Hey SG fam — it’s been a minute!
Time for a long-overdue update.
Back in January, I was unexpectedly let go from my dispatcher job at a cannabis dispensary. It wasn’t my dream gig — just one of the only options available at the time — but still, the way it ended stung. I was let go over a misunderstanding, and it hit me hard.
But now, looking back, I’m kind of grateful the bandaid got ripped off. It forced me to reassess what I really want — and what I’m willing to fight for. I’ve missed the kitchen. It’s the one place I feel fully like myself, where I can unmask my autism and just let my brain flow. As a chef, being hyper-focused on food isn’t just accepted — it’s expected. So if I’m going to put my body through the grind for a paycheck, it might as well be doing something I love.
That’s when I noticed an opportunity. A local grocery store had a full kitchen space that had been sitting empty. When we first moved here, a chef was serving rice bowls out of it — not bad, but nothing to write home about — and it didn’t last long. After he left, the kitchen was just… abandoned. For over a year.
I pitched myself to the owner with a vision: clean it up, revive it, and bring some real flavor (and profit) back. He agreed. What I didn’t realize was just how neglected the space had become. It was a wreck. I’ve spent the past three months deep cleaning, organizing, and slowly bringing it back to life.
It’s been exhausting and frustrating — but also, this is exactly the kind of challenge I asked for.
Now that the interior’s mostly at a standstill (until the owner steps up with some equipment), I turned my focus outside — specifically, the seating area in the back. It was buried in trash and random junk that had been collecting for years. Once I cleared it out, I got the green light to paint a mural on the back wall of the market.
This little town brands itself as the “Town of Flowers and Art,” thanks to the flower fields that once bloomed here in the ’80s and ’90s. These days, there’s just one field left — and no murals in our area. Until now.
So, with a few cans of spray paint, some borrowed ladders, and a lot of heart, we made one.
Here’s the flower mural I created — with help from my partner, my daughter, and my dear friend from the Bay. It felt so good to paint again. This kitchen project isn’t just a job. It’s a rebirth. And this wall is just the beginning.
More updates soon and maybe even a soft opening date! Let me know what you think, and if you’re in the Santa Barbara area, come check it out in person!
Much love - 💙 Cooky
@penny @missy
