Coming up for air

Hope you're enjoying your summer. I've spent a hectic month forcing myself to go through the remaining boxes, baskets & piles of "stuff" standing between me and enjoying the rest of my life. I'm here to tell you that it can be done and you'll come out the other side feeling a lot lighter. For those of you who have picked up baked goodies from my TreeHouse when it looked like the set of Hoarders Inc, look at the picture above. All of it is gone! You can see the tile pattern on the floor and the grain of the oak table...I even found my dog Twink!

I still have a bunch of household & kitchen items for sale. They're all in my former bakery building and will be available soon. A lot of people have asked me when I plan to move back to NYC. Finally, I have an answer. I'm about to sign a lease on a garden apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I'll be moving in two months.

I've decided to sell my Village property, consisting of the front building built in 1910, filled with original details & heart pine floors. After an extensive renovation in 1999 Rea & I birthed BONNI BAKES Bakery/Cafe there.

And the TreeHouse, my modern open plan 2 story home that I designed & built in 2007.

This prime location in the Village of the Arts, a few blocks from downtown, offers a lot of options. Perfect for someone who wants to enjoy separate places to live & work in the Village; or use one building for yourself and collect income from the other, or it can be an investment if you rent out both. Landscaped, including pavers throughout (no grass to cut) & room for tables/chairs or a business display out front. The fenced in rear garden has organic raised beds, space to entertain & mature fruit trees. The front building has been operated as a bakery/cafe for 13 years, with the required plumbing & sinks in place. Just bring your commercial oven & plug it in! 

If I don't sell the property quickly, then I'll be renting both buildings, either together or separately. Available in September, just in time to get settled before our "season" begins. If you or someone you know are interested in buying or renting call me at (941) 746-6647 or email bonnibakes@gmail.com

I miss baking on a regular basis & plan to get back into the kitchen for my Bradenton BONNI BAKES swan song before I have to concentrate on packing (how boring!) Probably sometime in August. I'll keep you updated, as usual, via this blog.

While working I like to listen to music. Recently I discovered a wonderful video of "Alberta Hunter at the Smithsonian", part of the Jazz Masters Series. I couldn't help myself, I sat down & watched it all the way through. Her impish smile, wisdom & musical passion get me every time. Alberta's long life story is 

intertwined with the blues, famous musicians, bawdy lyrics & delivery, personal reinvention and a triumphant come-back in her 80's. I remember the day she & her pianist Gerald Cook spent at our piano shop trying out different pianos until they found the right one to buy for his club, The Cookery. The shop filled with such great music that everyone stopped working and we were transformed into her audience. If you don't know her story, you'll enjoy this article.

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/03/01/alberta-sings-the-blues/

If you have an hour, her performance in this video is almost as wonderful as seeing her close-up at The Cookery. She'll lift your spirits and inspire you but never leave you with the blues.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi94O8aqqQI

Hugs from my kitchen,

Bonni

BONNI BAKES

932 12th Street West

Bradenton, FL 34205

(941) 746-6647

bonnibakes@gmail.com