How providential it is that the Lammes Candies home store is across the street from where property taxes are paid! Ever since the county tax office moved from its convenient downtown location near the courthouse, Lammes, at the sign of the lamb and candy cane, has been the reward part of the payment process.

Almost all holiday stock has been sold, but there are a few selections left, including classic ribbon candy, at a 40% discount. Those looking for Longhorn items may want to know that Lammes stocks the best small plush Bevo, floppy but complete with non-floppy horns, that I’ve ever seen, along with UT and A&M sacks for holding gifts. Austinuts are available. Lammes has the freshest nut barks and chocolate-dipped orange peels to be found anywhere, in both milk- and dark-chocolate versions.

Being zick (much, much worse than being sick), I was just along as a witness at the tax office and wasn’t tempted to indulge myself at Lammes or at Mandola’s, where the bakery continues to offer the kind of homestyle cookies seldom seen in commerce, made to enjoy with wine or coffee, little items featuring cornmeal or fig paste or almonds or honey. The coils of sausages looked beautiful, but there was only sweet fennel sausage; hot sausage is made by special order. Now at least I know that it’s worth living until the day when food tastes good again.