Saturday, January 23, 2010

Sigh... coffee... at last

The temperatures warmed just enough for me to borrow Christopher's car and run much needed errands on Friday.  It was a win-win situation for both of us, I got the use of a car until late afternoon and he was dropped off at the door of the building which holds his (early) Friday morning class.  At least his "early" class this semester is at 8:30 and not the horrid 7:30 science lab of last semester.

Is it my imagination or have grocery prices taken another quantum jump?  Just seems that way after shopping Target in the morning and Wal Mart in the afternoon.  It is times such as last week's bad weather when I miss having my formerly deep pantry.  I used to rarely run out of anything (especially coffee!).  I did have enough decaf left to make a morning pot... but it just wasn't the same.  My first cup of coffee in the morning is one of life's little delights.

Speaking of delights... regarding Freddie's comment of yesterday... ROME!  I'll pack and be there as soon as I can find a ship heading for Europe (having that airplane phobia that didn't get any better on my last flight into Connecticut).  It sounds wonderful but alas... not in any budget this lifetime.  :)

So I remain here in a very damp American Midwest, hoping the slightly warmer temperature melts all the ice on our gravel lane before more snow is expected early next week.  I have two more Elisabeth Goudge books to read (in my "month of Goudge"), perhaps while the dishes are soaking in the sink and a load of laundry is washing.  Well, I can't get both books read then but you know what I mean...

12 comments:

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

I totally agree that prices have taken another huge jump. I will be right with you on a pretend trip to Rome, as I also know in my lifetime I will not be going. I must check out the books you are reading. I will be looking for a couple of new pieces to wear for my upcoming audits. I was shocked that Goodwill even has gone up on prices. Maybe I need to soak again in the "be content" scriptures. I have felt guilty about our tea party with so many suffering in Haiti. Even though I feel I've done what I can to help with the situation I suppose some would think we were very wrong to have such a good time in light of the circumstances. Your posts are always so good. I think the Midwest is a wonderful place.

ninar said...

I am not a coffee drinker but my husband always says that drinking de-caf coffee is like kissing your sister.....

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to pop in and say how much I enjoy reading your blog. It's always a breathe of fresh air when I most need it.

Yes, prices are rising. Faster than I can keep up it seems. I try so hard to stay on our budget and still buy for the pantry. It's becoming harder and harder. Harder still since I went back to work full-time and school part-time. Those times that I had for cooking for scratch are hard to find. I'm still trying to eat healthy, cook as much as I can, and still hang on to our money but it's seems harder each week.

We're eating lots of soups and trying to stay stocked on the basics if we can do nothing else.

My best advice is a little zippered pouch where I keep my grocery money in cash. When it's gone - it's gone.

Take care - spring will be here soon.

Charlene in Virginia

Anonymous said...

So glad you got your errands done...and your coffee.
Have a nice weekend.
- Kathi

Vee said...

No, it's not your imagination. The prices are crazy high now that the holidays are over. I'd be tempted to be nervous, but I keep coming over here and being reminded that God is in control. It is also comforting to read that you now have coffee...the real coffee.

myletterstoemily said...

i love finding homeschooler blogs, as i did that with my five grown kids.

way to go! you will never regret this, even though
they may occasionally tease you in the future about
all the stuff you make them do. :)

thank you for the great blog!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

And so did Miss Victoria get her special brand of nibbles too while you were out?

I was thinking about her when I was putting Miss Kitty's food in her dish... she's quite fussy about her nibbles too.

Anonymous said...

morning coffee is necessary before going to the chaple at early time in the morning...
ciao
freddie

matty said...

Having John home has seriously impacted my coffee stash. I was out for three days and really had to make a conscious decision to buy more. It is so expensive now! But, knowing that he is leaving us in two weeks, I felt stingy not buying it. So, I did. I'll do without when he ships out!

Everything is going up; we are finding that wonderful pattern of the 1970s in our house -- casseroles and crock pot! Gotta love 'em!

Stay warm and enjoy reading!

Matty

Scrappy quilter said...

Prices have gone up here too. As to Rome, won't ever happen in our lifetime either. However we are looking towards going to Ireland in a couple of years (God willing). Hugs

Lisa Z said...

I think the price jump. at least for produce, has to do w/ the storms in California.

carla said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing Elizabeth Goudge to my attention. The library only had one of her books (The Scent of Water), which I finished last week. It's different than Miss Read but definitely in that genre, which I love.

Wish we could sit down and discuss it together. I'm not a poetic type person and some of her descriptions lost me, but I know they were important to the story line.

What subjects she tackled: mental illness, loss, how bitterness can twist a life, but also overcoming fear, joy in small things and most of all - finding God.

I've ordered 2 more (can't remember which ones, they were the ones that were affordable. Have you seen the prices of some of her books on amazon? Ouch!)