Michael Leask

This blog is a deviation from my normal ones. It’s not about writing, science fiction, games, or anything like that. It’s about my mother-in-law. I’m not here to complain but rather to discuss her legacy with my wife.

We love food. I mean, who doesn’t. We also love making food. My wife loves making sweets and can cook savoury meals well, whereas it’s the opposite for me. It’s likely due to how we tend to gravitate towards certain foods. She’ll prefer chocolates while I prefer something with a bit of salt.

When her mom was alive, my wife and her dreamed of having a restaurant where my mother-in-law would make savoury foods while my wife baked them. Years after my mother-in-law’s death, my wife fulfilled part of the dream. My wife has a part-time baking business at home. It’s called Gudie’s Goodies. Phonetically, Gudie is pronounced good-ee. It wasn’t clever wordplay, but it was named after my wife’s mom. Her nickname was Gudie.

I knew Gudie for a short time. I never got to experience her cooking or baking, as the cancer made it impossible for her to be in the kitchen all the time. However, from the way my wife cooks, I can only imagine how wonderful the taste must have been.

When I came into my wife’s life, Gudie was having a more complex and more challenging time swallowing food. I made my wife (then-girlfriend) a tiramisu chocolate mousse. I brought it to the hospital for her, her mom, dad, brother, and sister to enjoy. They loved the taste, and her mom was happy someone was there to take care of her daughter. At least solidifying the idea that she could let go, knowing her daughter had someone around who respected the kitchen as much as they did.

From the time she was there, I’m glad I got to know her. I’m happy I got to see the lovely lady that my wife fondly remembers. I wish I could have known her more, and to help honour her legacy, I will put my efforts into Gudie’s Goodies.

And now, a little advertising 🙂

My wife earned her diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts online from Centennial College while working full-time (She also has a degree in genetics and a diploma in microbiology). She began Gudie’s Goodies in Calgary but moved it to Halifax.

Gudie’s Goodies is a seasonal bakery. Our model is similar to Hickory Farms in that we are not out every day or weekend to sell our products. We create baked goods tailored to the season, featuring unique flavours that keep customers coming back. When one thinks of cookies or doughnuts, the image of a supermarket with boxes upon boxes of treats comes to mind. These are mass-produced, using the cheapest ingredients so they can be sold at a low cost. We don’t do that. We use high-quality ingredients made fresh. The taste comparison is unreal. I think everyone knows the difference between cookies their mom made and something purchased at the store. That’s our aim: enhanced flavours and unique presentation. If you’re interested in seeing the website, please click www.gudiesgoodies.ca.

So I have three jobs. I write my science fiction and speculative novels, I am creating my own video games (indie developer), and I work part-time with Gudie’s Goodies, providing assistance for communications and helping out with the products. I have a busy and fulfilling life, where I’m fortunate to work from home, growing my career primarily as a writer while also earning money in other ways.