cmd/server/main.go

@@ -198,6 +198,11 @@ func run(cfg config.Config, logger *slog.Logger) error {
 	if err := sched.Register(planSvc.DraftSchedule()); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	for _, sch := range planSvc.ReminderSchedules() {
+		if err := sched.Register(sch); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 
 	router, err := server.NewRouter(logger, version, cfg.TrustedProxy, authFlow, sessions, settings, search, ai, chatSvc, dinnerSvc, suggestSvc, planSvc, shopSvc, googleSvc, pushSvc, ideasSvc, runner, photos, frontend.Assets())
 	if err != nil {

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ purge are fixed and not configurable.
 | `suggestions_weekly` | Sunday 08:00 | New batch of Side quests (`suggest.Service.WeeklySchedule`). |
 | `plan_draft` | Friday 09:00 | AI drafts next week's plan (`plan.Service.DraftSchedule`). |
 | `shopping_chat_autosend` | Saturday 08:00 | Sends the Supply run to Google Chat. |
-| `day_of_reminder` | Daily 16:30 | Tonight's dinner reminder. |
+| `day_of_reminder` | Daily 16:30, and 15 minutes before a crock-pot start_by earlier than that | Tonight's dinner reminder and the crock-pot start reminder (`plan.Service.ReminderSchedules`). |
 | `rotation_check` | Daily 09:00 | Asks "Keep it in rotation?" for tried dinners. |
 | `week_rollover` | Monday 00:05 (fixed) | Freezes last week's Supply run into the Supply archive. |
 | `ai_runs` purge | Daily (fixed) | Calls `harness.Purge` to delete `ai_runs` rows past 30-day retention (Feature 20). |
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ purge are fixed and not configurable.
 Runs are recorded in `schedule_runs` and executed through `jobs`.
 
 `internal/scheduler` runs them. A schedule registers a name, a rule read
-from the settings (`scheduler.Daily`, `Weekly` or `WeeklyForNextWeek`) and a
+from the settings (`scheduler.Daily`, `Weekly` or `WeeklyForNextWeek`, or `DailyAt` for a time read from data) and a
 run function; settings changes reach it through `SettingsService.Subscribe`
 and move the next fire time without a restart. Each fire time has a period
 key (`Rule.PeriodKey`): the local date for a daily rule, the ISO week of the
@@ -822,6 +822,19 @@ draft emits `plan_ready:{weekStart}` from the job and a failed one (e.g.
 `ai_failed`, recorded in `ai_runs`) emits nothing. When the week already
 has a plan, in any status, it enqueues nothing; when a draft of the week
 is already queued or running it joins it. Either way it logs it.
+`plan.Service.ReminderSchedules()` is `day_of_reminder`, two schedules
+of one name. The first is `Daily(reminder_time)`, period `YYYY-MM-DD`,
+and calls `EmitDayOfReminder(period.Date)`. The second has `Key` `start`,
+so its periods are `start:YYYY-MM-DD`, and a `scheduler.DailyAt` rule:
+for each date it reads the plan and fires 15 minutes
+(`plan.StartReminderLead`) before the day's `start_by` (the same
+computation the plan API shows) when the dinner is a crock-pot dinner
+whose `start_by` is earlier than that day's `reminder_time`; its run
+calls `EmitStartReminder(period.Date)`, which checks the same again. A
+date whose week has no plan emits neither and logs it. A `DailyAt` fire
+time is looked up from the data on every pass, so a plan change moves it
+within an hour (`maxWait`); a lookup that fails is logged and repeated
+every `ClaimRetry`.
 Fake-clock tests of a schedule live in `internal/scheduler`, where
 `SetClock` is visible to tests.
 
@@ -857,9 +870,15 @@ Fake-clock tests of a schedule live in `internal/scheduler`, where
     notifies. This is the only place `new_suggestions` is emitted; the
     `suggestions_weekly` schedule does not emit it itself.
   - `day_of_reminder:{date}` (URL `/dinner/{id}`) through
-    `plan.Service.EmitDayOfReminder(date)`, which names the dinner planned
-    on the date and emits nothing for a week with no plan. The scheduler
-    calls it at `reminder_time` (Feature 20).
+    `plan.Service.EmitDayOfReminder(date)`, "Tonight: {dinner} · Recipe →",
+    naming the dinner planned on the date; it emits nothing for a week
+    with no plan. The `day_of_reminder` schedule calls it at
+    `reminder_time`.
+  - `day_of_reminder:start:{date}` (URL `/dinner/{id}`) through
+    `plan.Service.EmitStartReminder(date)`, "Start the crock pot by
+    {time}" with the dinner's name, only for a crock-pot dinner whose
+    `start_by` is earlier than `reminder_time`. The `day_of_reminder`
+    schedule calls it 15 minutes before `start_by`.
 - Delivery goes through `notification_outbox`.
 - Web Push uses VAPID (`webpush-go`). Google Chat uses the stored incoming
   webhook.

internal/chat/messages.go

@@ -65,12 +65,27 @@ func ListReady(week store.LocalDate, needed, dinners int) notify.Event {
 }
 
 // DayOfReminder is the day_of_reminder event of the dinner dinnerID, named
-// name, planned on date.
+// name, planned on date: "Tonight: Tacos · Recipe →", a title carrying its
+// own call to action.
 func DayOfReminder(date store.LocalDate, dinnerID, name string) notify.Event {
 	return notify.Event{
 		Type:  notify.DayOfReminder,
 		Key:   string(notify.DayOfReminder) + ":" + date.String(),
-		Title: "Tonight's dinner",
+		Title: "Tonight: " + name + " · Recipe →",
+		URL:   "/dinner/" + dinnerID,
+		Week:  household.WeekStart(date),
+	}
+}
+
+// StartReminder is the day_of_reminder event, keyed
+// day_of_reminder:start:{date}, reminding the household to start the
+// crock-pot dinner dinnerID, named name and planned on date, by startBy,
+// a time in the household zone: "Start the crock pot by 9:30 am".
+func StartReminder(date store.LocalDate, dinnerID, name string, startBy time.Time) notify.Event {
+	return notify.Event{
+		Type:  notify.DayOfReminder,
+		Key:   string(notify.DayOfReminder) + ":start:" + date.String(),
+		Title: "Start the crock pot by " + startBy.Format("3:04 pm"),
 		Body:  name,
 		URL:   "/dinner/" + dinnerID,
 		Week:  household.WeekStart(date),
@@ -173,9 +188,13 @@ func planTitle(week, thisWeek store.LocalDate) string {
 }
 
 // Text is the Google Chat message of p: its title, its body after a colon
-// and the event's call to action with an arrow.
+// and the event's call to action with an arrow. A title ending in an arrow,
+// with no body, carries its own call to action and is the message as it is.
 func Text(p notify.Payload) string {
 	text := p.Title
+	if p.Body == "" && strings.HasSuffix(text, "→") {
+		return text
+	}
 	if p.Body != "" {
 		if endsSentence(text) {
 			text += " "

internal/chat/messages_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package chat
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/notify"
 	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/store"
@@ -100,9 +101,19 @@ func TestMessages(t *testing.T) {
 			key:   "day_of_reminder:2026-10-15",
 			url:   "/dinner/01J9Z8Y7X6W5V4T3S2R1Q0P9N8",
 			week:  "2026-10-12",
-			title: "Tonight's dinner",
-			body:  "Tacos",
-			chatT: "Tonight's dinner: Tacos. Open the recipe →",
+			title: "Tonight: Tacos · Recipe →",
+			body:  "",
+			chatT: "Tonight: Tacos · Recipe →",
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "crock-pot start reminder",
+			ev:    StartReminder(mustDate(t, "2026-10-15"), "01J9Z8Y7X6W5V4T3S2R1Q0P9N8", "Beef Chili", time.Date(2026, 10, 15, 9, 30, 0, 0, time.FixedZone("CDT", -5*60*60))),
+			key:   "day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-15",
+			url:   "/dinner/01J9Z8Y7X6W5V4T3S2R1Q0P9N8",
+			week:  "2026-10-12",
+			title: "Start the crock pot by 9:30 am",
+			body:  "Beef Chili",
+			chatT: "Start the crock pot by 9:30 am: Beef Chili. Open the recipe →",
 		},
 		{
 			name:  "new suggestions",

internal/plan/plan.go

@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@ func (s *Service) Get(ctx context.Context, weekStart store.LocalDate) (p Plan, e
 }
 
 // EmitDayOfReminder emits day_of_reminder for date, keyed by the date,
-// naming the dinner planned on it, and reports whether it did: a date whose
-// week has no plan emits nothing. The scheduler calls it at the
-// household's reminder_time (Feature 20); emitting a date again stores no
-// second notification.
+// "Tonight: {dinner} · Recipe →" for the dinner planned on it, and reports
+// whether it did: a date whose week has no plan emits nothing. The
+// day_of_reminder schedule calls it at the household's reminder_time
+// (ReminderSchedules); emitting a date again stores no second notification.
 func (s *Service) EmitDayOfReminder(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (bool, error) {
 	p, err := s.Get(ctx, household.WeekStart(date))
 	if errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
@@ -245,15 +245,14 @@ func (s *Service) EmitDayOfReminder(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	for _, d := range p.Days {
-		if d.Date == date.String() {
-			if err := s.notifier.Emit(ctx, chat.DayOfReminder(date, d.Dinner.ID, d.Dinner.Name)); err != nil {
-				return false, fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
-			}
-			return true, nil
-		}
+	d, err := p.day(date)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
 	}
-	return false, fmt.Errorf("plan: week %s has no day %s", p.WeekStart, date)
+	if err := s.notifier.Emit(ctx, chat.DayOfReminder(date, d.Dinner.ID, d.Dinner.Name)); err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
+	}
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 // readPlan reads the plan of the week starting weekStart through q, with

internal/plan/plan_test.go

@@ -428,8 +428,8 @@ func TestEmitDayOfReminder(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("day_of_reminder rows = %+v, want one on push", rows)
 	}
 	r := rows[0]
-	if r.Key != "day_of_reminder:2026-10-14" || r.Channel != notify.ChannelPush || r.Payload.Title != "Tonight's dinner" ||
-		r.Payload.Body != "Pad Thai" || r.Payload.URL != "/dinner/"+e.ids["Pad Thai"] || r.Payload.Week != "2026-10-12" {
+	if r.Key != "day_of_reminder:2026-10-14" || r.Channel != notify.ChannelPush || r.Payload.Title != "Tonight: Pad Thai · Recipe →" ||
+		r.Payload.Body != "" || r.Payload.URL != "/dinner/"+e.ids["Pad Thai"] || r.Payload.Week != "2026-10-12" {
 		t.Errorf("day_of_reminder row = %+v", r)
 	}
 }

internal/plan/reminder.go

@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+package plan
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/chat"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/db"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/household"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/scheduler"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/store"
+)
+
+// StartReminderLead is how long before a crock-pot dinner's start_by its
+// start reminder fires.
+const StartReminderLead = 15 * time.Minute
+
+// StartReminderKey is the period key prefix of the crock-pot start
+// reminder: its periods are start:YYYY-MM-DD of the day_of_reminder
+// schedule.
+const StartReminderKey = "start"
+
+// ReminderSchedules are the day_of_reminder schedules. The first fires
+// every day at the household's reminder_time, period YYYY-MM-DD, and emits
+// day_of_reminder:YYYY-MM-DD for tonight's dinner (EmitDayOfReminder). The
+// second fires StartReminderLead before the start_by of a crock-pot dinner
+// whose start_by is earlier than that day's reminder_time, period
+// start:YYYY-MM-DD of the dinner's date, and emits
+// day_of_reminder:start:YYYY-MM-DD (EmitStartReminder). A date whose week
+// has no plan emits neither.
+func (s *Service) ReminderSchedules() []scheduler.Schedule {
+	return []scheduler.Schedule{
+		{
+			Name: scheduler.DayOfReminder,
+			Rule: func(settings household.Settings) scheduler.Rule {
+				return scheduler.Daily(settings.ReminderTime)
+			},
+			Run: func(ctx context.Context, p scheduler.Period) error {
+				sent, err := s.EmitDayOfReminder(ctx, p.Date)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				if !sent {
+					s.logger.InfoContext(ctx, "day-of reminder not sent: the week has no plan",
+						"period", p.Key, "date", p.Date.String())
+				}
+				return nil
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			Name: scheduler.DayOfReminder,
+			Key:  StartReminderKey,
+			Rule: func(household.Settings) scheduler.Rule {
+				return scheduler.DailyAt(s.startReminderAt)
+			},
+			Run: func(ctx context.Context, p scheduler.Period) error {
+				sent, err := s.EmitStartReminder(ctx, p.Date)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				if !sent {
+					s.logger.InfoContext(ctx, "start reminder not sent: no crock-pot dinner to start before the reminder",
+						"period", p.Key, "date", p.Date.String())
+				}
+				return nil
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// EmitStartReminder emits day_of_reminder:start:{date}, "Start the crock
+// pot by {time}", for the crock-pot dinner planned on date, and reports
+// whether it did: it emits nothing unless date's dinner has a start_by
+// earlier than date's reminder_time. Emitting a date again stores no
+// second notification.
+func (s *Service) EmitStartReminder(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (bool, error) {
+	d, ok, err := s.startReminder(ctx, date)
+	if err != nil || !ok {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if err := s.notifier.Emit(ctx, chat.StartReminder(date, d.Dinner.ID, d.Dinner.Name, *d.StartBy)); err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("plan: %w", err)
+	}
+	return true, nil
+}
+
+// startReminderAt is the start reminder's scheduler.FireAt: the
+// StartReminderLead before start_by of the dinner date's start reminder,
+// if it has one.
+func (s *Service) startReminderAt(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (time.Time, bool, error) {
+	d, ok, err := s.startReminder(ctx, date)
+	if err != nil || !ok {
+		return time.Time{}, false, err
+	}
+	return d.StartBy.Add(-StartReminderLead), true, nil
+}
+
+// startReminder returns the plan day of date when it has a start reminder:
+// its dinner has a start_by (a crock-pot dinner of known minutes) earlier
+// than the household's reminder_time on date. The plan and the settings
+// come from one read transaction.
+func (s *Service) startReminder(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (d Day, ok bool, err error) {
+	tx, err := s.st.Reader.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, fmt.Errorf("plan: begin read: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = errors.Join(err, tx.Rollback())
+	}()
+	q := db.New(tx)
+	p, err := readPlan(ctx, q, household.WeekStart(date))
+	if errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound) {
+		return Day{}, false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, err
+	}
+	d, err = p.day(date)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, err
+	}
+	if d.StartBy == nil {
+		return Day{}, false, nil
+	}
+	settings, err := q.GetHouseholdSettings(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, fmt.Errorf("plan: read household settings: %w", err)
+	}
+	zone, err := household.LoadZone(settings.Timezone)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, fmt.Errorf("plan: household settings: %w", err)
+	}
+	remind, err := household.LocalTime(zone, date, settings.ReminderTime)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Day{}, false, fmt.Errorf("plan: reminder time of %s: %w", date, err)
+	}
+	return d, d.StartBy.Before(remind), nil
+}
+
+// day returns p's day on date; a plan holds all seven days of its week.
+func (p Plan) day(date store.LocalDate) (Day, error) {
+	for _, d := range p.Days {
+		if d.Date == date.String() {
+			return d, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return Day{}, fmt.Errorf("plan: week %s has no day %s", p.WeekStart, date)
+}

internal/scheduler/day_of_reminder_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+package scheduler_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/household"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/notify"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/notify/notifytest"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/scheduler"
+	"code.cubecraftlabs.com/Maniacs_Mansion/Meal-Quest/internal/store"
+)
+
+// The tests in this file run plan's day_of_reminder schedules on the fake
+// clock against the real plan service and notification outbox. The plan of
+// the week of Monday Oct 12 (w42) has poolNames Monday to Sunday: Beef
+// Chili on Monday, Pot Roast on Tuesday. The household's dinner time is the
+// seeded 17:30 and its reminder time the seeded 16:30, in Chicago.
+
+// w42 is the Monday of 2026-W42.
+var w42 = mustLocalDate("2026-10-12")
+
+// planWeek drafts the plan of the week starting weekStart and waits for it.
+func (p *planEnv) planWeek(weekStart store.LocalDate) {
+	p.e.t.Helper()
+	p.reply(weekStart)
+	if _, err := p.svc.StartDraft(context.Background(), weekStart, false); err != nil {
+		p.e.t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if jobs := p.e.drafts(); jobs[len(jobs)-1] != succeeded {
+		p.e.t.Fatalf("draft of %s = %+v, want succeeded", weekStart, jobs)
+	}
+}
+
+// crockPot makes the dinner name a crock-pot dinner of minutes.
+func (p *planEnv) crockPot(name string, minutes int) {
+	p.e.t.Helper()
+	if _, err := p.e.st.Writer.Exec(`UPDATE dinners SET method = 'crockpot', minutes_total = ? WHERE id = ?`, minutes, p.ids[name]); err != nil {
+		p.e.t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// reminders returns the day_of_reminder notifications stored, oldest
+// first. The seeded preference sends day_of_reminder to push only, so there
+// is one row per event.
+func (e *env) reminders() []notifytest.Row {
+	e.t.Helper()
+	rows := notifytest.Rows(e.t, e.st, notify.DayOfReminder)
+	for _, r := range rows {
+		if r.Channel != notify.ChannelPush {
+			e.t.Fatalf("day_of_reminder row %+v, want push only", r)
+		}
+	}
+	return rows
+}
+
+// reminderKeys returns the keys of e.reminders().
+func (e *env) reminderKeys() []string {
+	e.t.Helper()
+	var keys []string
+	for _, r := range e.reminders() {
+		keys = append(keys, r.Key)
+	}
+	return keys
+}
+
+// wantReminder fails unless the reminder keyed key was stored with title,
+// body and the link to the dinner name.
+func (p *planEnv) wantReminder(key, title, body, name string) {
+	p.e.t.Helper()
+	for _, r := range p.e.reminders() {
+		if r.Key != key {
+			continue
+		}
+		week := household.WeekStart(mustLocalDate(key[len(key)-len("YYYY-MM-DD"):]))
+		want := notify.Payload{Event: notify.DayOfReminder, Title: title, Body: body, URL: "/dinner/" + p.ids[name], Tag: key, Week: week.String()}
+		if r.Payload != want {
+			p.e.t.Errorf("reminder %s = %+v, want %+v", key, r.Payload, want)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	p.e.t.Errorf("no reminder %s", key)
+}
+
+// TestDayOfReminderNormalNight: a night whose dinner is not a crock-pot
+// dinner gets exactly the daily reminder, at reminder_time 16:30, keyed
+// day_of_reminder:YYYY-MM-DD and linking to the dinner.
+func TestDayOfReminderNormalNight(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	p := e.plans(e.pool())
+	p.planWeek(w42)
+
+	// Monday 08:00: the catch-up of Sunday 16:30 finds no plan for W41.
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), p.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 29))
+	wantKeys(t, "before 16:30", e.reminderKeys(), nil)
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 30))
+	wantKeys(t, "at 16:30", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:2026-10-12"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:2026-10-12", "Tonight: Beef Chili · Recipe →", "", "Beef Chili")
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 13, 23, 59))
+	wantKeys(t, "Tuesday", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-13"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:2026-10-13", "Tonight: Pot Roast · Recipe →", "", "Pot Roast")
+	wantKeys(t, "schedule_runs", e.claimed(scheduler.DayOfReminder), []string{"2026-10-11", "2026-10-12", "2026-10-13"})
+}
+
+// TestDayOfReminderCrockPotNight: a crock-pot night whose start_by is
+// earlier than reminder_time gets the start reminder at start_by minus 15
+// minutes, keyed day_of_reminder:start:YYYY-MM-DD, and the daily reminder
+// at reminder_time. A crock-pot night whose start_by is not earlier than
+// reminder_time gets only the daily one.
+func TestDayOfReminderCrockPotNight(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	p := e.plans(e.pool())
+	p.crockPot("Beef Chili", 480) // Monday: start by 09:30
+	p.crockPot("Pot Roast", 30)   // Tuesday: start by 17:00, after 16:30
+	p.planWeek(w42)
+
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), p.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 14))
+	wantKeys(t, "before 09:15", e.reminderKeys(), nil)
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 15))
+	wantKeys(t, "at 09:15", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "Start the crock pot by 9:30 am", "Beef Chili", "Beef Chili")
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 29))
+	wantKeys(t, "before 16:30", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12"})
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 30))
+	wantKeys(t, "at 16:30", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-12"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:2026-10-12", "Tonight: Beef Chili · Recipe →", "", "Beef Chili")
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 13, 23, 59))
+	wantKeys(t, "Tuesday", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-13"})
+	wantKeys(t, "schedule_runs", e.claimed(scheduler.DayOfReminder), []string{"2026-10-11", "2026-10-12", "2026-10-13", "start:2026-10-12"})
+}
+
+// TestDayOfReminderEmptyNight: with no plan for tonight's week, here none
+// at all and then only next week's, nothing is emitted and nothing fails;
+// next week's crock-pot Monday is reminded on its own day.
+func TestDayOfReminderEmptyNight(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	p := e.plans(e.pool())
+
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), p.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 13, 23, 59))
+	wantKeys(t, "with no plan", e.reminderKeys(), nil)
+
+	p.crockPot("Beef Chili", 480)
+	p.planWeek(w43)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 18, 23, 59))
+	wantKeys(t, "with only next week's plan", e.reminderKeys(), nil)
+	wantKeys(t, "schedule_runs", e.claimed(scheduler.DayOfReminder),
+		[]string{"2026-10-11", "2026-10-12", "2026-10-13", "2026-10-14", "2026-10-15", "2026-10-16", "2026-10-17", "2026-10-18"})
+	if logs := p.logs.String(); !strings.Contains(logs, "day-of reminder not sent: the week has no plan") || strings.Contains(logs, "level=ERROR") {
+		t.Errorf("logs = %s, want the empty nights logged and no error", logs)
+	}
+
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 19, 9, 15))
+	wantKeys(t, "next Monday", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-19"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-19", "Start the crock pot by 9:30 am", "Beef Chili", "Beef Chili")
+}
+
+// TestDayOfReminderFollowsReminderTimeWithoutRestart: a reminder_time
+// change takes effect in the running scheduler. Moved from 16:30 to 18:00,
+// the daily reminder fires at 18:00, not 16:30, and a crock-pot start_by
+// of 17:00, now earlier than reminder_time, gets its start reminder at
+// 16:45.
+func TestDayOfReminderFollowsReminderTimeWithoutRestart(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	p := e.plans(e.pool())
+	p.crockPot("Beef Chili", 30) // start by 17:00
+	p.planWeek(w42)
+
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), p.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	e.update(household.SettingsPatch{ReminderTime: ptr("18:00")})
+	r.changed()
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 44))
+	wantKeys(t, "before 16:45", e.reminderKeys(), nil)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 45))
+	wantKeys(t, "at 16:45", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12"})
+	p.wantReminder("day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "Start the crock pot by 5:00 pm", "Beef Chili", "Beef Chili")
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 17, 59))
+	wantKeys(t, "before 18:00", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12"})
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 18, 0))
+	wantKeys(t, "at 18:00", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-12"})
+}
+
+// TestDayOfReminderNoDuplicateAfterRestart: restarts after each reminder
+// of a crock-pot night, within the catch-up window, emit neither again:
+// each period is already claimed.
+func TestDayOfReminderNoDuplicateAfterRestart(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	ids := e.pool()
+	p := e.plans(ids)
+	p.crockPot("Beef Chili", 480)
+	p.planWeek(w42)
+
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), p.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 15))
+	r.stop()
+	p.stop()
+
+	p2 := e.plans(ids)
+	r2 := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 20), p2.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	wantKeys(t, "after the first restart", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12"})
+	r2.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 30))
+	r2.stop()
+	p2.stop()
+
+	p3 := e.plans(ids)
+	r3 := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 16, 40), p3.svc.ReminderSchedules()...)
+	r3.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 13, 9, 0))
+	wantKeys(t, "after the second restart", e.reminderKeys(), []string{"day_of_reminder:start:2026-10-12", "day_of_reminder:2026-10-12"})
+	wantKeys(t, "schedule_runs", e.claimed(scheduler.DayOfReminder), []string{"2026-10-11", "2026-10-12", "start:2026-10-12"})
+}
+
+// TestDailyAtLookupFailureIsRetried: a DailyAt rule fires at the instant
+// its lookup gives, its period keyed by the schedule's Key and the date;
+// a lookup that fails fires nothing and is looked up again after
+// ClaimRetry, then fires its period once.
+func TestDailyAtLookupFailureIsRetried(t *testing.T) {
+	e := newEnv(t)
+	var rec recorder
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	failing := false
+	at915 := func(ctx context.Context, d store.LocalDate) (time.Time, bool, error) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		if failing {
+			return time.Time{}, false, errors.New("database down")
+		}
+		y, m, day := d.Date()
+		return at(y, m, day, 9, 15), true, nil
+	}
+	sch := scheduler.Schedule{
+		Name: scheduler.DayOfReminder,
+		Key:  "start",
+		Rule: func(household.Settings) scheduler.Rule { return scheduler.DailyAt(at915) },
+		Run:  rec.run,
+	}
+
+	r := e.start(at(2026, 10, 12, 8, 0), sch)
+	wantKeys(t, "catch-up", rec.keys(), []string{"start:2026-10-11"})
+	mu.Lock()
+	failing = true
+	mu.Unlock()
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 16))
+	wantKeys(t, "while the lookup fails", rec.keys(), []string{"start:2026-10-11"})
+
+	mu.Lock()
+	failing = false
+	mu.Unlock()
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 17))
+	wantKeys(t, "after the lookup recovers", rec.keys(), []string{"start:2026-10-11", "start:2026-10-12"})
+	if p := rec.periods()[1]; !p.FireAt.Equal(at(2026, 10, 12, 9, 15)) || p.Date.String() != "2026-10-12" {
+		t.Errorf("period = %+v, want fired at 09:15 for 2026-10-12", p)
+	}
+	r.runUntil(at(2026, 10, 13, 12, 0))
+	wantKeys(t, "next day", rec.keys(), []string{"start:2026-10-11", "start:2026-10-12", "start:2026-10-13"})
+	wantKeys(t, "schedule_runs", e.claimed(scheduler.DayOfReminder), rec.keys())
+}

internal/scheduler/scheduler.go

@@ -44,6 +44,17 @@
 // occurrence. Either way the period key is that local date's, so the
 // period still runs exactly once.
 //
+// # Fire times from data
+//
+// A DailyAt rule fires at a time read from the household's data rather
+// than the settings: its function gives, for each household-local date,
+// the instant the date's period fires, or none. The period is that date
+// even when the instant falls on another day. The scheduler asks again on
+// every pass, so a change to the data moves the fire time by the next pass,
+// at most maxWait after the change; the claim still runs a period at most
+// once. A lookup that fails is logged and repeated every ClaimRetry, as a
+// failed claim is.
+//
 // # Settings changes
 //
 // The scheduler subscribes to the household settings and records each change
@@ -59,6 +70,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -102,8 +114,8 @@ const ClaimRetry = time.Minute
 const maxWait = time.Hour
 
 // Rule is when a schedule fires: at household-local Time ("HH:MM") every
-// day, or on Weekday only when Weekly is set. Build one with Daily, Weekly
-// or WeeklyForNextWeek.
+// day, or on Weekday only when Weekly is set, or every day at the instant
+// At gives. Build one with Daily, Weekly, WeeklyForNextWeek or DailyAt.
 type Rule struct {
 	Weekly  bool
 	Weekday time.Weekday
@@ -111,8 +123,15 @@ type Rule struct {
 	// NextWeek keys a weekly period by the ISO week after the fire date,
 	// for work done ahead for the coming week.
 	NextWeek bool
+	// At, instead of Time, gives the instant the period of a
+	// household-local date fires.
+	At FireAt
 }
 
+// FireAt gives the instant the period of household-local date fires, or
+// false when that date's period does not fire.
+type FireAt func(ctx context.Context, date store.LocalDate) (time.Time, bool, error)
+
 // Daily fires every day at hhmm; its period is the local date.
 func Daily(hhmm string) Rule {
 	return Rule{Time: hhmm}
@@ -129,6 +148,12 @@ func WeeklyForNextWeek(day time.Weekday, hhmm string) Rule {
 	return Rule{Weekly: true, Weekday: day, Time: hhmm, NextWeek: true}
 }
 
+// DailyAt fires at most once a day, at the instant at gives for the date;
+// its period is that date, wherever the instant falls.
+func DailyAt(at FireAt) Rule {
+	return Rule{At: at}
+}
+
 // PeriodKey returns the period key of a fire on household-local date
 // fireDate: the date ("2026-10-09") for a daily rule, the ISO week
 // ("2026-W53") for a weekly one, and the ISO week after that ("2027-W01")
@@ -151,6 +176,12 @@ func (r Rule) validate() error {
 	if !r.Weekly && (r.Weekday != time.Sunday || r.NextWeek) {
 		return errors.New("a daily rule has no weekday or next week")
 	}
+	if r.At != nil {
+		if r.Weekly || r.Time != "" {
+			return errors.New("a DailyAt rule has no weekday or time")
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
 	// Any date checks the time's form.
 	_, err := household.LocalTime(time.UTC, store.LocalDateOf(time.Unix(0, 0).UTC()), r.Time)
 	return err
@@ -173,6 +204,10 @@ type Period struct {
 type Schedule struct {
 	// Name is one of the schedule name constants.
 	Name string
+	// Key, when set, prefixes the schedule's period keys with Key and a
+	// colon ("start:2026-10-14"), so two schedules of one Name claim
+	// different periods. Name and Key together are unique.
+	Key string
 	// Rule returns when the schedule fires under settings. It is called
 	// again after every settings change.
 	Rule func(settings household.Settings) Rule
@@ -183,6 +218,14 @@ type Schedule struct {
 	Run func(ctx context.Context, p Period) error
 }
 
+// label names sch in errors and logs: its Name, and its Key if set.
+func (sch Schedule) label() string {
+	if sch.Key == "" {
+		return sch.Name
+	}
+	return sch.Name + ":" + sch.Key
+}
+
 // Settings is the household settings source: *household.SettingsService.
 type Settings interface {
 	Get(ctx context.Context) (household.Settings, error)
@@ -240,19 +283,22 @@ func (s *Scheduler) Register(sch Schedule) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register: unknown schedule %q", sch.Name)
 	}
 	if sch.Rule == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: nil rule", sch.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: nil rule", sch.label())
 	}
 	if sch.Run == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: nil run", sch.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: nil run", sch.label())
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(sch.Key, ":") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: key has a colon", sch.label())
 	}
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
 	if s.started {
-		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: already started", sch.Name)
+		return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: already started", sch.label())
 	}
 	for _, have := range s.schedules {
-		if have.Name == sch.Name {
-			return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: already registered", sch.Name)
+		if have.Name == sch.Name && have.Key == sch.Key {
+			return fmt.Errorf("scheduler: register %s: already registered", sch.label())
 		}
 	}
 	s.schedules = append(s.schedules, sch)
@@ -346,7 +392,7 @@ func compile(schedules []Schedule, settings household.Settings) (*plan, error) {
 	for i, sch := range schedules {
 		rule := sch.Rule(settings)
 		if err := rule.validate(); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("scheduler: %s: %w", sch.Name, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("scheduler: %s: %w", sch.label(), err)
 		}
 		p.items[i] = item{sch: sch, rule: rule}
 	}
@@ -396,7 +442,12 @@ func (s *Scheduler) loop(ctx context.Context, p *plan) {
 		case len(retry) > 0:
 			timeout = s.after(ClaimRetry)
 		case p != nil:
-			if next, ok := p.next(now); ok {
+			next, ok, err := p.next(ctx, now)
+			switch {
+			case err != nil:
+				s.logger.ErrorContext(ctx, "scheduler: look up next fire time failed; retrying", "error", err, "retry_in", ClaimRetry.String())
+				timeout = s.after(ClaimRetry)
+			case ok:
 				timeout = s.after(min(next.Sub(now), maxWait))
 			}
 		}
@@ -423,41 +474,67 @@ func (s *Scheduler) compileChange(ctx context.Context, settings household.Settin
 	return p
 }
 
-// target is one schedule's period, named by the fire time it belongs to.
+// target is one schedule's period, named by the fire time it belongs to
+// and the household-local date of its period. A target whose fire time
+// could not be looked up has lookup set instead, with the stretch
+// (done, until] to look it up in again.
 type target struct {
-	it  item
-	loc *time.Location
-	at  time.Time
+	it   item
+	loc  *time.Location
+	at   time.Time
+	date store.LocalDate
+
+	lookup      bool
+	done, until time.Time
 }
 
 // fire handles, for every schedule, its most recent fire time at or before
 // until if it is after done; now is the current instant. It returns the
-// targets whose claim failed, to be claimed again.
+// targets whose lookup or claim failed, to be handled again.
 func (s *Scheduler) fire(ctx context.Context, p *plan, done, until, now time.Time) []target {
 	var failed []target
 	for _, it := range p.items {
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return failed
 		}
-		at, due := fireBefore(it.rule, p.loc, until)
-		if !due || !at.After(done) {
-			continue
-		}
-		if t := (target{it: it, loc: p.loc, at: at}); !s.handle(ctx, t, now) {
+		if t, ok := s.fireItem(ctx, it, p.loc, done, until, now); !ok {
 			failed = append(failed, t)
 		}
 	}
 	return failed
 }
 
-// retry handles targets again at now and returns those whose claim still
-// failed.
+// fireItem handles it's most recent fire time at or before until if it is
+// after done. It reports false, with the target to handle again, when the
+// fire time could not be looked up or its period's claim failed.
+func (s *Scheduler) fireItem(ctx context.Context, it item, loc *time.Location, done, until, now time.Time) (target, bool) {
+	f, due, err := fireBefore(ctx, it.rule, loc, until)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.logger.ErrorContext(ctx, "scheduler: look up fire time failed; retrying",
+			"schedule", it.sch.label(), "error", err, "retry_in", ClaimRetry.String())
+		return target{it: it, loc: loc, lookup: true, done: done, until: until}, false
+	}
+	if !due || !f.at.After(done) {
+		return target{}, true
+	}
+	t := target{it: it, loc: loc, at: f.at, date: f.date}
+	return t, s.handle(ctx, t, now)
+}
+
+// retry handles targets again at now and returns those whose lookup or
+// claim still failed.
 func (s *Scheduler) retry(ctx context.Context, targets []target, now time.Time) []target {
 	var failed []target
 	for i, t := range targets {
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return append(failed, targets[i:]...)
 		}
+		if t.lookup {
+			if again, ok := s.fireItem(ctx, t.it, t.loc, t.done, t.until, now); !ok {
+				failed = append(failed, again)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if !s.handle(ctx, t, now) {
 			failed = append(failed, t)
 		}
@@ -469,9 +546,11 @@ func (s *Scheduler) retry(ctx context.Context, targets []target, now time.Time)
 // its fire time is more than CatchUpWindow before now. It reports false
 // when the claim failed and the period is still unclaimed.
 func (s *Scheduler) handle(ctx context.Context, t target, now time.Time) bool {
-	it, at := t.it, t.at
-	date := household.Today(at, t.loc)
+	it, at, date := t.it, t.at, t.date
 	period := Period{Key: it.rule.PeriodKey(date), FireAt: at, Date: date}
+	if it.sch.Key != "" {
+		period.Key = it.sch.Key + ":" + period.Key
+	}
 	if it.rule.NextWeek {
 		period.Week = household.WeekStart(addDays(date, 7))
 	} else {
@@ -515,16 +594,19 @@ func (s *Scheduler) claim(ctx context.Context, name, key string, now time.Time)
 }
 
 // next returns the earliest fire time of any schedule after now, or false
-// when there is no schedule.
-func (p *plan) next(now time.Time) (time.Time, bool) {
+// when there is none.
+func (p *plan) next(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) (time.Time, bool, error) {
 	var next time.Time
 	for _, it := range p.items {
-		at, ok := fireAfter(it.rule, p.loc, now)
-		if ok && (next.IsZero() || at.Before(next)) {
-			next = at
+		f, ok, err := fireAfter(ctx, it.rule, p.loc, now)
+		if err != nil {
+			return time.Time{}, false, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", it.sch.label(), err)
+		}
+		if ok && (next.IsZero() || f.at.Before(next)) {
+			next = f.at
 		}
 	}
-	return next, !next.IsZero()
+	return next, !next.IsZero(), nil
 }
 
 // window is how many days either side of a date fireBefore and fireAfter
@@ -532,46 +614,80 @@ func (p *plan) next(now time.Time) (time.Time, bool) {
 // each side.
 const window = 8
 
+// atWindow is how many days either side of a date fireBefore and fireAfter
+// look up a DailyAt rule's fire times. A period firing further off is
+// looked up on a later pass, which comes within maxWait.
+const atWindow = 2
+
+// fireTime is a fire time and the household-local date of its period.
+type fireTime struct {
+	at   time.Time
+	date store.LocalDate
+}
+
 // fireBefore returns the latest fire time of r in zone loc at or before t.
-func fireBefore(r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) (time.Time, bool) {
-	var best time.Time
-	for _, at := range fireTimes(r, loc, t) {
-		if !at.After(t) && (best.IsZero() || at.After(best)) {
-			best = at
+func fireBefore(ctx context.Context, r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) (fireTime, bool, error) {
+	fs, err := fireTimes(ctx, r, loc, t)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fireTime{}, false, err
+	}
+	var best fireTime
+	for _, f := range fs {
+		if !f.at.After(t) && (best.at.IsZero() || f.at.After(best.at)) {
+			best = f
 		}
 	}
-	return best, !best.IsZero()
+	return best, !best.at.IsZero(), nil
 }
 
 // fireAfter returns the earliest fire time of r in zone loc after t.
-func fireAfter(r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) (time.Time, bool) {
-	var best time.Time
-	for _, at := range fireTimes(r, loc, t) {
-		if at.After(t) && (best.IsZero() || at.Before(best)) {
-			best = at
+func fireAfter(ctx context.Context, r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) (fireTime, bool, error) {
+	fs, err := fireTimes(ctx, r, loc, t)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fireTime{}, false, err
+	}
+	var best fireTime
+	for _, f := range fs {
+		if f.at.After(t) && (best.at.IsZero() || f.at.Before(best.at)) {
+			best = f
 		}
 	}
-	return best, !best.IsZero()
+	return best, !best.at.IsZero(), nil
 }
 
-// fireTimes returns r's fire times on the local dates within window days
-// of t's. A rule that fails to resolve was validated at compile, so it
-// cannot.
-func fireTimes(r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) []time.Time {
+// fireTimes returns r's fire times for the local dates within window days
+// of t's, or atWindow days for a DailyAt rule. A Time that fails to
+// resolve was validated at compile, so it cannot; a DailyAt lookup that
+// fails is an error.
+func fireTimes(ctx context.Context, r Rule, loc *time.Location, t time.Time) ([]fireTime, error) {
 	today := household.Today(t, loc)
-	var out []time.Time
-	for i := -window; i <= window; i++ {
+	span := window
+	if r.At != nil {
+		span = atWindow
+	}
+	var out []fireTime
+	for i := -span; i <= span; i++ {
 		d := addDays(today, i)
 		if r.Weekly && weekday(d) != r.Weekday {
 			continue
 		}
+		if r.At != nil {
+			at, ok, err := r.At(ctx, d)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("fire time of %s: %w", d, err)
+			}
+			if ok {
+				out = append(out, fireTime{at: at, date: d})
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		at, err := household.LocalTime(loc, d, r.Time)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("scheduler: validated rule %+v: %v", r, err))
 		}
-		out = append(out, at)
+		out = append(out, fireTime{at: at, date: d})
 	}
-	return out
+	return out, nil
 }
 
 // addDays returns d plus n calendar days.