Shopping Spree for Me!

Delicious!

Look at what I bought at Whole Foods.  My favorite fruit tart.  This is my main reason for going to this one store that is a good 15 minutes or more depending on traffic away from our motorhome. There are other grocery stores along the way, but this is my all-time favorite fruit tart and Yes! This is as delicious as it looks!  It was so good, I had to buy two of them.  Yea, this one is gone!  I will save the other one for tomorrow.  Okay, I'll admit it...I did buy other items from Whole Foods, but this was my main mission.

I also stopped by Joann's Fabric store.  I need backing for the Fancy Sue blocks and since they were having 30% off, I thought I would take a look.  It is not an excuse!  I really need backing!  I found some wonderful floral prints.  I think the pink floral is a good match, don't you?   I did not need the tan fabric, but I like the print.  Maybe I'll use it for the cornerstones in the sashings.

Fancy Sue's new backing

I found my salsa at the Commissary and stocked up on some good snacks from Trader Joe's along with some hummus and veggies.  Yum!

When I grocery shop I like to use my reusable canvas bags so I don't end up with a lot of plastic bags. I get asked quite often where did I get my shopping bags.  My Mom gave them to me several years ago from the Miles Kimball's catalog.  They are still available if you are interested in getting some for yourself (please see the link below). They are holding up very well.  When I remember to use them, I get a lot of comments from the store's employees.  They love my bags because they are clean and hold a lot of groceries.

Many people are using the recyclable shopping bags, but they are not keeping them clean.  From what I have seen used in the stores, they are big and bulky not to mention, they do not look like they can be machine washed.  I guess they would need to be mopped out by hand.  What a pain!  I know I would not be cleaning them very often. I have heard some horror stories from both the cashiers and the baggers.  Sticky, smelly bags with dried juices, old forgotten vegetables, and ..well, you get the idea.  How can people use a dirty bag to carry home their fresh groceries?  Yuk!  It is not much fun for the person bagging the groceries into dirty bags either.

I like my white bags for several reasons.  A dozen bags fit into one.  They are lightweight and don't take up a lot of room in my shopping basket or in our motorhome.   I also love the fact that I can toss all of them into the wash machine with a little Clorox, detergent, and hot water.  So far all of the stains have washed out including some cherry juice stains.

They get used for other things as well.  I often carry my laptop, books, drinks, camera equipment, or quilting projects in them.   Great to use at the Farmer's Markets too.  They are very handy for all sorts of things.

The price is right and I'm just sharing this information because I have been asked several times while shopping.  You can Google "White Canvas Bags" or go to this site -- Miles Kimball's:  Canvas Shopping Bags Set/4

 Happy Shopping!

Red or Green? Chile - that is! (Albuquerque, NM)

Yesterday, was a long day of travel with heavy winds so we were very tired after we settled into the Kirtland's FamCamp.  I found my mind going to all the different stores and restaurants that I want to visit while we were here.  Funny, but a lot of the places I want to visit/shop have something to do with....you guessed it!....Chile!

No?  Oh, you thought I was talking about quilts.  Well, you are close.  I am thinking about quilts and fabrics too, but there are wonderful quilt shops everywhere.  I can get a quilt/fabric-fix anytime, but a chile-fix?  There is none better than the Southwest area.

Dried Century Plant

I miss the Southwest especially New Mexico and Arizona.  The desert colors and plants.  The blue sky and yes, even the lizards and the sage brush. But, there is one thing I miss more than anything else  - after my friends, of course.  New Mexican Food!

Ever since Dan said we are going to stop in Albuquerque, I have been craving a Breakfast Burrito from Golden Pride.  Oh! So good! 

More Chile for me!

There are ten different breakfast burritos, but I always get the #9 - eggs, hash browns, bacon, cheddar cheese and green chile.  Dan gets his chile on the side so I get a little more for my burrito.  What a great get up and go - morning starter.  Who needs coffee when you have green chile to get the blood flowing?  Granted it is not too hot, but just spicy enough to wake those taste buds and say "Good Morning!"  I don't eat these very often so no comments about calories and hardening of the arteries, okay?

For lunch, a Dion's Pepperoni and Green Chile pizza.  Or! Enchiladas with red chile from Sadie's of New Mexico. .....excuse me, I need to go wipe the drool from my chin.

A little barb wire. A couple of cactus...

Okay, I'm back.  While I am here, I plan to stock up on Hatch's Green Chile and Sadie's Salsa.  Shop at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and all my favorite quilt shops.  Oh man!  I don't know where to start!  Okay, deep breath.  Time to make a list of things to do.  At least, I got my chile-fix for today.

So, all this thinking about red and green chile, I had to do a tribute to Red or Green? Chile Treasury last night.  Enjoy!  and watch out for those spicy ones!