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Father’s Day is almost here, and I want to share a little about my dad. His name was Samuel Roberts. As a child, I worshiped the ground he walked on. Everyone called me "Sam’s Shadow" because I was always with him, ready to go wherever he went. My mom joked that my dad had “the hot foot” because he disliked staying home, and I guess I inherited that trait because I was always by his side, ready to jump in the car and GO at a moment's notice! I'm number four of five daughters, and though my dad always wanted a son, he loved us deeply.
The year before I started kindergarten, my mom went back to work, and I stayed home with my dad. He worked third shift so it made sense for our family that he take care of me during the day. We did everything together. The only downside for me was his daily nap that he needed so he could get through his night shifts. That meant I had to take a nap too and I still remember lying in my bed, listening to music from the '60s and '70s, waiting for him to wake up.
My parents ran a tight ship. We had weekly rotating chores, from washing dishes to taking out the trash, cleaning bathrooms, and folding and ironing clothes. Without a dishwasher or clothes dryer, we washed dishes by hand and hung clothes outside to dry. Other seasonal chores included hauling wood, maintaining flowerbeds, raking leaves, and harvesting vegetables.
Since my dad didn’t have a son, I was happy to step into that role. I went fishing with him, helped clean cars (my job was cleaning the whitewalls on the tires), and assisted with mowing the lawn. One year, I asked for my own garden plot, and he said yes! I sectioned off my garden with twine and planted rows of radishes, corn, beans, and other vegetables. I visited my garden daily to watch it grow. Many Sunday afternoons after church and dinner, our family would walk through the woods behind our house, enjoying the leaves, ferns, critters, and creek—always an adventure.
My dad wasn’t perfect, but he and my mom (we called them Daddy and Ma) taught us the value of a clean house and yard, knowing where fresh food comes from, and appreciating the outdoors. My childhood was filled with amazing memories: the smell of wood from the chainsaw in the fall, leaves crunching underfoot, the aroma of hot dogs cooked over a fire, fresh caught fish frying and fireflies blinking in the North Carolina countryside at dusk.
During Christmas 2007, before I started Sheer Ambrosia, my dad visited me in Utah. I was making baklava for Christmas gifts when he suggested, “You should sell this BAK-BA-LA!” He always mispronounced it, likely to make me laugh. Less than a year later, Sheer Ambrosia was born. Thanks for the advice, Daddy!
On May 4, 2016, while making baklava late into the night, my sister called to check on me. Instead of her usual check-in to make sure I wasn't burning the place down, she told me our daddy had passed away from kidney and heart complications at 72 years old. It’s been eight years since his passing, and I still miss him deeply. He was a good man, raised by his grandparents, doing the best he knew how. I hope to see him again one day.
If your dad is still alive, give him a big hug and let him know you love him.
In honor of my daddy, I’m offering the Sam Roberts Special this Father’s Day: 20% off a 12-piece box of Traditional Honey Walnut baklava or a Traditional Honey Walnut Cake. Each comes with a ribbon, a gift tag reading, “Happy Father’s Day! You Hold the KEY to my heart,” and a cute key that doubles as a bottle opener. Use the code “SAMSPECIAL” to take advantage of this offer, valid until Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there. Miss you daddy!
If you'd like to have the baklava sent directly to your gift recipient, don't forget to include your special message in the 'notes' section during checkout if you'd like to say something else besides the message stated above. I'll personally handwrite your note on the back of our special Father's Day gift tags for that extra touch of thoughtfulness! Also, make sure to order several days in advance so we can make your baklava and have it shipped to arrive on time. We use 3 day Priority Mail so make sure to plan accordingly. Use the coupon code: SAMSPECIAL at checkout and we'll take care of the rest.
**Please note that this offer cannot be combined with any other promotions currently running at Sheer Ambrosia.**
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