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Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
Mince Pies and Memories (Rainy Day Bakery #9)
00:50:20
Narrated by Thomas. Return to the Rainy Day Bakery, where Lily is making some special holiday treats for her friends and reminiscing about when she opened the bakery, so many years ago.
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- [00:01]
Thomas
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- [00:29]
Dutch Bros
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- [01:00]
Thomas
Hey friends, welcome to Get Sleepy where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. As always, I'm your host Thomas. Thank you for listening once again and a big Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it. It feels very special to be here with you, whether you're listening after a long day of indulgence, merriment and goodwill, or perhaps you've pressed play a day or two after the dust has settled on the celebrations, which I quite understand if so, but we wanted to mark the occasion with a very special treat for all of you. We're taking our ninth visit to one of the coziest places we know, Lily's Rainy Day Bakery. This time, Lily is packing up mince pies to give to her friends for the holidays when she finds herself reminiscing about first opening the bakery years ago. As always, it was beautifully written by Shady Grove, our head writer, and I have the pleasure of reading it for you. First, though, I want to remind you that you can listen completely ad free on Get Sleepy Premium. It's the very best way you can support the show. And as well as zero ads, you'll also get full access to our entire catalogue of full length stories and meditations, which is now well over 800 episodes. There are hundreds of bonus episodes that you can't hear anywhere else. And every Thursday night we release a brand new Premium exclusive just for our supporters. Tomorrow's story will be read by Arif, and it's right up my street and hopefully yours too. It's all about stargazing, looking up at the night sky and learning about the farthest reaches of space. So be sure to join us for that tomorrow. Your support really is integral to the show's existence and success, so to find out more about becoming a Get Sleepy Premium member, visit GetSleepy.com support or just follow the link in the show Notes thanks so much my friends. Before we begin, let's take some time to get nice and settled. Make sure you're in a comfortable position where your body can relax. Now close your eyes. I'd like you to try and think of a happy memory. It could be a recent memory or one from long ago, so long as it brings you joy to think about it. Your body and brain react to your memories when you think of happy ones. The pleasure centers of your brain are activated, which can stimulate the release of serotonin. Reviewing pleasant memories can also help you feel less stressed or anxious. So think of that happy memory. Now. Play through it in your mind, noticing the way it makes you feel. Perhaps you feel a familiar warmth in your chest, or maybe your limbs feel lighter than usual. Maybe it brings a little smile to your lips or makes the corner of your eyes crinkle. Keep that feeling of connectedness, warmth, acceptance or joy in your mind as we make our way to Lily's Bakery It's a snowy late afternoon in winter. Lily is standing in the warmth of the bakery, watching evening fall through the windows. This is where our story begins. Snowflakes fall softly outside the bakery window. Lily watches them drift down and gently land on the layer of glistening white snow already covering the street. The sun has been hidden from view all day behind thick clouds, and now the light is quickly fading as evening approaches. The sky is a dusky violet and the first street lamps have already flickered on, sending pools of golden light onto the snow. Lily arranges small mince pies in cardboard boxes six to a box to give to her friends as tokens of appreciation. It's been another wonderful year here at the bakery and she wants the people closest to her to know how much she values their presence in her life. Each little pie fits perfectly into the palm of her hand. The top crust, which is shaped like a star, is dusted with powdered sugar. The crust is delicate, so she's careful to grasp each one with just her thumb and forefinger and carefully slip it into the box, ensuring it doesn't crumble. Making mince pies is a labour of love. Lily had to start weeks in advance making the candied peel that goes into the mincemeat. It's a simple yet time consuming process that involves repeatedly soaking and simmering finely chopped orange and lemon peel in sugar water over a period of several days and finally leaving it to dry. Once the mixed peel was Done, she made the rest of the mincemeat. She combined the peel with raisins, currants, apple butter, as well as nutmeg, brandy, lemon, and brown sugar, and let it sit for a couple of weeks so that the flavours could meld and settle. And this morning, everything was ready to make the mince pies themselves. First, she got all her ingredients out of the pantry and refrigerator. The homemade mincemeat, tangerines, apple, lemon plus flourish, sugar, butter, egg, and powdered sugar. Then she began on the pastry crust. She cut together the flour and butter until it was crumbly like sand. Then she beat the egg and added it and the sugar to the flour and butter mixture. This would be the dough. Lily put a little bit of flour on her work surface to prevent the dough from sticking, and then began to fold it all together. When it was the right consistency, she covered it in a plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to chill. While it was chilling, she peeled and chopped the tangerines and apple. She then zested the lemon and added that to the fruit mixture. As soon as the pastry was thoroughly chilled, she removed it from the fridge and rolled it out with her large rolling pin. Then she cut out the bases for the pies and placed them into the bottoms of muffin tins, which are the perfect size for the little treats. Lily scooped the mincemeat on top of the bases. Then she cut out the lids and pressed them over the mincemeat. Stars are her favorite pattern for the top. Perfectly festive, she thinks. She brushed every pie with an egg wash and then put them into the oven to bake. While they were baking, she began to put together the decorative boxes. A few customers came in for coffee and an afternoon snack while she assembled them. She knew the pies were almost finished when the luscious scent of warm fruit and pastry trickled out of the oven and filled the bakery. She put on her oven mitts and removed the pies, setting them on a metal wire rack to cool. As the final customers of the day were making their way out of the door, she popped the cooled pies out of the muffin tin. They were ready to be packed into the boxes. Lily takes a deep breath, inhaling the warm, comforting scent of the pies. It's an aroma she always associates with the festive season. With a smile, she places the sixth pie into the last spot in her current box. Whenever a box is full, she tucks the edges of the lid into the base. Then she unspools a length of silver ribbon cuts just the right amount and fits it around the box. She secures it with an elegant bow that she ties herself. She learned how to tie that particular kind of bow from a friend years ago and has used it as a little flourish on gifts ever since. It's an extra touch that makes a present all the more special, she thinks. She considers all the people she'll give boxes to this year. There's Rose, Quincy and Mima, Elisa and her twins. And Seamus, of course. Simon at the bookshop will receive one for the first time. She hopes he likes mince pies too. Putting the finishing touch on the final box, she places them all in a stack on the far end of the counter. It's time to clean up. She grabs a cloth from beneath the large sink and wipes down the countertops. One by one. She makes her way around each of the tables in the bakery and wipes them clean. She pauses by the window, admiring how the fairy lights reflect on the glass and make it look like hundreds of bright stars are shining in the snow outside. Snowflakes are falling more quickly now and there's already a thick blanket of white on the ground. The first time she saw the windows of the bakery, there were no fairy lights. She had only just arrived in town and was walking down the main street on a typically rainy day. She could see people, her new neighbours, strolling together down the block and going in and out of the shops. A sign for a bookshop caught her eye, so she made her way inside. A little bell jingled when she opened the door. Careful of Lorraine, Lily wiped her boots on the doormat. A kindly older man came over and introduced himself as Richard, the proprietor. It's not often you see a new face in town, he told her. She explained that she'd just moved from a long way away and was getting to know her new home. What better place to start than the local bookshop? His eyes crinkled at the edges and he smiled broadly when she said that. You can always spot a fellow book lover, Richard used to say. They spent nearly an hour chatting about their favourite books, everything from fantasy to science fiction to Richard's fascination with old illustrated fairy tales and mid century biographies. Lily left the bookshop that day with a bag full of novels and a new friend. Stop by anytime, richard reminded her with a grin as she slipped out the door. She walked up the hill to her new home and settled in for the night with one of Richard's recommendations. She read until she drifted off to sleep. The sound of the rain gently pattering on the unfamiliar roof. When she awoke the following day, she went back into town. Idly, she thought of paying Richard another visit. They got to talking straight away, and after a while he paused and gave her a thoughtful look. What are you hoping to do with your new life here? It's quite a small town, after all, he said. Lily mentioned that she'd always dreamed of opening her own bakery, being her own boss for a change. She knew it would be incredibly hard work, but she'd saved up and had inherited a little money from a relative. You know, there's a space next door, he said, gesturing to his right. It used to be a coffee shop, but I like the sound of a bakery even better. After all, bookshops and bakeries just seem to go together, don't they? He said with a smile. It sounded like a wonderful plan. But how often do wonderful plans really work out? Lily remembers thinking that to herself at the time it didn't seem possible. But as she was leaving to walk back home later that morning, she paused at the darkened windows of the storefront next to the bookshop. She cupped her hands around her face and peered in through the gloom. There were a handful of mismatched tables and chairs, a counter with an old register, some display cases with cracked glass. Those would have to be replaced, of course. She could see a pair of ovens in the back. Did they still work? She wondered, and a chipped mug left haphazardly in the corner. As she walked home, she found herself going over what she would change if she moved A table here, some chairs over there. Get a nice string of fairy lights. Perhaps the twinkling of the lights against the purple evening through the glass brings Lily back from her reverie. She smiles, remembering the uncertainty of those days. She was younger, less experienced, and somehow had less hope than she did. These days she was more cautious and worried that things wouldn't work out, that her ideas about starting fresh were foolhardy. But with every day that passed and every new friend she made, the world started to look a little more promising. Lily takes the cloth and wipes down the last table before heading behind the counter into the kitchen area. A pile of cooking utensils, pans, dishes, and large mixing bowls needs to be washed. Lily turns on the tap and makes sure the water is the right temperature. First she fills one side of the sink with cool water, a touch of bleach. The other side is where she'll wash and rinse the dishes. As the warm water runs over her hands, a sense of comfort spreads through her. She's done this simple act of washing up so many times before, and yet there's always something meditative about it, something satisfying about doing the work. To ensure her space is clean and ready for the next day, Lily picks up a mixing bowl and runs a soapy sponge over it, feeling the smooth metal under her fingertips. She moves the sponge in circles, letting her mind wander. She spoke with the people managing the property, telling them that she was interested in opening a bakery on the side. They invited her to take a look at the space in person. A woman met her at the back door and unlocked it when she arrived. Lily walked inside, noticing the musty smell of a place left empty for a while. She walked through the space, running her hands over the countertop and the tables, pausing to gaze out through the large, dirt smudged windows overlooking the main street. It was was perfect, she thought, but the price they were asking was just out of her range. She wasn't surprised. It was a long shot to begin with. Lily thanked the woman for showing her around. Before she left, she took one final look at the empty space, a tiny voice inside her wondering if there was any chance. Lily rinses off the mixing bowl and places it to soak in the bleach water for a minute or two. As she does, she notices how her fingertips are rough. The bleach and the heat from the steaming cups on the coffee machine have put her hands through a lot, but it's all been worth it, Lily muses. Her rough hands are the mark of a good life, and one with so many good people in it. She picks up one of the muffin tins and begins to wash it in the soapy water. After the meeting with the property managers, Lily stopped by the bookshop to thank Richard for the idea. Unfortunately, it wasn't going to work out. The bakery just wasn't meant to be. Richard nodded his head. He understood, he said, but there was someone he wanted her to meet before she gave up the prospect entirely. Lily raised an eyebrow. What was Richard up to? She wondered. This is Seamus, richard said, introducing her to a man around his own age. We've been friends since. Since dinosaurs walked the earth, seamus offered up, finishing Richard's sentence. Turning to Lily, Seamus extended his hand. I hear you're interested in that little place next door that used to be a coffee shop. Lily nodded and then explained that it was unfortunately out of her price range. Seamus nodded knowingly. I've always thought small towns like this one need a beating heart, a place for people to come together, share stories, and have a cup of coffee. We used to have that here, but since the coffee shop closed, it just hasn't been the same, lily agreed. There was just something so comforting about a space like that. I have a proposal for you, seamus said. Richard smiled. Lily was all ears. She finishes washing the muffin tin and puts it into the other side of the sink. She recalls how Seamus told her that when he was younger, someone helped him get back on his feet and he'd always wanted to pay it forward. He offered to help her out with a loan, enough to get her started. So long as she brought some life back into the place, he would consider it money well spent. Tears prick the corners of her eyes and she feels a swelling in her chest as she remembers that conversation. How could it be that a perfect stranger would be so generous? She didn't understand this town back in those days, the way everyone pulls together in times of need. She didn't know how to accept his offer. But with a little encouragement from Richard, it was done. The bakery was hers. She washes up the final mugs, plates, and cutlery, setting them in the basin to soak. When they're done, she heads over to the espresso machine. She disassembles the parts that she needs to clean, the smell of espresso beans working its way into her skin as she does the day she got her keys to the bakery. She set down a mop and bucket at the bottom of the stairs and then sat down on the floor in the middle of the room. There was so much work to do to get it ready for opening. She took a deep breath, put her hands on her lap and made a promise to herself she would do whatever it took. Lily was going to breathe life back into this place. She washed and scrubbed and cleaned every corner. She varnished the tables and got the ovens nice and shiny. No spot was left uninspected. After weeks of work and preparation, the day had finally come. It was time to open the bakery. With the dishes done, Lily unties her apron and sets it in the laundry basket she keeps at the back. She'll wash it with the others at the end of the week. Then she finds a pen and takes out a set of cards from her bag. She addresses each one to a friend and signs them all with love and warmth. This winter, Lily. She attaches the cards to the boxes full of mince pies. Her work for the day complete, Lily puts on her coat and hat, pulls on her gloves and collects her bag. The boxes of pies. She walks over to the strand of fairy lights and unplugs it. The bakery and its windows grow dim. The day she opened the bakery, the first thing she did was plug in that very strand of fairy lights. She remembers standing where she is now, reaching down, and the moment they flickered to life, she knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Soon it would be filled with all the familiar scents of baking yeast and blueberries, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and of course, coffee. All the smells that let her know this place is home. Even today, Lily smiles to herself. She flicks the main light switch and the bakery is bathed in darkness. As she makes her way to the door, balancing the boxes of mince pies in one hand, she gets out her keys and locks the bakery up with a turn and a click. In the evening light, the brightly painted door seems more muted. Lily's boots crunch as she walks through the newly fallen snow. She's the first one to walk this precise path, so she leaves a trail of footprints all on their own behind her. She heads up the hill, past all the familiar homes where people are preparing dinner. Warm light pours out of the windows, spilling onto the shining snow. It's a cosy scene, she thinks, delighting in the way the snowflakes land delicately on the boxes of mince pies. She passes the house with the two cats, who peer out at her through the glass. They look more than content to be curled up in the warmth of their home. Up ahead, she sees the outline of her house in the growing darkness. Her heart swells with happiness at the thought of a quiet meal and an evening of reading her book with a cup of tea. Her footsteps crackle in the frost as she walks the final few paces to her door. The day the bakery opened, it was pouring with rain, of course. She remembers unlocking the door before plugging in the fairy lights. She recalls the smell of the first loaf of bread she baked in the oven and the way the espresso machine sent out a plume of steam. For the very first time, she can still feel a trace of the butterflies in her stomach. As the clock ticked towards opening right on the hour, the door creaked and two familiar faces appeared. It was Richard and Seamus, her very first customers. She served them up some coffee and cinnamon buns, and as they sat together, peering out at the rain falling on Main Street, Richard turned to her. I always had a feeling you'd be here to stay, he said, giving her a pat on the hand. Welcome home. Lily stands outside her front door, grateful for so much. With a gentle touch, she opens the door wipes her boots and steps into the warmth of home.
- [42:03]
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