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Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy.
My name's Thomas and I'm your host.
I'm so happy and delighted that you're here to listen tonight, because shortly we'll be returning to one of our favorite places, the Rainy Day Bakery.
While it's misty in the morning, the forecast calls for sunshine as Lily and her friends prepare for a very special event a pancake fundraiser for the local pet rescue.
It will take the whole community to find homes for these animals, everyone working together for a greater cause.
A big thanks, as always, to our head writer, Shady Grove, for writing this and all the other stories about the Rainy Day Bakery.
Before we begin, I'd like you to think of a time when you worked with other people to achieve a shared goal.
Perhaps it was a group project or a time you helped a family member or friend to do something around the house.
It's not always easy to find common ground.
People come from a variety of backgrounds, were raised with different ideals and ways of communicating, and have different ways of expressing love and helpfulness.
People often have alternative work styles as well, some being slow and methodical, while others have quick bursts of energy and productivity.
But somehow, when your goals or passions are aligned, it makes it easier to bridge those gaps.
Because then, there's something greater tying you together.
Something you both care about and want to see through to the end.
Sometimes, when it seems hardest to connect with others, it can be helpful to remember the things we all share.
And then, every single person can bring their own strengths to the cause.
And together you can reap the rewards of partnership.
Now, let's close our eyes.
Listen to the sound of my voice as we make our way to a familiar town.
It's the early hours of the morning.
The sun has yet to make an appearance over the horizon, and there's a light drizzle in the air.
This is where our story begins.
A delicate drizzle whispers against the window as a gentle wind lightly rustles the tree outside.
It's almost quiet, but the weather still manages to make itself known.
Lily opens her eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the pre-dawn gloom.
It filters in through the glass, which is covered in tiny droplets, as though from a mist, rather than the full heavy rain she often awakens to.
Turning over in bed, she notices the faintest trace of a warm, nutty smell in the air.
Lily smiles, remembering what day it is.
Then, she yawns, briefly feeling the effects of a slightly shorter than usual night of sleep.
But then the specialness of the day returns to mind and she knows she can't linger too long beneath the covers this morning.
Today is the annual fundraiser for the animal shelter, and this year, Lily has offered up the bakery to house the event.
Instead of her usual fare, she's putting on an all-day pancake breakfast.
There will still be coffee, of course, but she won't be baking any bread or pastries.
Just hundreds and hundreds of pancakes.
With that thought as motivation, she sits up and swings her legs over the side of the bed.
She feels around with her toes before nudging them into her soft, fuzzy slippers.
Padding towards her bedroom door.
She takes her fleecy robe from its hook and wraps it around herself, tying it snugly at the waist.
Now warm and cozy, she makes her way into the kitchen.
As she does most mornings.
She puts on the kettle and then spoons a bit of loose leaf tea into a tea bowl.
While the water heats up, she shuffles over to the other end of the counter.
The warm, nutty and slightly earthy smell is stronger here.
It's wafting up from the dozens and dozens of tiny hard dog biscuits sitting on metal racks.
The racks cover most of the countertop, as well as the small table by the window.
There are even some on the coffee table in the living room.
And, she chuckles to herself, perched on a couple of bookshelves.
Every bit of flat space is taken up by the little treats which are shaped like bones hearts, stars and circles.
She picks up a couple of the biscuits and gently knocks them together.
They make a hard tapping sound.
Perfect, she thinks.
Returning to the kettle, she pours the water over the tea and waits while it steeps.
Her mind wanders back to yesterday's culinary adventure, baking the dozens of treats in her own personal oven.
Once she closed up the bakery, she returned home and mixed up two batches of dog-friendly dough.
She planned on making one batch of plain treats and the other flavoured with peanut butter.
After mixing the dough, she rolled it out and used pastry cutters to make the treats into fun shapes.
There was something nice and satisfying about seeing all the little bones stars, circles and hearts scattered around the kitchen waiting to go in the oven.
She baked them at a low temperature for several hours.
Staying up later than she usually would have to give them enough time to cook through.
Unlike treats for people, she had to make sure these were completely dried out.
It would extend their shelf life and make them safe to wrap up in little bundles to hand out today.
Once her tea is ready, she pours in a splash of milk and carries the cup over to her favourite place by the window.
She nudges aside a fallen dog treat and sets down her tea.
It's quite dark this morning and the cloud cover is thick, though the rain is still light and intermittent.
Usually she'd let her mind roam over the neighborhood and memories and the other types of halfway thoughts that come in the stillness of the early morning.
But today she mentally ticks off her to-do list.
Lily wants to be sure that the day goes as smoothly as it can, for her customers, of course, but especially for the animals.
She wants to do right by them, and give them the best chance of finding their forever homes.
She'd love to have a dog herself, but she's away at work for so much of the day.
It wouldn't be fair to leave it home alone, she thinks.
But maybe someday I can work something out, Lily muses.
She sips her tea, grateful for the warmth that follows.
Dog treats made, check.
Pancake batter ingredients already at the bakery, check.
Toppings for the pancakes, hopefully check.
She thinks she bought everything she'll need at the store over the weekend.
And if she forgot anything, well, she'll just have to make do or come up with a creative solution.
Just another day at the bakery, Lily thinks with a smile.
When she finishes her tea, she stands slowly, feeling her muscles warming up as the day begins.
She takes her cup over to the sink and washes it out before leaving it to dry on the bamboo rack.
Then she makes her way into the bedroom, picking out an especially comfortable outfit to wear today.
Not too warm for standing by the stove.
Lots of room for movement, without sleeves that will get in the way of cooking.
Once she's dressed, she heads into the kitchen and opens up the pantry door.
Lily has two large plastic tubs that she sometimes uses for transporting batches of cookies, bread rolls or other baked goods.
These will work nicely for the treats, she thinks.
One by one, she places the tiny biscuits into the tubs.
One for the peanut butter, and one for the plane.
All the different shapes and sizes sitting in a pleasant brown jumble by the end.
She sets down the last biscuit right on top. a little peanut butter star, and then pops on the lid.
Peeking outside, she sees that the drizzle has mostly let up.
That's lucky, because it leaves an extra hand for the biscuit taps.
Shutting her door behind her with a familiar click, Lily sets off towards the bakery and the admittedly somewhat intimidating all-day pancake breakfast.
It's not often nowadays that Lily is intimidated by baking or cooking.
Occasionally, she'll feel a flutter of worry that her very special cake won't turn out quite right.
But she's made most of those bakes hundreds of times or more during her years at the bakery.
This time, though, it's pancakes, and I haven't made those in years, she sighs.
Lily doesn't cook breakfast often.
She's at the bakery most mornings and nibbles on whatever she's making at the time a bit of cinnamon roll, a spoonful of jam for the pinwheels.
Sometimes, when she's making loaves of bread, she'll turn the leftover dough into a tiny roll for herself.
Have to make sure it tastes good, she thinks with a grin.
In fact, Lily muses as she walks past the window with the two cats.
She can't actually remember when she last cooked breakfast of any kind.
Even when she eats it herself.
It's usually leftovers or something else she puts together absentmindedly.
The cats stare at her lazily through the glass.
They don't have a full pancake breakfast to make, Lily thinks, with only a tinge of envy.
Mostly though, she's just happy that they have a warm, safe place to sleep every night and a loving family to look after them.
And that's why we're doing what we're doing today, she says to herself.
A reminder why the tiny bit of nervousness will have been worth it in the end.
She listens to the sound of her footsteps on the ground as she reaches the colorful door of the bakery.
It always brings a smile to her face, even when the colors are slightly muted in the dim light of early morning, as they are today.
Balancing the tubs on her hip, she turns her key in the lock.
The familiar silence of the sleeping bakery wraps around her as she steps inside.
But then, she hears someone call her name.
Oh right, Lily remembers.
Rose agreed to drop by before opening to wrap up the dog treats so they can be handed out to everyone who comes to the fundraiser.
Lily turns, peering into the gloom.
She spots Rose making her way down the hill.
Rose waves as she gets closer.
Lily waves back, holding the door open for her friend.
Together, the two women wipe their shoes on the mat and leave their umbrellas by the door.
Without a word, Rose takes the tubs from Lily, freeing her hands so she can do the various things she needs to wake up the bakery.
I suppose I do think of it as waking up the bakery, Lily thinks to herself.
She'd never really considered it before. only noticing the feeling of her thoughts as it happened.
Lily flicks the light switch and bends down to plug in the fairy lights.
They twinkle to life, casting their warm glow over the quiet ovens and countertop the espresso machine tables and chairs.
Rose gives Lily time with her thoughts before talking about the tasks ahead of them.
Lily appreciates that, like her, Rose seems comfortable in the quiet.
Once all the lights are bright and the appliances are checked and switched on if needed, Lily turns to her friend, thanking her for offering to help out today.
I wouldn't have it any other way, says Rose.
After all, I suppose this was sort of my idea.
Rose flashes Lily a big smile, and Lily returns it with a laugh.
Rose volunteers as a dog walker at the shelter, and Lily recalls how she came to her a few months ago with several photos of the animals who were waiting for adoption.
Rose put on her most sympathetic face a tactic.
Lily didn't mind, as she knew her friend only used it on very important occasions and began telling her about the annual fundraiser.
You know where I've always thought the perfect place for a fundraiser would be?
Rose had asked.
Where, Lily remembered answering, having an inkling of the direction this was going in.
A bakery Rose said slyly, making sure to glance extra appreciatively at all the baked goods on display behind the glass.
And how could Lily say no?
She tries to find ways to give back to this community that has given her so much over the years.
And what better way than to help some of her customers find their perfect pets and help the dogs and cats at the shelter to find their forever homes?
Rose sets her things down on one side of the tables near the door and begins pulling out small paper bags.
They'll each hold about three or four treats and be tied at the top with a fancy bow.
Rose tells Lily she bought some ribbon yesterday just for this.
Lily is grateful.
Given that she was so busy making the treats, she hadn't given any thought of what to put them in once they were ready.
That's why we make a good team, says Rose, settling down into her chair.
Rose opens up the tub of treats and sets out the bags and the ribbon, along with a stack of small information cards about the animal shelter.
She'll pack the gift bags while Lily prepares the pancake batter, with the crinkling of the bags and the gentle thump of the treats landing inside as soft background noise.
Lily gets to work.
As far as things I've made in this bakery go, I suppose pancakes are pretty straightforward.
Lily thinks heading into the pantry to collect the dry ingredients.
She finds the all-purpose flour, baking powder sugar, salt and vanilla extract, then walks to the refrigerator for the butter, eggs and milk.
She often uses vanilla pods instead of extract, but today she's optimizing for quantity.
She's going to be making a lot of pancakes.
To ensure the pancakes are hot and fluffy throughout the day, she'll be portioning out the wet and dry ingredients for several batches and then mixing each batch right before she cooks it.
Wet ingredients activate the baking powder, so they shouldn't be mixed too far in advance.
She gathers a stack of tubs and large bowls.
Then she measures out several sweet portions of the dry ingredients, whisking together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in their respective containers.
She then measures out an equal number of wet ingredients, cubes of butter to be melted later, as well as the milk and the eggs still intact.
She sets these portions in the refrigerator, ready to be pulled out when the time comes.
Now she has to make the toppings.
When she and Rose first talked about the idea of an all-day pancake breakfast, they debated how best to ensure everyone would be happy and it wouldn't be too complicated to do.
They decided on putting together a topping station on a large table against the back wall.
They'll set out bowls of fruit compote, whipped cream, fresh fruit and chocolate chips, along with various sauces, chocolate and caramel, maple and agave syrup and honey.
And, of course, wedges of butter to put on top.
That way, everyone can choose how they want to eat their pancakes, making for a perfectly customizable breakfast.
Lily goes back to the refrigerator and pulls out some fresh peaches that she sliced yesterday, as well as pre-cut strawberries and several punnets of raspberries and blueberries.
She transfers the peaches and strawberries to a couple of large pots on the stove and adds sugar to taste.
These will slowly simmer for a while, the fruits releasing their juices and becoming delicious compotes.
Lily pours the blueberries and raspberries into large decorative bowls and carries them to the back table.
Then, from the pantry and the refrigerator, she retrieves the various sauces and sets them out beside the berries.
For good measure and for the children of course, she also pours a couple of bags of chocolate chips into a brightly colored serving dish.
Once the peach and strawberry compotes are thick and bubbly, she turns off the heat and lets them sit to cool.
In the meantime, Lily prepares several large carafts of regular and decaf coffee and sets them out on the table.
Customers can help themselves using mugs that she stacks beside the metal jugs.
Lily then pulls out cartons of heavy cream and pours them into the bowl of her large mixer.
She sides the whisk attachment into its slot on the mixer's arm, sprinkles a handful of sugar into the cream and turns it on.
In just a few minutes, it will become fluffy, whipped cream.
Not too sweet and not too heavy, she thinks.
Lily and Rose go about their business in companionable silence for over an hour whisking packing, tying and stirring.
And then, a soft sound at the door lets them know their first guest has arrived.
It's Seamus who is more than happy to trade his usual cinnamon roll for a plate of pancakes for a good cause.
Lily gets him his usual coffee and he finds a place by the window to sit and read his newspaper until the pancakes are ready.
Moments later, the sounds of a happy commotion trickle in through the cracked door.
There are a few bright yips, a long and excited howl and the padding of countless paws on the pavement.
The puppies have arrived.
When planning the fundraiser, Rose and Lily also considered the best way to get new people in the door to support the cause.
And what could be better than cute, fluffy puppies?
Recently the shelter took in a litter of young Labradors, all big paws and floppy ears, as Rose described them to Lily.
They would be ensconced in the small garden outside the bakery for the day.
Customers could stop by grab a bite to eat and spend a few minutes playing with them or giving them much needed walks or cuddles.
Along with the actual puppies, there would be a selection of other adoptable dogs.
But really all dogs are puppies at heart, no matter how old they are.
Lily thinks as she washes her hands and heads outside.
A few shelter volunteers are setting up a pen for the young dogs, as well as folding chairs for themselves and visitors.
One woman also spreads a couple of large picnic blankets on the grass where people can rest a while with a dog of their choice.
Lucky there's sun in the forecast today.
The woman says to Lily as she straightens the corners of a sky blue blanket.
Lily nods It's perfect weather for an indoor-outdoor event.
Behind the puppy pen, near where she and Rose planted bulbs a while back, Lily sees an older dog.
It's a large mutt of some kind, with dark eyes and mottled black and brown fur.
The faintest hint of white graces the dog's muzzle.
A dusting of sugar, Lily thinks.
It's sitting further back, away from the younger, more rambunctious dogs.
It might have gone unnoticed by some, but Lily has always found herself drawn to quiet creatures.
Lily wanders over to the dog.
As she approaches, she notices the tip of its tail slowly beginning to flick back and forth.
The closer she gets, the more the dog's tail moves, until it's rhythmically thumping.
Lily holds out the back of her hand to the dog, who gently presses its nose against her skin.
With that invitation, she scratches the top of the dog's head, making sure to get behind its ears.
Who is this? she asks the volunteer setting up the blankets.
That's Ziggy," the woman answers with a broad smile.
The woman tells her that Ziggy is a very special girl who has been at the shelter a long time.
People don't want to adopt older dogs as much, the woman says.
They're often looking for puppies or energetic young dogs.
But older dogs are perfect in the right environments.
The woman adds, giving Lily what she might describe as a significant look.
Hello, Ziggy, Lily whispers to the dog.
You're a very good girl, aren't you?
Ziggy thumps her tail in reply, pressing her nose into Lily's palm.
Just then, Lily sees a few visitors making their way through the bakery door.
She looks back down at the dog, whose dark fur is shining in the morning sun.
Well Ziggy, I have to go and make some pancakes now, but hopefully you'll find your person today, Lily says.
Ziggy noses Lily's hand once more before settling down on the grass.
Lily turns and heads towards the door, glancing back for just a moment at the quiet dog resting in the sun.
Inside, Lily finds the bakery full of happy visitors.
Rose is standing behind her treats table explaining the fundraiser and telling them all about the work that the shelter does.
Lily washes her hands at the sink and picks up the first bowl of dry ingredients.
Showtime, she thinks with a quick nod.
She mixes one portion of the wet ingredients with the dry and adds a dash of vanilla to the batter.
She heats up a large griddle on the stove.
When it's nice and hot, she uses a ladle to pour the batter onto it.
Large creamy circles of batter spread across the black griddle.
Soon, the comforting and familiar smell of pancakes fills the air.
A few of the visitors notice the smell and head over to the counter.
They'll be ready soon, Lily says over her shoulder.
Feel free to help yourself to coffee in the meantime.
When the top side of the pancakes is mottled with holes from popped bubbles, she flips them over.
The bottoms are perfectly golden brown.
In just a few minutes, the first stacks of pancakes are ready to be plated.
One of Rose's friends from the shelter, a friendly man named James, volunteers to be the pancake plater.
With a friendly smile at Lily James, washes his hands and steps behind the counter, taking the stack of pancakes and dividing them onto plates.
These, he hands over to the waiting customers.
Rose and Lily decided there wouldn't be a set price for the pancakes and coffee.
Instead, they'd ask people to pay what they can.
Someone might choose to give more, while others might only be able to give a little, but every bit counts.
Peering over her shoulder, Lily can see that Rose has put a collection jar near the front door, as well as a handy sign explaining how to donate money, food and supplies to the shelter.
Minutes pass and then hours, with Lily mixing up batter, ladling it onto the griddle and flipping pancake after pancake after pancake.
The beige circles become a blur as she spoons, weights, and flips, spoons, weights, and flips.
James gets into a rhythm too, handing out plates and coming to collect more pancakes, as well as directing people to the coffee and toppings station at the back.
Familiar faces stop by.
Myrna and Quincy, who opt for peach compote and strawberry compote, respectively.
Elisa and her twin boys.
Agave syrup with raspberries for her, maple syrup with fresh blueberries for the boys.
And countless others show their faces, too.
Seamus puts a dusting of cinnamon on his pancakes.
Lily gives him a pinch from behind the counter with a wink, as well as a generous pour of maple syrup and two pats of butter.
Towards the end of the day, the door connecting the bakery and the bookshop opens.
And Simon waves.
Sorry, no hot chocolate today, Lily apologizes.
Simon shakes his head.
He's just come for a pancake, he tells her.
James is speaking with a customer, so Lily puts one on a plate and hands it over the counter to Simon.
I haven't had pancakes in years, he says, inhaling the warm steam rising from the top.
Me neither, Lily says, laughing.
She watches Simon make his way to the topping station and smiles to herself as she sees him choose whipped cream and chocolate chips.
And he doesn't just put them on top, she notices.
He plops the cream down and around the edge and uses the chocolate chips to make a smiley face.
He turns to her and holds up his plate with a grin that matches the pancake's happy look.
Lily chuckles softly and then turns back to the batter.
The hours slip by as people come and go.
The number of puppies outside dwindles as they head home with loving families.
Customers sit in the grass and pet the dogs and flip through pictures of the cats at the shelter, arranged in albums provided by the volunteers.
Lily pauses every now and then to peer out the window watching a couple walking a pit bull in a tutu away from the grass, a pair of kids petting a labradoodle as they usher it into the back of their parents' car, and an older couple putting a lead on a friendly dachshund.
By the end of the day, all of the dogs have been adopted.
All that is, but one.
Ziggy is still lying on the grass, her ears drooping, as she seems to watch the other dogs go, just as Lily is.
Lily sighs.
She wishes she could have a dog, but it would be hard with the kinds of hours she keeps at the bakery.
But still, Siggy was so sweet, she thinks.
Once the last customer has left, Rose packs up her table.
There are only a few bags of treats remaining, which she hands to Lily.
You can keep them behind the counter for any dogs that stop by, Rose says.
Lily thanks her, and they congratulate each other on a job well done.
Ten dogs have been adopted today, as well as promises made for at least six cats.
And enough money has been raised to help refurbish the cat room and buy some new beds for the dogs.
Lily says goodbye to James and thanks him for all his hard work.
Through the window.
Lily can just barely see the volunteers packing up the now empty puppy pen and all the folding chairs.
At long last, the bakery is quiet again.
Lily cleans up the griddle and washes out the bowls and tubs.
She puts the compotes into containers and sets them in the refrigerator.
She'll figure out what to do with them tomorrow.
She wipes down the tables and puts the chairs where they belong.
And then, finally, she sits down with her very own plate of pancakes.
She puts a knob of butter on top and pours over a generous helping of maple syrup.
And just as she's lifting the first bite to her mouth, She looks out the window and sees Simon walking a very happy ziggy towards the bookshop and home.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
