Happy For The Weekend

My poor car hadn't been washed since before my trip to AZ to do canning.  It's a mess.  Just on the outside, because I try to make sure everytime I drive anywhere I clean out any trash or whatever each time I come home, so the inside is okay.  A good wipedown and vacuuming out and we're good there.  But the exterior was a sticky bug mess from two trips and around town.

1st stop:  Car Wash.  Had to ask them to run it through twice.  The bugs were stubborn.  I met the nicest older woman.  In her mid-70's.  We talked and talked all about how she moved here to be near her daughter from Cour d'lene, Idaho because she couldn't do the winters anymore.  It was so hot today, and we were both wishing we had some true fall weather and maybe even a little snow.  I'll probably never see her again, but I hope I remember what a delightful conversation we shared. 

Just look at that chocolate!  Now click on the picture so it enlarges and wave you hand so the smell gets right into your face.  Close your eyes and inhale.  Isn't it soooo good.  Nothing like that meliting texture on your tongue.

Nancy was ready for me to come and help get the baking cocoa divided up.  We measure it out in a bag in a bowl on a scale.  2.5lbs per ziploc bag which equals about a gallon.  That's a LOT of cocoa!  With 947 pounds of freshly made chocolate chips (semi-sweet, mini, butterscotch, white, dark, milk) the aroma was intoxicating on the drive home.  Breathe in deeply and look at the pictures above.  The top box is milk chocolate chips.  Creamy, smooth, milky. The bottom box is semi-sweet minis.  Silky, luxurious, deeply flavored.  I set out my gallon bags and scooped evenly until it was all divided.  My freezer will happily keep it safe and ready for all kinds of baked goods in the coming year.

Christine and I then headed for some shopping for Karley's birthday party tonight.  Can I just say, I love Target?  'Cause I do.  Karley got a Kindle so we decided on a Kindle gift card to buy books with.  Isn't that so much fun?  I think so.

While we were there, we did some Christmas shopping for John.  Walking the store aisles and exploring all the new things these days for toddlers was pretty fun.

I needed to stay awake to pick up Chris after the birthday festivities, so I watched mystery shows all night long to keep me awake.  I love a good who-dunnit.  And I like Keith Morrison on 48 Hours Mystery shows.  The cadence of his voice draws you in.

I'm happy for the weekend.  We don't have any big things we have to do or places we have to be and it feels nice to look forward to some down time.

Chocolate

I worked on the chocolate order most of the day, and by the time it was done, the poundage balanced the first time, and the money balanced on the 2nd time.  I was only off $30 and found it right away.

Yay.  I always wipe my brow when that is finished.  The next part is when it arrives next week and people get to come and pick it up.  Our house smells like chocolate for days and it is intoxicating in a really good way!

My part of the order is 942.5 pounds.  I don't know what Nancy has yet.  We used to take the 25 lb. boxes and 50 lb. bags and weigh it all out into 5lb. increments and bag it.  3 years ago we decided that we would just offer it in the 25 lb. boxes and if people didn't need or want that much they could find others to split it with.  I had wondered if that would deter the order amounts.  Nope.  Each year the numbers keep going up. 

The piano tuner comes tomorrow.  That sure was a fast six months.