the benefits of having taught...

It seems that my years of teaching have come swinging right back at me these past days. There was that crazy set of mini classes I gave on International Day. Yeah, all those eager faces looking in my direction, waiting for me to say something that would draw them into the platform of learning. Then there was today. Call it a day of unexpected encounters.

It's Saturday. I had to laugh when my friend, who is spending time with her grandkids these winter months referred to days when she is without them as her zero days. Zero commitment. Time to herself. I'm adopting this into my jargon here -- Saturday is my Zero day! 

It starts the same as every other day -- I walk over to the coop to check on the hens, to feed them, to take stock. Things are settling down over in the barn area. True, the two old girls with the blue bands still venture out on their own, but the four new ones, and especially the eldest of the four, are testing the waters as well. A little bit at a time.

So, all good there.

Breakfast? Yes, I love Ed, I even like the cats that come down to be with us during our morning meal, but honestly, right now it's the blooms on the table that give me the biggest grin. So... of the season!

Then comes a Zoom call and a strategic planning session (well, the inception of a strategic planning session) of a retreat with my law school buds. So, the law school emerges just a little, early in the day.

 

(Outside, the cardinal in the budding lilac is not only beautiful to watch, but enormously awesome to listen to... Yes, I'm still into birds!)

 

 

Now, what's the plan for the rest of the Zero day, given that it is rather nippy outside? We got spoiled. Hiking in warmer weather makes you reluctant to be ambitious on less hospitable days. Still, I had an idea -- maybe we could tie in a hike to an outing -- a special outing, to a chocolate shop?

You know that Ed and I have our finger in a number of chocolatiers around town. But just this week I read something about a shop that is totally new to me. It's called CocoVaa and it's just about a fifteen minute drive for us. So, pretty close. But that's not its main virtue. The person who owns the place and makes all the chocolates just received notice that she is a James Beard Award semifinalist in the "oustanding pastry chef or baker" category for 2024. This nomination made the local press. I didn't pay attention to anything else in the article. I merely told Ed that we must visit the shop. I mean, for a chocolate maker to get that nomination? It has to be more than good!

CocoVaa is open for retail only on the weekends. (It does most of its business online.) Well, that's great! We can pop in this afternoon!

 

 

 

My brain did not put two and two together, or if it did, I did not come up with four. But as we entered the shop, my attention went not to the chocolate display, but to the woman who stood behind the counter. Nina? -- she asks. And then, because we live in a world of coincidences, the customer guy she was speaking with also said -- Nina?

Turns out I know both of them. Him -- I used to bake with him at L'Etoile Restaurant in town. Like twenty years ago. (I forgive myself for not remembering his name.) But the star player here is the chocolate maker herself -- Vata Edari (or Syovata as she is formally referred to). 

Vata used to be a student of mine, way back when (she'd practiced law for 15 years and studied chocolate making for several more and opened her business in 2018, so figure it out for yourself -- it's been a while). And one that I do very much remember. Because she was (and is) smart. And hardworking. And funny. And because she had a baby in the middle of going to school (sometimes bringing her newborn to class when all else failed). How well I know those struggles! (Both my girls were newborns while I was myself a law student.) 

(Here's Vata with her second child, who came along after she was already a lawyer and who helps out at the shop and makes very excellent tea, which we drank while chatting.)

There are some students you run into, where a mere "hi, how's it going" will do. Not so with Vata. She has a mountain of interesting tales to tell (I mean, how do you go from being a public defender to making exquisite, award winning chocolates? What? You got sued by Mars?? They lost? Ha!). And so Ed rested and we chatted and made plans to meet up soon.

In the meantime, there are her chocolates. Oh, her chocolates! Here's the box of my selections:

They're beautiful and intensely flavorful. (You can check out the flavor profiles here.) Vata uses white chocolate often, which can be a surprise as you bite into a confection. Hers aren't the chocolates you consume by the handful. They're perfect for my once per evening ritual!

From the chocolate shop, Ed and I head over to the nearby Olbrich Gardens, to check out what, if anything is blooming right now. 

We discover two surprise patches of flowers. These irises:

And delightful patches of Snowdrops.

I mean, it's not a lot, but darn it, we're not even in mid-March yet.

The day ends with all chickens, of their own volition, strutting into the coop for the night once more, and two very relaxed farmhouse humans sampling exquisite chocolates on the couch. 

with so much love...