Dream a little dream of me...

I had a dream last night! Believe it or not! :-) Lately I have been so utterly exhausted in my waking hours that I never remember what I dream, or even if I do. But last night was exciting and thrilling, and I awoke hours before my scheduled alarm with a gasp, delightfully realizing that my dream was so good that it affected me physically as well as emotionally. I was out of breath, energized, and ready to go!

What was the dream? you may ask. Picture this: a chilly, sunny day, miles and miles of fluffy white snow, comfortable ski boots, a quick ride up the side of a mountain on a ski lift, and then at the top - ah! An endless view of blue sky, white cotton clouds, and snow-peaked mountains glistening in the sunlight. Wintry nature, as far as the eye can see.

I dreamed I was skiing in Vermont. :-)

I swear I could still feel the rush of wind on my face as I slid down the mountain, graceful and cat-like on my skis (which proves that it was, in fact, a dream, as I am anything but graceful and cat-like while on skis...). The biting cold that kissed my red cheeks, the winter sun warming my shoulders and back, and the feel of the frozen ground cutting beneath my skis. It felt so real! It was a bit of a disappointment to awake, tangled among the bedsheets and fleece blankets, to realize that I wasn't on a mountaintop in Vermont, but alone in my bed beside the ocean. *Sigh* Oh well, maybe someday soon....

In the meantime, I am kept busy at the Wentworth. A week ago, I spent three wonderful days with my Burlington Bear, relaxing, reading, exploring... Poor Bear was having a bit of a rough week, so I baked him some cookies to try and cheer his spirits. I had a job interview with Laura at The Essex, which is a beautiful little resort in Essex, right outside of Burlington. The interview went well, despite my being over-qualified for the bakeshop position I was seeking. I should be hearing back from Laura with her decision quite soon. It's strange, but I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. If I don't get the job, I don't think I will be terribly upset. My plans and dreams of moving to Vermont are, sadly, on hold at the moment due to my incredible lack of funding. Maybe another summer on the beaches of NH isn't such a bad idea...

Everybody Grab A Bottle and Let's Roll! (or, She Uses Vaaaaaaasoline)

Quick update: I keep forgetting to write down my dreams when I awaken! Though, I have been very happy lately, and when I sleep I'm not sure if I dream. Tuesday night was definitely not a dreaming night, as I believe I was living a dream by being awake. *angelic grin*

On a side note, work has been very interesting lately. The Winter Wine Festival at the Wentworth is in full swing. Last weekend we had the Kendall Jackson dinner, featuring truffles from Susan Rice in North Carolina, and prepared by one of America's few Master Chefs, Ken Arnone. Except the dessert, of course, which was prepared by Tyler, Sarah, and myself. Here is what we did:

Orange Cinnamon Poundcake with Chopped Pecans and White Wine Simple Syrup
Cherry Basil Compote
Truffle and Honey Ice Cream with Truffle Nibs on an Apple Chip

DELISH! We also made some breads, a caramelized onion, thyme, and feta cheese focaccia, and a rosemary hard roll. I'm still working on my ciabatta recipe, but it's not coming out quite right for me... My baguette skills, however, are flourishing.

Starting to prepare for Valentine's Day at the Wentworth. Menu is written and now we have to work on our plate designs and minor details. Tyler is getting ready to head to Miami on vacation for 9 days, so I will be running the show (yay! and yikes!). Hopefully the time passes quickly, as I am already hearing the call of my name echoing from the mountains of Vermont, and I only just returned yesterday morning...