Readjusting to being alone again in the house took some time. But I had plenty to keep me busy, and focused on the week ahead. I was hoping that the lull from the weekend was just an aberration, and geared up for what I hoped was a return to busy days and lots of sales.
Decorations up in Parque Central for a local holiday.
Scoping out the internet situation.
I wanted to install a separate internet connection for the bakery, primarily so there could be a dedicated system for the customers that wouldn’t interfere (or allow access to) my personal one. In addition, due to the thick (often concrete) walls used here in construction, the current signal barely – if at all – reached the bakery. So, my local internet provider sent out some contractors to set up an extension of my system. They recommended a set-up based on transferring the signal through the electrical system, and not running additional cable. I liked this idea and thought it was very cool…but then they quoted me the price for the equipment and installation. It was quite steep.
So, as they continued to work and test the system, I took snapshots of the packaging they had brought with them and looked up everything on Amazon. With friends coming down in a week, I realized I could cut the price in half by taking care of the purchase myself. As for setting up a new wifi network on the router, I could easily do that on my own. I thanked the two guys for showing me the set-up, and told them that the price was too high. And off they went.
WEEK SEVEN
Peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough.
My favorite activity – trimming (and eating) the blondie edges.
Chorizo and cheddar scones.
Back at Impact Hub.
Challah Friday!
As the week unfolded, however, the flurry of activity which had been typical for a lot of the previous two weeks didn’t re-emerge. While not a bad week by any stretch, it was my lowest sales volume since week three, although the week did beat out the sales from any of the first three weeks the bakery was open. I had been told that this is a slow season here in Antigua, and perhaps it just took a little while for that to hit my shop.
After a relaxing Monday, in which I did absolutely nothing, I was up early on Tuesday morning to start Wednesday’s bread. I needed to finish by late morning, so that I could head into the city with Raul. I had one critical task to complete in the city – getting my picture taken at the SAT office as a requirement for my business tax file. Then I had other errands I wanted to run before we headed to the airport to pick up my friends Cary and Mike, arriving from Chicago.
Waiting to get my picture taken at the SAT office.
With my photo taken and paperwork stamped, it was off to shop. After ducking into one PriceSmart on the way to SAT, just to see if they had walnuts (they didn’t), we planned to check out another PriceSmart on the outer fringes of the city. But first, it was House & Green. You may remember my joy during my first visit here back in March with Mindy and Carlos. It is a kitchen and restaurant supply store bursting with everything someone like me would need or want! I had only one official item on my list, but ended up walking out of there with a ton of stuff. It was too good an opportunity to pass up on the rare trip into the city.
A very expensive panini press.
A much cheaper (but very poorly reviewed on Amazon) panini press.
Energy boost.
With all my errands completed, Raul dropped me off at the airport to wait for Cary and Mike, while he went to park and hang out somewhere. I had about ninety minutes to kill. From the SAT visit, I had my passport with me, which allowed me to enter the departures level of the airport and relax at the pre-security food court with my Kindle. I had a dinner of Pollo Campero and was much happier than I would have been waiting downstairs in the cramped coffee shops abutting the arrivals area.
I hadn’t told Mike and Cary that I would be meeting them at the airport; I had only said I would send my driver. So they were excited and surprised to see me waiting for them! On my last two visits to Chicago, I hadn’t been able to see them, due to conflicts on their end. So, it had been more than a year-and-a-half since I’d seen Cary. In the near-twenty years I’d known her, it was by far our longest dry spell.
We chatted happily in the car on the way back to Antigua. I made sure they were all properly checked in to their hotel, then returned to Raul’s car so that he could drop me and my plentiful purchases off at the house.
WEEK EIGHT
I was excited to have Stefani back in the kitchen with me, after her two weeks in Chicago. We jumped right back into things, and I brought her up to speed on all the excitement she missed. The week kicked off with a very good Wednesday! Mike and Cary came in during the morning, and got to see some of the activity before going on a food tour. I showed them the whole place, they ate a bit and then went on their way.
“Unicorn” steak at Sobremesa.
Mint lemonade at Caoba Farms on Thursday night.
Killer lamb burger at Caoba.
Happy people!
Nibbling on challah while I work.
Sprinkle cookies are back!
Duck breast at Tartines, with lava-spewing volcano views.
Saturday and Sunday were both about average days in the bakery. Some of my regular Saturday customers were out of town, which put a little bit of a dent in the sales. But overall, things were fine and it allowed us the ability to do a bit of catch-up in the kitchen.
With walnuts unavailable, the brownies instead got topped with sliced almonds. Not a bad look!
S works on pizza babka.
Pizza babka, almost ready to bake.
My lunch on Sunday. A winner!
Cary and Mike join in on my family’s Sunday Selfie tradition.
Wrapping up Sunday night games.
For the rest of Monday, I shopped at the mercado and then never left the couch. That’s my idea of a perfect day. And then I went to bed, thinking ahead of the week to come and all I hoped it would bring!
