My morning musings about the many daily choices were validated by the decision to walk with Jennifer to her childhood home on Edmond; It was so rewarding. It was a new experience in a familiar setting. I had spent much time in that neighborhood, first as a resident in the late 80s but far more so as a parent for nine years of our kids' youth. Alta Vista is filled with personal history, like the creek bridge where tadpoles were caught and bike rides were paused. It's also where the frogs stopped. It was good to see Mr Manny represent after his recent passing away. The morning coffee made with my light roasting effort was incredible, but it took a second brewing attempt and twice as much grounds as I anticipated. Ultimately, it was like being at Old Soul for a fresh brew, and we rejoiced. I roasted another set with a different approach and kept detailed notes, and that initial tasting was amazingly different. More balanced and less floral while still smooth and not at all bitter. I'm hitting the target routinely and learning each time. The bullseye will be a reproducible roast landing somewhere between these two. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's batch to see if it tastes the same. We had a full morning and enjoyed our time together throughout the day. We ran to Kirigin to pick up shipments and taste some wonderful wines, including a mulled wine made from their mocha dessert wine. Loved it. We ended the day by attending our neighborhood open house party hosted by the Schwarz family. Jen blended right in and had fun, and we stuck around after to clean up and hear Jon's amazing story about reconnecting with his biological parents in his 40s.
