my last day

So today was my last day at Zachry.  Very bittersweet - I have been counting the days for so long and I am so excited to get started on the next chapter - but it is hard to say goodbye.  Plus it's a little unnerving to be unemployed for the first time in three years - especially in this economy.  In fact, I haven't been without a job for more than a week since freshman year of college.  I actually woke up about two hours early, feeling really anxious.  I'm not sure why, I guess just the thought of my last day - making sure I haven't forgotten to take care of anything - and the finality of it.  No turning back now! 

I made peanut butter pie for yesterday for my last day favorite - figured things would be too crazy today with the dedication ceremony and everything.  Not really much baking involved, but something I have always loved.  My recipe is inspired by Molly's famous peanut butter pie at The Islander in Pendleton, SC, but she never would give me the secret recipe.  Plus mine has a chocolate layer, so it is a little bit different. 

But then last night I made two batches of snickerdoodle muffins I found on Tasty Kitchen (well technically I made three - I completely forgot the eggs and vanilla on the first run even though they were sitting on the counter - didn't scroll over far enough on my phone screen.  Guess I better get used to mistakes and experiments, huh?).  I used their recipe but as usual, I substituted Splenda for sugar (only in the batter, not on the cinnamon-sugar topping), fat free sour cream, and margarine instead of butter.  I brought those for our last morning meeting with the whole team.  They turned out delicious! 

Cane is NOT happy that he can't have a muffin.

So I've got to be a little nostalgic and post couple picture of the plant - it was just a field when we showed up in March 2009, and now it is an operating power plant.  This was a great experience and I will really miss a lot of it.  I have learned so much - and some of it I am sure I will be able to use in my bakery too.  Everybody teases me about developing budgets, spreadsheets, tracking tools and reports, etc for my own business after doing it here for so long, but I'm sure I won't be able to resist.  I already have ideas for a few of the spreadsheets.  (And yes, I have scheduled out my degree plan for all four semesters already).

So anyways, this chapter is over.  I'll admit I got a little misty-eyed driving out of the gate for the last time.  I'm ready to move on but have no regrets - this was one of the best learning and growing experiences I could have wished for.  Thanks everybody for EVERYTHING!