# 240: And So She Goes

The story of a sofa, what I'm reading and listening to, upcoming class info and the Kindness and Happiness calendars for July.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to approach this trying time and have decided that the best thing I can do is to celebrate the small things in my life here at Pie Cottage. Today, that’s my old sofa.

My Sofa

I walked in to the consignment store and heard her call to me. She led me through a maze of tiny trails flanked by chairs, ottomans, armoires, and chairs and tables set with china and sterling settings longing for their next home. I arrived and knew she would be perfect for my cottage. A lovely 40s inspired floral sofa with three seat cushions. I walked through the maze to the far end of the showroom and back again just to be sure. Yes, I heard her. Then I went to the counter.

I’d like to buy the sofa.

Which one?

The little floral one just over there.

There’s a chair that matches it. Would you like this as well?

It really is lovely but I only have room for the sofa. I’ll be back later this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest to pick it up. Will that be okay?

That will be fine.

I got back in Emily 2, my little blue Prius—and yes there was an Emily 1 before Emily 2 and both have gone the way of cars I have known and loved—headed back home and when I arrived, I went straight over to my neighbor’s on the corner, Joe and Mary Alice.

Joe, could you help me bring my “new” old sofa home in your mini van.

When?

Is now possible?

Sure, let me get my keys and I’ll meet you at your cottage.

I walked across the alley and came in my back door and by the time I had taken care of a little business Joe had pulled up. I climbed in and off we went.

We found that the sofa had been staged towards the front for its re-homing when we opened the door of the store. Working in tandem, we picked it up, walked it to the van, lifted it up and slid it inside. It fit easily.

When we got back to the cottage, I hopped out, opened the door, and cleared a path inside. Up the steps to the porch stoop, pausing to see if it would fit through the door, which it did, and in to the living room. It was home and to accommodate my new acquisition until I found just the right configuration, I knew the rest of the evening would be spent moving things around—one of my favorite ways to spend time. I told Joe that a pie would be coming his way as a thank you soon.

Over the years, the sofa has moved around to various locations— the living room, the back bedroom, the little guest house in back where it is presently—at least for a short time more. I’ll be passing her on as I need to put an additional bed in the guest room and there isn’t room for both. If you know of someone near Port Angeles who would like my sweet sofa, please do let me know. There’s still lots of life in her.

What I’m Reading

The School of Essential Ingredients
by Erica Bauermeister

I read Erica’s first book when it was just released in 2010 and loved it. I re-read it recently and found it to be just as wonderful. I love the interplay of the cast of characters who meet as strangers in a cooking class and by the end of the multi-week session become friends. I try to share in my own culinary classes that putting love in what we create can be felt and tasted. Lillian, who owns a restaurant and teaches a weekly class on the one night it is closed, is a woman after my own heart.

The Scent Keeper, Joy for Beginners are others I have read and I am now reading The Lost Art of Mixing which picks up where The School of Essential Ingredients leaves off. I’m looking forward to House Lessons, a memoir about the time she and her family renovated a Victorian fixer in Port Townsend, WA just as hour or so east of me, too. We’ve not yet met in person and are hoping to get together and have tea one of these days.

What I’m Listening To

And So It Goes
by Billy Joel

UPCOMING CLASSES

July 14 11AM Pacific: Red, White & Blue Pie

The seventh in the 2024 Bake with Kate Series held on zoom. We will be making a raspberry-blueberry pie with a custard sauce. Registration is below.

LET’S ROLL IT!

July 8: FREE: Dough Rolling Virtual Workshop for Paid Subscribers
8 AM Pacific/11 AM Eastern

EXTRAS

Kindness Calendar for July (downloadable PDF)

Happiness Calendar for July (downloadable PDF)

Kate McDermott’s Newsletter is AI Free

I made this with a canning jar lid and markers.

I really hope you will take the time to click on the little heart ❤️ below ⬇️ to let me know you were here. Truly, this small act means a great deal to me and helps my ratings on Substack, too. It just takes a nano-second to do. 😉