Coffee and Dog Grooming

I baked some fresh baguettes bright and early this morning before dashing off to take Coco to her grooming appointment.  I had found a new place for her, closer to our flat, and was eager to check it out.  It turned out to be the craziest place that I have ever seen!  It was a hund cafe, meaning that dogs are welcome inside and encouraged to join their human partners in this coffee/lunch spot.  I have seen dog cafes before around the city but never as nice as this!  Candles on the tables, dog dishes for the dogs and several dogs just wandering around off their leashes.  Very civilized and fun for Coco!

The groomer had her room in the back and was very welcoming and interested in cutting Coco's hair to look like the true French dog that she is!  I left Coco there for her 3 hour "spa treatment" and then went to join my photography club for a surprise 50th birthday party for my good friend, Meg.  We had a fantastic time together and a wonderful lunch.  This group of women is really something special and I feel so fortunate to have found them!  I will post some pictures from this occasion later...
I was thrilled to pick up Coco and see her looking like a true Bichon Frise for the first time since we left France!

She and I then ran some errands before catching the bus and heading home.

I just have to post this picture tonight because even though we did not eat one of these for Meg's birthday today, they are quite common in Stockholm.  A Smörgåstårta is essentially a sandwich cake, layers of bread and sandwich fixings made to look like a cake.  Often used to celebrate birthdays.  I found these in a bakery window today.

When I got home, it was time to get busy baking as we have our PTA Christmas cookie exchange tomorrow and I volunteered to bring St Lucia buns as a snack during our meeting.  So, I got out the saffron and with Christmas music on and candles burning, I got into the Christmas baking mode!