After that perfect sunny day came a rather cold, rather stressful month. But each day is a gift. I am left hoping that, if at all possible, all my senioritis has defected to this year. Fingers crossed.

It has been a beautiful Sunday, though, made much more so by Lemon Tart and Tom Waits. I've decided that my baking endeavors should have an appropriate music pairing. Following the success of "Blondies & Ben Folds", I decided to try matching my gluten-free lemon tart (in anticipation of tonight's company) with Tom Waits, who, if you haven't listened to him, has a voice that I've heard described as raggedy and bourbon-soaked. I find him rather charming, and a great accompaniment. Sweet, lemony-tart, bourbon-y...I like it.

I had to run to the store for a lemon before I began the tart, and was amused to find that the receipt for the little lemon had a quote from Sarte listed at the bottom (it's natural-foods store. They like to hand out tidbits of philosophy with their merchandise). This is what my Sartrian lemon advised: "A lost battle is a battle one thinks one has lost." I really hope it holds true for the tart.

Yours, etc.