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Homework…Derailed

Fresh Figs


Another day busy with baking and writing and photo homework…until a huge thunderstorm hit the neighborhood and we lost power from 5.30pm or so until 10pm. Others in the neighborhood got their power back on around 7pm but no one can figure out why our street stayed that long without it. It’s the summer, there’s a creek, there’s a dock, a couple of canoe, plenty of kids and animals, so plenty to do without power. We all gathered to grill out, share salads and juicy fruits as we usually do on saturdays so really it did not make that much difference. Except, I was working and had plenty in the oven and lost it all. There is pretty much nothing to do when you have macarons, cakes, tarts, etc…baking in the oven and power cuts off for almost 5 hours. I thought about using the grill but again, all were pretty much used already.

I called the electric company to inquire about the delay and the lady was real nice and really there was not much she could do. When she said at 7pm that most lines were fixed but it might take longer for ours here is the dialogue that ensued:
Me: "Oh no, that’s impossible…I really need power!"
Her: "do you have a baby? Is it an emergency"
Me: "It’s cake. It’s an emergency."
Long pause from the lady at the electric company.
Me: "It’s my work. Sorry if I sounded deranged"
Her (laughing): "That’s ok honey, we all have issues."

So, back to the drawing board tomorrow…It made me realize that I am somewhat naively more worried about losing power for hours than my computer crashing….oops (knock on wood, Helen, fast!!). No food got spoiled during the power outage as I have the weird habit to crank the fridge and freezer on very cold right when I see a serious lightning storm. I started doing that after we lost power for two days a few years back and it did help a great deal.

Red Currants


What did I end up doing instead for those terribly long hours (humor)? I played with the two crazy monkeys below and put together a little cheese and fruit tray with fresh figs and red currants and some cheese. Lucky us there was no need for electricity with the sun setting so late and all was not lost since the kids tried some new foods and basically had a heck of a free night before school starts!! Not too bad after all!

Hope you are enjoying the pictures because that’s all I got 🙁
For more puppy pictures, you can always click here.

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Comments


Peabody August 17, 2008 um 7:00 am

Oh look at those sweet puppies!


Christy August 17, 2008 um 7:38 am

Lol..your reaction would be similar to mine if there’s a power failure and I have things in the oven! Hang on, that was me last Sunday when my hard drive crashed while I was halfway through writing my new post! At least you had other things to entertain you. Sigh, they all sound so wonderful it makes me want to move to Charleston….


Anonymous August 17, 2008 um 8:07 am

Oh, that hurts! I’m sorry you lost some yummy baked goods. The phone conversation sounds hilarious though! You’re making me hungry with the pictures of figs and currants. They look delicious!


Deeba PAB August 17, 2008 um 8:38 am

What sweethearts those 2 are…melting eyes & all! OUCH…must have hurt to lose power when something was in the oven. I am SO USED to it now, that it's become clinical! We get power cuts here every so often, sometimes I'm surprised baking still evokes a passion in me!! Love the pic of the figs…beautiful!!


Manggy August 17, 2008 um 8:58 am

I find that not opening the refrigerator or freezer doors at all during a power outage is really effective 🙂 Everything was still solid even after 12 hours!


Anonymous August 17, 2008 um 10:32 am

Yes I do enjoy the pictures ! Specially the first one cause I’m fan of figs !!


Bonbon Oiseau August 17, 2008 um 12:08 pm

good idea to crank up the fridge! very smart! and oh the figs and currants and puppies—i feel so much better than i did 5 minutes ago…!


Anonymous August 17, 2008 um 12:19 pm

Cute story and cute doggies! Oh, the poor electric company. When I called to schedule a power turn on when I first moved to Charleston, I burst into tears thinking about moving and couldn’t give her my address for over 5 minutes. She said don’t worry-just keep crying till your done, I’ll wait. Figs are my all time favorite, did you get those at the market here?


Cannelle Et Vanille August 17, 2008 um 12:32 pm

i always love photos of fresh fruit shot this simply. Just gorgeous!


Jen Yu August 17, 2008 um 12:52 pm

Too bad I was not there to stop by your house and grab you, the pups, and two leashes to run outside for a walk in the storm (or just sit on the stoop watching storm and eating fresh figs! 😉 Happy to see your blog again after these days away. Sorry to hear about power outage though. When you need a break, come by and see me in CO. I will pamper you. Promise!! xxoo


Parisbreakfasts August 17, 2008 um 12:53 pm

Great tip about cranking up the fridge pre-storm! We’ve been having some real terrors here of late. As for the ruined cakes..Hmm..even half baked I bet they were tasty for those who like to cleanout the bowl…


La Tartine Gourmande August 17, 2008 um 1:10 pm

Ah ma pauvre ! It was a good excuse to play with these cuties indeed!


una donna dolce August 17, 2008 um 2:25 pm

I also have a dog named Bailey – mines an American Eskimo!


Snooky doodle August 17, 2008 um 2:35 pm

ha it happened the smae to me but not the power went out i ran out of gas in the middle of a baking session. It was early morning and i didn t know how to change the gas tank so i went to my hubby in big panic to wake him up to change it for me. I was like crazy feared that my cakes were going to be spoiled half way through. At least they came out right. but i was like mad ha ha great photos


Anonymous August 17, 2008 um 2:55 pm

Je ne sais pas si tu sais lire le français, mais je tente quand même…Blog magnifique…je reviendrai…


LizNoVeggieGirl August 17, 2008 um 2:59 pm

Eek!! Good luck with all the busyness, and hopefully no more unexpected derailing will occur!!

Since I just recently lost my dog (as you saw on my blog a few months ago), I appreciate the photographs of your dogs – they bring back fond memories, especially since my dog was a Sheltie (miniature collie) :0)


Sandie August 17, 2008 um 3:53 pm

What a lovely blog you have!

I just happened by and was taken with your colorful, stained glass caramel windows. Then I saw the photos of your pups and oh my…lol…how the little yellow fellow makes me yearn to get a dog again. Sigh…

Again, lovely work here. I’ll be visiting often!


montague August 17, 2008 um 6:51 pm

i have a crush on your photography. and your puppies.


PheMom August 17, 2008 um 7:33 pm

Other than the lost work (which would be extremely frustrating!) it sounds like the perfect evening.


Anonymous August 17, 2008 um 7:57 pm

The dialogue with the phone company lady is very funny 😀
Sorry about the power cut 🙁


Cookie baker Lynn August 17, 2008 um 10:15 pm

So sad to lose all your hard work in the power outage, but at least it’s temporary and it was only food.

I love your picture of the figs!


Zoe Francois August 17, 2008 um 10:35 pm

I love figs!!! This time of year brings with it all my favorite fruits and the fig is at the top of the list. Beautiful photos.


Mike of Mike's Table August 17, 2008 um 10:38 pm

Power outages can definitely be aggravating…but I bet those two adorable puppies kept you busy all night!


Clumbsy Cookie August 17, 2008 um 11:34 pm

I’m so in love with your dogs! Oh power losses are so frustating, cause you know there’s nothing you can do except for relax and wait it comes back. Hope doen’t happen often.


Happee Monkee August 17, 2008 um 11:51 pm

Argh your dogs are uber cute!! So adorable. Blackouts… reminds me of home. I look forward to it really because it becomes too hot to sleep and so we stand outside looking at the stars and chatting. Brings the family together.
Btw, I've left an award for you. Have a look on Twenty Something & Cooking.


Vera August 17, 2008 um 11:55 pm

Helen, Bailey’s got bigger! He is adorable, both of them are.


Manger La Ville August 18, 2008 um 12:14 am

You know, after all my time cooking, that had never happened. Although when I moved into my new apartment, I was making pancakes but then realized I had no gas. Oops, so no pancakes that day….just sad sad batter.


Lori August 18, 2008 um 12:52 am

Look at those eyes. How sweet is that?


Anonymous August 18, 2008 um 1:21 am

Time for a gas oven!


Anonymous August 18, 2008 um 1:34 am

ooh! sorry for the power loss but the pictures are still awesome 🙂 and your dogs are so cute it’s insane!! wish my dogs were still puppies. x


Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) August 18, 2008 um 1:51 am

Doesn’t the universe have funny ways of telling us it’s time to take a break from work?


Anonymous August 18, 2008 um 1:53 am

Beautfiul photographs! Something magical happens when the power goes out- it’s called in the moment- a place so hard for us to stay in!


Aimée August 18, 2008 um 2:28 am

That would be devastating. I’ve lost power with a wedding cake in the fridge and that is stress enough, thank you! Glad you made the most of a bad situation. Good tip about cranking the fridge when there is a storm!


toontz August 18, 2008 um 3:02 am

What cuties, those dogs of yours!


Anonymous August 18, 2008 um 4:37 am

We were in Hurricane Dolly recently while on vacation at my parents. 4 days without electricity, in a retirement village, with 3 kids under the age of 6. It was a challenging, but innovative time.

I love your call with the CSR! Ha 🙂

Your puppies make me want to run out and get one right now. So sweet!


Nikki @ NikSnacks August 18, 2008 um 5:09 am

Ohhhh! You’re so lucky! There was a mother of a storm a few weeks ago and we lost every bit of food in our fridge. Granted, I didn’t have anything in the oven or on the stove when it happened (I kinda wish I did) but everything was lost by the time they said the power’d be on. Even the grocery store lost power and their dry ice supply was diminished greatly.

I’m still trying to bulk up the fridge the way it was.


My Sweet & Saucy August 18, 2008 um 6:39 am

How frustrating! Hope all turns out well!


grace August 18, 2008 um 7:54 am

bailey is a cutie patootie, but i love tippy! i can’t tell–is he a sheltie or a regular collie? i had to leave my sheltie in va when i moved to ny and boy do i miss her. thanks for the adorable pictures!


Kana August 18, 2008 um 11:10 am

Once we did have power for 4 days we grilled everything and ate by candle light. But I would have lost it if I had a cake in the oven!

Lovely pictures of the darlings!!!


Anonymous August 18, 2008 um 7:21 pm

Awesome shots. That is the best picture of figs I think I have ever seen. Talk about mouth watering.


Patricia Scarpin August 18, 2008 um 8:15 pm

You made me remember how crazy I can get about food and things like that, sweetie. It’s like when Joao goes to the grocery store for me and when he arrives I start yelling "hurry, put the cream in the fridge!!!!" 🙂

These are gorgeous photos!


That Girl August 19, 2008 um 5:31 am

I’m annoyed at electric company lady on your behalf. You don’t have issues – you have DEADLINES!


Anonymous August 19, 2008 um 9:59 pm

Look at those sweet doggos! And I tell you, that’s what makes having a gas oven heaven on Earth. Do I have one? No. But I used to and it was great as long as I could actually see in the kitchen without the electricity!


Botacook August 20, 2008 um 11:16 am

Que de belles photos!
J’ai essayé de t’envoyer un mail pour avoir des renseignements sur ton futur livre mais et il m’est revenu… 🙁


MyKitchenInHalfCups August 26, 2008 um 8:41 am

Issues my foot.
The fruit photos are really classic. Bailey on the other hand: that is the kind of photo that drives a girl to start considering a puppy again.


SteamyKitchen September 1, 2008 um 6:21 am

honey! i’m just catching up on your life through your archives…you’ve been busy!

loved your letter to your brother. brought smiles to my face.
xoxo, jaden


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