A Love Letter to Cooking and Community

After countless years in the floral, event planning, restaurant, coffee bar, and bakery world, I found myself craving something different. Something beyond the 5 a.m. to midnight schedule, something beyond the hustle and bustle of big-city Dallas, Texas. I longed for flexibility and making my own hours. I wanted less retail, fewer cash registers, and more hands-on, heart-to-heart connections. And so, a new chapter began.

I started building a new life, one rooted in the land. Gardening took on a whole new meaning—more yucca, less petunia. Gone was the city water; in its place came rainwater collection. I began restoring dormant land with native grasses and wildflowers, inviting birds and bees with hives and nesting boxes, and planting milkweed to entice migrating butterflies. It turns out, that my home is their home too.

Country living brought lessons I never expected. Getting to know your neighbors here requires effort and a different kind of connection than in the city. And I discovered how rewarding it can be to immerse myself in the community in ways I never had time for before. From dreaming up and helping bring a much-needed animal shelter to life, to finding ways to provide books for the local library—one I’ve learned is a lifeline for so many small-town kids—this life has been richer than I ever imagined. And that’s just on the home front.

One thing you quickly learn when moving to a beautiful, special place is that friends, family, and clients will come knocking, eager to unwind and soak up the serenity. I’ve been lucky enough to create welcoming spaces for them, where so many have found peace and solitude over the years. Hearing their gratitude for the experiences they had here has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Oh, the stories I could tell—maybe a book is in my future.

And then there’s cooking. Teaching others to cook has always been a dream of mine. I dabbled in it back in Dallas and loved the intimacy of connecting with people over food, something that often felt missing in the hustle of running a restaurant. Building a commercial kitchen here was a dream come true—a perfect space for creating, learning, and celebrating. Hosting cooking classes and being part of friends’ and clients’ lifetime celebrations has been an unparalleled joy. It’s been a journey full of lessons—some hard, most unforgettable—but all worth it.

Over sixteen years, I’ve had the privilege of cooking with literally thousands of people who’ve walked through our doors. Each and every one of them has left a mark on my heart. This wild ride has been an extraordinary adventure, and I wouldn’t change a thing.