Food

   Today I placed my order for food through the Community Food Co-op of Utah. 

 

   My first introduction to the Community Food Co-op of Utah was through a newspaper article about a year ago.  Hmmm.... fresh quality food, local vendors, and cheaper prices, it all sounded intriging.  So I cut our the article and put it in my "things to do" pile.  

   I would re-read the article. I would ponder.  The article sat in the pile for a few months. And then I tried it out! Oh!! Why did I wait so long?? The program is perfect for our small family.  Some of the other co-ops I read about seemed to only offer massive amount of food and I worried much would go to waste. I like that we can order a small amount or big on individual items.

   I love the fresh fruit and vegetables.  They are always a delight, especially in the winter.  We have also enjoyed the meat, bread, honey and I have evene ordered natural peanut butter that has become a new favorite of mine.  The selections are constantly inproving and expanding and I am anxious to see what this next year will bring.

     
   I find myself ordering half the time through the traditional way of an order form and check sent through the mail.  The other half, I  order online.  Their website has improved a lot the last few months and now it is a snap to order quickly and securely.  There are several pick up places in the bigger cities of Utah.  It is mostly available along the Wasatch Front, but it is spreading with pick up places in Heber City, Nephi, Tooele and Harrisville. And for you in Salt Lake City, they have several mobile markets during the month. 

   Their website is:  https://foodco-op.net/   They can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crossroads-Community-Food-Co-op-of-Utah/196614825967?sk=info

   For my friends in Northern Utah, I hope you try them out.  The next order needs to be in Friday, January 6th with the delivery of food on January 21st.

Fresh quality food while supporting the locals, THAT my friends, is

I'm Back....

YEAH!! After almost 3 weeks, we have phone, internet and TV service again.  I am so, so, soooooo, happy. We did borrow our neighbor's cell during this time, but it was sometimes a funny sight with how my husband and I used the cell....it took us 2-1/2 weeks to figure out how to answer the phone. We never figured out how to retrieve messages from the cell.  But oh well. Some day we may get a cell of our own...but for now we choose to spend the money else where.

And the internet....you are like a long lost friend.  (Sure, I use the internet at work everyday---many times a day in fact, but almost all of my favorite sites are blocked--like blogs, YouTube and Facebook.)  It is nice to have you back in my life.  But my internet friend, I have realized that I tend to spend too much time with you and I have other things I want to do. 

My dearest cable friend, we got you for the World Cup, and now we remembered and found the old antenna with a digital converter box works fine, thank you very much.  I will miss my money shows on Saturday night, Suzi Orman and 'Til Debt Do Us Part.  That is true.  And reruns at 3am when I can't sleep are a delight.  But we want to spend the money elsewhere.  Please don't fret!  My husband guarantess that, you cable, will be back with the coming of the next World Cup!!

Why were we without service for so long?? Well, Northern Utah, where we live, had a terrible, intense wind storm a few weeks ago. Branches fell, trees were uprooted, fences collapsed and shingles were carried away. Many big branches of our neighbors' pine tree snapped and fell. And as they fell, they took our out our cable line which gave us access to phone, internet and cable. My husband's work and my work were both canceled by 9:30am that day due to power outages.  Our power at our house was out until about 8pm that evening.   I didn't get any pictures of our messes, but here are a website with some great pictures: http://www.standard.net/slideshows/2011/12/01/high-winds-cause-damage-all-over-northern-utah

We ended up switching services for phone and internet.  And without cable, we will be saving over $60 and yet our needs and wants are still fulfilled.

And that, my friends, is:

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving weekend, I won't be at Target at midnight or Sears at 4am for any "doorbusters."  I'll be home, with family that I love and that love me.  We will be giving thanks and enjoying each others' company.

My time, especially with family and friends, is very valuable to me.

There are many ways to save on electronics and any other stuff than sacrificing precious time in order to go out at ungodly hours to wait in the dark, cold hours to save a few dollars. 

My Christmas shopping is nearly finished--with just 3 more gifts to get.  My life is blessed and content.

And that, my friends, to me, is

 

Photos of our house

A friend came over the other day to take our holiday family portraits. It was a fun afternoon.  We had our pictures taken  around our house because it is old and very pictoresque. 

He also took some photos around of our house. Thought you would enjoy them! Our house turned 109 this year.  Happy Birthday!

Our photogenic house

the porch

We even have an outhouse

...and in color

And that, my friend, is

A thankful heart

Maybe it is the agrarian harvest time or maybe it is the long dark evenings, but it just seems so natural to be reflective this time of year. And I love that about Thanksgiving time. 

Here are 101 things I am grateful for -- (in no particular order)

family ~ friends ~ internet ~ email ~ glitter ~ nail polish ~ copy machines ~ hot showers ~ flowers ~  weddings ~ the comics ~ books ~ flashlights ~ the crock pot ~ fresh snow ~ castles ~ forests ~ kindred spirits ~ smiles ~ Colombia ~ daffodils ~ rabbis ~ forgiveness ~ moss ~ little ones ~ fingerprints ~ Chicago ~ new towels ~ flannel sheets (in the winter) ~ cotton sheets (in the summer) ~ huckleberry ice cream ~ dreams ~ Frankie ~ massages ~ dusk ~ fires ~ kisses ~ Miss M ~ thrift stores ~ veterans ~ my boyfriend who prefers that I call him my husband ~ trails ~ summer ~ fall ~ winter ~ spring ~ chocolate ~ sanitation workers ~ used maps ~ falling asleep to the sound of rain ~ garage sales ~ waa waa lights ~ freedom ~ taste ~ touch ~ sight ~ hear ~ feel ~ pulaskis ~ book stores ~ color ~ hope ~ faith ~ charity ~ HOmE ~ lunch ~ bathing suits ~ berries ~ questions ~ fresh snow ~ the ability to read ~ clip art ~ big knives ~ sunsets ~ bubbles ~ stillness ~  honesty ~ Relief Society Presidents ~ poetry ~ a new day ~ matches ~ opportunities ~ brussel sprouts ~ inspiration ~ movies ~ technology ~ violins ~ roller coasters ~ Christmas ~ photo albums ~ hard wood floors ~ mountains ~ perfume ~ hugs ~ toilet paper ~ white out ~ soap ~ paper clips ~ sneezes ~ nurses ~ pianos ~ love

~ ~ ~

PS I have to tell you, when I started writing this list, it was a bit difficult.  But after I got to #73ish, the ideas just came pouring and I found myself being selective so I could end the list. My mind is now racing with ideas and items I am grateful for.  This has been a great exercise.

And that, my friend, is