Matt and I decided to try a food Co-Op for our produce this week. We like the idea of supporting small farms and local farmers when possible but the convenience of the big grocery often wins out for me.
When reading one of my favorite mommy blogs I came across a post for Bountiful Baskets. I learned that they have a drop location in Grapevine. I figured we would try it once and see if we liked it. For $27 I ordered a conventional basket – 50% fruit, 50% vegetables, paid a first timer fee and added an Italian pack of extra vegetables and fresh herbs. The only kicker is that you don’t know what you are going to get so it makes menu planning a little last minute but I think I’ll get the hang of it.
We were pleasantly surprised with our basket this week. Here is what we came home with: small watermelon, 2 pints of strawberries,
small pineapple, 7 apples, 3 bananas, bunch of parsley, oregano, rosemary, basil, 5 ears of corn, TONS yams, 1 red onion, 2 yellow onions, garlic, small eggplant, mushrooms, 2 crowns broccoli, cauliflower, 1 bunch of spinach, 2 large cucumbers, 2 zucchini, 2 grapefruit and 1 loaf 9 grain bread (which was given to us by a friend at the co-op. We did not pay for a bread basket). WOW! Tons of yummy produce, all of which we like and will eat. We actually had enough yams that we took some to the McLarens as payment for the loaning of a saw!
So, what’s the bottom line? After I made my list of produce I scanned the weekly grocery adds and totaled up what I would have spent at the stores. It appears that I saved about $12 as well as the time I would have spent store hopping. We also scored items I wouldn’t have bought this week because they were not on sale or too expensive (like watermelon and cucumbers). There are a few things I still need to buy like more bananas and some grapes but as far as produce goes we are set! Now to plan my menu!
Dean and I had to run to the store after school today. Since we were only getting a few items and the store wasn’t too busy I let Dean push one of the kiddy carts. He LOVED it! And surprisingly he did a great job. He only had to back up once and didn’t run into any other carts.
Ready to Shop!
Making Choices
Let’s go check out!
I don’t know what I’m going to on Saturday when I have to do my weekly shopping. I think he will be less than thrilled about riding in a cart. But it sure was a fun special treat!
For my birthday I asked for patio furniture. Dean loves to be outside and I wanted somewhere comfy to relax while he played. Matt, Dean and I had a great time dreaming about our outdoor space and shopping for the right pieces. Everything finally came in last weekend. A few hours of assembly later we have a nice, relaxing, outdoor area. Now if someone would just come landscape my yard I would call it an Oasis! Thanks to all who made contributions to the birthday patio fund. I am incredibly thankful for the gifts!
After giving Dean his bath on Thursday Dean and I heard a dripping noise coming from the hall right outside his bedroom. After a bit of investigating we realized that our hot water heater or HVAC unit was leaking! I immediately did what any good wife would do and called Matt at work! He left work a few minutes early and came to help me save our wood floors from the water. A several hours later we had wet towels, a draining water heater and an attempt at drying wet carpet. I was exhausted! So, I left Matt to monitor the draining heater while I went to bed. I had just put my head on the pillow when it started raining and then raining harder and then it started sounding like golf balls bouncing on the roof. I got up and went to the living room to find Matt looking out the window at a GIAN hail storm. The storm only lasted about 5 minutes but it sure felt like we were under attack. What a night! I hesitated to thow up my hands and say what next, scared of what the answer would be.
Friday brought dry weather, a plumber, and very heavy winds. Winds so heavy that they blew down our oldest section of backyard fence! Matt worked to pull the fence up, fasten it together and steak it upright in hopes of lasting until after the Easter holiday!
We had quite a run if “fun” and I’m gald were getting everything back in working order. Cheers to the good times of home ownership! 2 weeks shy of one year.
The CHHS girls soccer team went to the state playoffs. In order to send them off in style there was a community pep rally held the night before they left for state. I decided Dean would enjoy the rally and took him to see the drum line, cheerleaders and soccer players. Dean LOVED the drums. He danced, clapped and cheered those girls all the way to a second place state finish!
