You didn’t think I was sick of bread, did you!?
Just a wee bit tired of sandwiches. Bread always has a place in my heart and stomach! This afternoon while working I got hungry for a snack and tried out a new tiny jar of chutney we ordered for our retail shelves. I mixed it with Naturally Nutty almond butter and granola. Delish!
Matt left work for a bit to get a haircut and apparently came back with frozen yogurt!! SOOO glad his sideburns are short again! Hot stuff.
Peanut butter + cake batter + Resees – of course he fed me a few bites!
We worked till after 7 and got the bakery lookin’ GREAT!! I organized our filing cabinet and we cleaned and straightened and I’m very excited about the state of things! I’m HOPING to take 2 days off before opening week begins. Matt has some handiwork to do there tomorrow but we’re both hoping to go on a hike on Sunday and do something non-work related.
Back at the homestead, we whipped up a quick dinner. We used a soup sample that a vendor brought us in the doors this week – a 3 bean chili. We mixed that with collard greens (so it was more sauce than soup!) and topped it with bacon, cheese and sour cream! (Sour cream was also a sample)
Under all that good stuff there were beautiful green vegetables : )
Matt poured me a tiny beer to go with dinner. Because it really does bring out the flavor of food.
Then we watched The Office. Great episode!
Then Karen came over for a beer (which she rarely drinks!) because she finished her last chemo treatment today!!!!!!!! If you’re new to the blog, Karen is Matt’s mom and she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer just before Christmas. She’s done 5 months of chemo + radiation plus surgery and we’re all hoping she’s cured for good. She’s been such a trooper through it all.
GO Karen!!
Karen also brought over some brownies – going to have a taste!!
Nite!
{ 119 comments… read them below or add one }
YAY Karen! Yay Office (I miss Michael Scott) Yay YOU GUYS!!! Bread, bakery opening, all of it. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Am so happy things are coming along so well with the bakery. You both really deserve some down time before the grand opening. I wished I lived closer so I could come buy some delish bread and have a yummy sandwich. I wouldn’t even complain about the no onions thing!
And as happy as I am for you both and wish you much success, as a long time blog reader I am DELIGHTED to see Matt’s mom Karen doing so well. She looks great! Karen, I wish you nothing but good health and happy days!!!!
Yay for Karen! Love Matt’s haircut! Have an awesome weekend!
Yay for Karen! Such good news.
Yay, Karen! I hope she’s done with it for good and feeling better soon.
Go Karen!
Yeah Karen!!! I am going to crack open a Moose Drool and have a toast to you! Best of luck on the rest of your journey. The bakery looks amazing as well!
Oh, I’m so glad Karen is feeling better or at least moving in that direction. I’m glad you got spend some time together as a family tonight.
That’s amazing Karen. Congratulation to being healthy once again and getting back to feeling better very soon.
Hurray for Karen finishing up! That was a much deserved celebratory beer. May her recovery continue steadily.
Enjoy that time off! I can’t wait to trek to Cville and check out the store.
GO KAREN! Thanks for the update. I think of her from time to time
Thanks for letting us know that Karen is done with her chemo. So glad that ordeal is behind her. Great timing for the opening of your exciting new business.
Amazing news about Karen.
And I couldn’t agree more…Good whole grain bread is definitely heart-healthy in more ways than one.
All that food is lookin’ GOOD! I seriously hope you’re not tired of bread before the bakery’s even open! And that frozen yogurt looks to DIE FOR!
Congrats to Karen!!
congrats to Karen – she is amazing!
Karen I am so happy for you! You look wonderful <3
Yay for Karen! I agree about the bread. I love sandwiches( tuna kick lately!) – but yeah, sometimes a great salad – WITH bread on the side is optimal for me – because really it’s just a vehicle (a.k.a excuse) for more almond butter and jam for me
So glad to see Karen is doing well
She definitely deserves a high five!
Yay Karen!!! Sending prayers that it is gone for good!
I went through the cancer treatment journey with my Dad and I know how Matt feels. Congrats to Karen and here’s to good news the rest of the way. Amen to that!
Congrats to Karen! Here’s to hoping for only good news to come. I love bread and sometimes feel that having it for snacks or on the side of a meal is the best bet because then you can really taste it vs. having a sandwich with flavors that all blend together.
Woo hoo Karen! I love that you’re such a great daughter-in-law (probably because she’s an awesome mother-in-law:). Hope you all have a wonderful holiday together!
Awesome picture of Matt and Karen! Congratulations on wrapping up the treatments, Karen … best of health to you!
That is one great photo of Karen and Matt! Love the mother/son connection.
Karen is an inspiration – she looks strong and positive! Many good wishes to her.
Kath! I really enjoy your blog. I send love arrows in my mind to you, your husband and your mother-in-law Karen and her battle w/ cancer. Thank goodness she’s done with chemo-yeah! My mother is almost done with all her treatments for breast cancer. I sometimes think we are on the same wave length with the the meals we create, and I definately have picked up some great ideas from you. Good job!
FABULOUS news that Karen is finished her chemo treatments! She looks wonderful…a positive attitude really does make all the difference! High fives indeed!
Hurray for being done with chemo! I love that pic of Matt and Karen – they are adorable!
Congrats to Karen. Hoping she is cured for good!!
I love The Office!
Karen, you go girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to Karen! She looks wonderful! Love that pic of her and Matt- mother/son tag team
Glad Matt got his hair tuned up…I love it when my hubs gets his hair trimmed. Some guys can pull off longer hair but mine looks wayyyy better more clean cut.
And major congrats to Karen for being DONE with her chemo!!! What a long road she’s been on, but more power to her for being done and finishing strong! She will be in my continued prayers, of course, for a full remission and recovery!
Enjoy your brownies
So happy to hear about Karen finishing the therapy and doing so much better! I can tell she is one tough, strong lady and I’m sure that has helped her to pull through!
I hope the brownies you had were delish
Karen always looks great!
Something so vibrant about her- always enjoy seeing her on the
blog and very best of health to her(hi Karen!)
I like a mom who enjoys a little beer now and then
Congrats to Karen! That is such exciting news and she’s looking great!
YAY Karen! As a pediatric nurse who gives chemo, I know what an accomplishment that is! give her my best!
Congrats to Karen! She looks wonderful! I love seeing pictures of her on the blog, always a smile on her face. Wishing you all the best!!
Yeah Karen, and congratulations! Best of luck to her! A beer with family sounds like the perfect way to celebrate
Hooray for Karen! My dad recently finished going through more than 40 radiation treatments for prostate cancer (he also had surgery), and fortunately that knocked the cancer back and he didn’t have to do chemo. I was stunned how much the radiation took out of him…I knew chemo could do that, but I previously had no idea the effects radiation could have.
The bakery looks great…all your hard work is definitely paying off!
I love your tiny beer glasses…I have some from a local brewery that I like to use so that I feel like I’m having a “full glass” even though it’s more like a hearty taste!
Glad he’s done too!
Congrats to Karen and you guys! That is fantastic news about Karen and your bakery is going to be AMAZING. Have a great weekend.
GO KAREN! So happy for you all. Love the picture of Karen and Matt, by the way! Keep celebrating!
Yah for Karen! And so exciting the bakery is coming along. I love your idea of a snack, btw
Go Karen! She’s such a fighter, and seems like the perfect MIL
The bakery looks fabulous! All of your hard work has paid off.
So happy for Karen and the last treatment is definitely cause for celebration!!
Yay for the end of chemo! Karen seems like such a trooper!
Completely agree on beer (or wine!) bringing out flavors in food. I love going to pairs and experimenting.
Congrats to Karen!!! Cheers to a speedy rebound!
Yay for Karen!!
Yay Karen! I’m so happy for her
Where does Matt get his hair cut? I get mine cut on the Downtown Mall & I always hit up Sweet Frog after I am done.
Right next to Sweet Frog! Salon Druka…something
That is where I go as well. That place is the bomb.
Me too recently!!
Yay for Karen! That is so amazing!
Congrats Karen!
Go Karen go!!! She is awesome : ) And I recently fell in love with sweet frog’s pb flavor. I had a tiny bit today too actually!
Hi Kath,
I am fairly new to your blog but have been following it for long enough to read about your bakery. Good luck with the grand opening! I found what you wrote about Great Harvest to be so interesting that I looked up to see if there was one in my area and luckily, there is! So today I went for the first time and died and went to bread heaven–I tried like 4 different types and loved them all. I wish you all the best with your bakery.
Yay!
YAY for Karen!!!
Karen looks great! So glad that she finished her chemo treatments!
Hope you enjoyed those brownies
Go Karen!
That´s really so cool how you eat bread + granola! I would never make up such a combo, but it seems to work very well
YAY for Karen finishing her chemo! Such great news!
That is wonderful that Karen is finished her last treatment! Best wishes for her
My mom has been going through breast cancer treatments for the past two years. Two surgeries and yesterday she started her first chemo treatment and will be on it for 6 months. I should show her your blog and Karen’s triumphs 
Thank Karen for me, for sharing her part of her journey through your blog 
My best to your mom – hopefully it will go by quickly
Thanks Kath
hooray for karen! family time of beer + brownies sounds like the perfect way to celebrate.
all the best!!
A sideburn-less husband with frozen yoghurt in hand? You did hit the jackpot!
Congrats to Karen for being so strong through all of the treatments. Hope she is feeling great to enjoy your opening week. If the weather doesn’t improve in Indiana I may get in my car and come to Charlottesville to see your new store this week!
Please do!
Just wanted to send Karen lots of love and positive healing vibes!!
YAY KAREN!!!!! My mom just beat endometrial cancer two months ago–hoping Karen has also beaten it for good and that there are two happy recovery stories!
Kath – I hope you and Matt DO get to take two days off before opening week. — or at least one! You guys have been working SO hard to make sure everything is ready to day – and from what I have seen here.. you have done everything to the absolutely best of your ability! You deserve a little extra time!
Go Karen, Indeed…so happy and relieved for you, Fingers are crossed for continued good health. Hope the bakery work brings you lots of joy in the months ahead!
That’s great news about Matt’s mom! She certainly does deserve a beer and brownies.
So exciting!!!!
Definitely take some time off, even a day, before the bakery opens. It will probably be just what you need before the doors officially open.
Thoughts and prayers are with Karen. She’s such a strong woman!!
Your bread snack looks absolutely fabulous! I’ll bet the bread must make scrumptious french toasts as well. Mm…we need a GH up here in New England.
You eat soup just how I like it! I thought I was weird for preferring my lentil soup (more like stew) over collards!
And way to go Karen! She’ a real rockstar. =)
Cheers to Karen!
A big congrats to Karen!!! Here’s to a healthy and happy future for you all!!!
So happy Karen finished with her (long) 5 months of treatment! She still looks great and strong!
Good for Karen!! A trooper for sure!! I am happy to hear she is done all of her treatments.
congrats to karen! what an achievement!
and congats to you and the continued bakery progression
Yea for Karen finishing up her treatments! Sending up some love that she is now cancer free!
Wonderful news! Wonderful night! Wonderful picture!
See you three soon for the big opening!
Congrats to Karen! She’s been so strong throughout these past 5 months. I wish her all the best!
Yum I love bread filled snacks!
Go Karen!!!
She is so beautiful! We found out after Christmas this year my dad had prostate cancer… he recently had the surgery and is now on the road to recovery, but it really takes a toll on not only the person going through it, but the family as well. It’s never easy to hear your parent say they have the “C” word. I’m so happy for Karen and for your family as well! What a beautiful day indeed! 
Best to your dad
Yay for Karen!!! I bet she’s glad to be done.
What exactly is chutney? They have that brand at EarthFare. Is it jam? Is it a sauce? I’ve had it before. Just curious if you had a better description.
It’s like a sweet jam with savory bits in it – like peppers and spices. This one had onion, so I wasn’t totally fond of it (although they’re normally cooked/simmered so not raw)
So happy for Karen being done with treatments.
Enjoy your last weekend before the big day!
Go Karen!
Great news for Karen!!! Best wishes for a summer of feeing good!
Warm and healing thoughts for Karen…
Your chili looks good!
Hopefully, Karen is healed!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Hurrah for Karen! I posted before when she first received her diagnosis to let her know, that as a breast cancer survivor (one year on June 7!), there is life after surgery and treatment. I am so happy for her–I remember vividly the joy I felt the day of my last chemo, so I’m celebrating with all of you!
So glad you’re still cancer free!
I got goosebumps reading about Karen. So happy for you all!
Congratulations to Karen (and you & Matt, too – you’ve been through a lot right along with her)! She’s looking wonderful
Go Karen! I remember when my mom had 2 bouts of skin cancer. It was caught really early, but it was very scary. Glad to know she is going strong!
Karen-you ROCK!
DONE WITH CHEMO!! Isn’t that the best feeling in the world? Cause to celebrate indeed – congratulations and best wishes to Karen and to you and Matt!
My best to Karen, she is an amazing woman for sharing her battle.
Ah yes…3 loves in this post: organization, boys finally getting their hair cut, and beer!
Whohoo Karen…you rock!!! What a great role model and strong woman she is.
Go Karen! You’re awesome!
Hope you all have a great weekend!
WOO-HOO!!! I’m so glad to hear that Karen has completed her treatment!! Y’all have been in my prayers since I first read of her diagnosis. I’ll keep that up and am thrilled that she’s through this rough period!! And just in time for the bakery opening, no less! It seems like everything is falling right into place for y’all.
May nothing but good things and good news continue to come your way.
Marie
I have “enjoyed” seeing Karen’s updates here, and am so glad she’s done. High-5s all around! It has been inspiring and heartwarming to see how close you all are, even through some of the toughest times (anyone that thinks opening a business is easy should go do it! *so* stressful and life-absorbing). Thank you for sharing so much of your lives with us.
Congrats to Karen! Yay! I hope you guys have a wonderful Sunday. Looking forward to the grand opening next week!!
Karen is so brave to share her treatment with all of us “out here” Brava! And what perfect timing that she finishes treatment the week before you’re set to open… You all get to turn the page and start new chapters together!! Hugs!
GO KAREN GO!! Never lose that amazing smile and the will to fight!
Any woman who celebrates an accomplishment with a cold glass of beer and friends/family is my type of lady! And that little beer glass is soo cute and perfect for just a teeny little sumpin’ sumpin’ (ale – yes, i did just insert my favorite beer, because it rocks).
Congrats, Karen! All the best!
Karen, as stated in all of the comments, everyone is very happy for you to be finished your treatments and on your way through remission and remaining cancer free. Thank you for sharing your journey; I believe your doing that has helped and inspired others and their families going through similar experiences. With one of the features in this blog post being Matt getting his hairs cut, it made me think…maybe you can share with us when you eventually get your first hairs cut as your beautiful hair returns. You look beautiful. LOL
Yay for Karen! It must be a relief to know she is done with the treatments.
WAY TO GO KAREN!!!! hooray!
Awesome Karen! Congrats….you are an amazing lady!
Oh, wow! So glad to hear this about Karen. Somehow I missed this post three weeks ago! Is she still doing well?