and discoveries I have made over the past year. It is always a very humbling experience as I make to “plan” and organize my life and time. I love to get out my fresh datebook, clear of my scribbles, scratch outs and notes and begin filling in dates, trips, birthdays…. For some odd reason, it gives me a good feeling and I sit back thinking I am in control. That is usually the last moment of the New Year that I feel that way!

Soon, life creeps in and what I thought was a plan becomes a blur of new scribbles, notes and for the most part, anything but control. It is usually then that I take the time to reflect upon all that I didn’t see coming in the past year that surprised me unannounced and made its way into my datebook. While there are a handful of the unfortunate, the heart breaking or the “rug out from under you” moments and events, for the most part, all the surprise and unplanned entries in my datebook are ones that I would never trade away or erase if they were by chance “penciled in”. I realize that those are what brings life into the days of the week as they trudge by, they bring a reason for thought, laughter, discovery and human realism.

So, I start this year as I do every other one- with high hopes, with a trusting heart, a clean slate and ready to fill in the blanks of my datebook and days.

Hope to see you in the shop, hope to perhaps mark you down in my datebook and will look forward to all the entries this year!