Happiness is


I am having one of those days, in truth I am having one of those weeks. Maybe even one of those months. Gracious, let us hope it isn't one of those years.

My patience is stretched.

Very, very thin.



Do you remember those rather good Hamlet cigar adverts? I think that is what I need, a Hamlet moment. But I only smoke cigars when drinking whisky and that seems a bad idea on a weekday afternoon so I took to the kitchen instead.



The answer would surely be lemons. A lemon drizzle cake. As I beat butter and sugar I felt my shoulders relax. As I zested lemons I felt the corners of mouth turn upwards. I scraped the bowl happily and levelling the cake was pure pleasure. Finally I took the cake from the oven, poured that lemony, sugary syrup on top and it felt as though I was pouring my troubles away. I left the cake cooling and went to collect Miss Tilly.



I came home to find the remains of the cake on the kitchen floor and a dog beneath the table overcome with guilt, too late.

And just for the record, that would be the same dog who ate an entire tray oven warm flapjacks just five days ago.

Comments

Cornflower said…
Gasp!
Things can only get better, Rebecca.
Donna said…
Oh dear! Our dog has some issues with his back legs, a birth defect, and he isn't able to get up on his hind legs very well. So we've never had a problem with him snatching food. Recently we started fostering another dog, who is a terrible, terrible food thief and we have resorted to blocking off the kitchen with baby gates.
Ali said…
Does the dog know he is in serious trouble?!
Your lemons are like a little drop of sunshine - what recipe do you use for your drizzle cake?
dottycookie said…
Noooooo. I was just about to say "Hurrah, looks like you pulled yourself out a rotten day with the help of creativity", but too soon. Naughty dog. Naughty, bad puppy.
Gigibird said…
At least he left you a bit ;-)

My friend has to cool cakes in her microwave a her cats nibble them.

Did he say sorry?
Unknown said…
I was just thinking how I agree... nobody can stay sad or angry with the smell of lemons... and then the last part of the post hit me...

what a tragedy.

(that dog has got a serious sweet tooth problem)
Oh you poor soul! I was really expecting a beautiful picture of a magazine-worthy cake at the end there.

Baking really does help when you're in that kind of mood though - hopefully you can have round two without the dog in a few days!
rachel said…
Oh dear, that would have been sad if it hadn't been so funny! I had a friend whose dog ate an entire very large tub of margarine once. And spent three days returning it in every form imaginable.....
Alison said…
ohh, noooo!! Oh, I don't know whether to laugh or cry for your poor cake (and your flapjacks!)

that's gonna be one chubby dog if the manners don't mend. our Woody can sneak things of the dinner table if we're not careful - but he specialises in taking one piece of bread at a time, not whole pans of cake at once.
walter and me said…
Oh no! That's cruelty to humans having a bad day that was just getting better....

I do remember the Hamlet ads, a lovely nostalgic memory. They don't make ads like that anymore.
alice c said…
I know that this is scant consolation but you will be talking about that particular lemon drizzle cake for many years and you will get plenty of smiles out of it in the future.
Alicex
Shelley in SC said…
Oh my word! I wasn't expecting THAT sudden twist in the tale!! So much for the corners of the mouth turning upward and the shoulders relaxing!!
Frances said…
That dog owes you! But how does a dog do pay back? Maybe with going with you on a walk, or just staying close (without any cake nearby.)

There is something about baking that really puts us back into the moment (as they say, whoever they might be) and gets us using our senses to appreciate scents, colors, tastes.

Preheat that oven again, mix up another batter, do the baking, and then...take that dog for a long walk while the cake, pie, etc. cools.

Best wishes...after all it is February and a full moon is a day or so away.

xo
Jane said…
oh dear, naughty dog. Did you summon the energy to make another cake - not sure i would have done. Jane x
JuicyFig said…
Well, it might all be going pear shape (And I hope the dog doesn't sick anything up!) but yu have to see the funny side.....?

Kath
Gina said…
I was feeling all inspired by the thought of your delicious lemon cake... and then... what a bad dog!
Elizabeth said…
Well, baking therapy accomplished...maybe he was saving you the calories?
rosieplichta said…
My dog came into the living room one day years ago, foaming at the mouth and panting. I thought in horror that she was poisoned or had rabies, until I went into the kitchen and found a freshly baked cherry pie half chewed up on the counter.

It was one of the best pies ever, though, what was left. But I will never forget that day. And she is a food thief ever after. We always barricade baked pastrys and cookies on the counter to cool.
Jo's Corner said…
Oh, no. Well that just takes the cake (hope the pun made you smile). Seriously, all the effort that went into it and to have that happen. Just want to let you know that you are not along - I, too, have been having a few weeks that leave a lot to be desired. Spring cannot come soon enough!
Linda said…
Oh no! That is so tragic. Oh well, lets hope spring time comes with lovely sun and cheers us up. I am having one of those weeks too.
kim said…
This is the good thing about small dogs. They cannot reach the counter tops. That cake sounds fabulous... Hope your week improves.
Bethany said…
Oh no... but it made for a funny story. I was imagining the delicious cake. Lucky dog!
Bee said…
Oh no . . .
What made you more frustrated: the mess, or not having the cake to eat?

I bake when I feel stressed. May I just say that I've made two batches of cupcakes, Raspberry Linzer Heart cookies, oatmeal bread and chocolate chip cookies this week alone? I don't have enough people to feed, either. Maybe I should borrow your dog?
Oh no, maybe lemonade with those lemons next time? Or do dogs like lemonade too ; )

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