It’s a chilly slow-moving Sunday afternoon mid-November in the country. Already the sunshine is declining. The past 24 hours have exhibited a varied collection of wintertime weather – freezing rain, sleet, snow flurries and finally the crisp, clearing blue sky. The roadways have been remarkable for like scheme – slush, ice pellets and crackling salt mixture; and finally the dry, clear pavement ribbons.

Contemporaneously the music I’ve encountered today has echoed nostalgic memories of Vaughn Monroe’s Dream, Anne Shelton’s You’d be so Nice to Come Home to, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, Handel’s Messiah, Elvis Presley’s mournful I’ll be Home for Christmas and Frank Sinatra’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, plus Alexander Joseph’s reimagined Für Elise. It all combines to encourage turning up the heat, sitting at one’s desk while idly sipping coffee, content to surround oneself with dark wooden furniture and the rich hues of crystal decanters filled with cognac, sherry and porto. The season is upon us. A glance at the calendar affords a speedy recognition of the approaching holiday and new year. There are as well a plethora of birthdays upcoming in December (a curiosity I’ve never fully explained except possibly by amorous ambitions conjoined with springtime).

Finally this exceedingly pleasant day was sufficient to inspire an indulgent and rewarding visit to the local donut shop – HFT (Healthy Food Technologies Inc) whose exculpatory corporate mantra I’ve never fully believed though willingly investigated (and always without regret). Today has proven to be no exception.  Don’t oblige me for specifics! Instead I invite you to test for yourself. How about the “Netflix donut popcorn, pretzels, and chocolate”? It is strange to feel no anxiety following such an egregious submission to recklessness!

Healthy Food Technologies Inc. – Almonte, Ontario

The prelude to this gratification was an equally delicious and nutritious meal signalled by homemade butternut squash soup and slow-cooked salmon. Small wonder I sleep so well!