IowaDee

Let me add my thanks. These wonderful blogs are the only way I can visit this places. If there were only a way to make the amazing food photos into "scratch and sniff" ones, my world would be complete.

Met our daughter and hubby in Pella Iowa yesterday. The town has a large thrift shop supported by several local churches. Always good deals to be found and it is clean and organized and just plain fun to shop there. Found lots of stuff, among it were these books. Sauces and Salsas by Christine France-$1.00 Panini and Other Great Grilled Sandwiches-.50 cents Chevys Fresh Mex-$1.00 Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless-.50 cents Nature Writing edited by Robert Finch and John Elder-$1.00 I already own a copy of the Bayless book but it was too big a bargain to pass up. It will find a home with a friend or in a Little Library.

I agree, they are stunning. My first thought was that they look like living opals.

Catrina makes a lovely cake topping.

Well my Holiday shopping is done and everyone on the list is getting one of those. Oh Alice, Alexa, or who ever you are, where is my list?

Franci, the son of a good friend owns Steve's Key Lime Pies also based in Brooklyn. Funny, he started the business in Miami and moved to Brooklyn. We just found out recently that he will having a spot in the new De Kalb Market Hall. Would that be a place for you to showcase and sell your cakes? I know nothing about food halls or how you become part of one but they seem to be a growing trend right now. Whatever you do, you will be successful at it I know. A customer needs only to see a photo of your cakes and has to have one!

Any chance that is the Qiantang River where the huge tidal bore is?

LOL, I would have come home with ground chuck.

Wonderful, you look as if you have been making videos for years. So calm and organized, great job!

Not sure how to describe the ones I sometimes buy at a local Mennonite store. They resemble an untidy head of garlic. You separate each shallot from the head just like you would a clove of garlic. Size wise, each "clove" is probably two inches long. They are always plump and locally grown I suspect. And, here's the best part. at times they are cheaper than plain old onions. This is the same store that recently sold kilo sized boxes of Ile de France brie for ..99 cents. Yup. really kilo boxes...honest.

Yes, the one nearest to us is undergoing remodeling. It is a small store so I'm looking forward to the new, improved model. .

What a lovely arrangement! A painting waiting to happen. Makes me want to get out my long dried up paints and have a go at it.

Oh my, I think we were seperated at birth. My husband and I shop in the exact same way except for one thing. He goes off to the liquor department first and takes care of that. Priorities doncha know?

When I was a kid growing up in Mar Vista, Ca, Anderson's Pea Soup came in cans. Hadn't thought about it in years and now I want some too.What a great comfort food it was.

Nope, she would want nothing to do with the likes of me. I don't even own a cell phone. Let me correct this. We own a Track Phone but not a smart phone.

If Amazon is smart enough to let me know I already own the book, why isn't it smart enough to tell me where I put it? Now that would really be useful!

Wow looks as if Santa, The Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny dropped off all their leftovers at the same place. What an amazing bunch of goodies you found. If boredom ever sets in, you could organize and lead thrift store shopping tours. I'd sign up!

Hum wine in a can...is that a step up from wine in a box or a stop down? Either way, I want to try some.

Shelby, I think I recall seeing a box of wine in a background shot once. Just to let you know that you're not alone. Not even sure if I could open a real bottle of wine anymore. Corkscrew? What's a corkscrew? Don't spread it, but one of my kids call my wine "Mom's box 'o drunk." She means it with love I'm sure. Okay, back to the thread and thanks for letting me interrupt

Can't wait to see what your first few home-cooked meals will be. Eons ago I was in the hospital and was on a diet of soft foods and liquids. Told my husband I crazy for something to chew. His solution was to bring me a plug of chewing tobacco . That raised some eyebrows and I often wonder if they thought I might really use it. Nope, I didn't

We're not typical either. Fixed pulled pork tacos and they were very good. Son-in;Law said they were "food truck worthy" which I took as a high compliment.

I've seen an alligator snapping turtle and it looks like that except your is wearing his armor. Very cool and something fun to be on the look out for.

Is that what you call a "ghee whiz"moment? Feel free to groan now.

Your trip has come at the perfect time. Life recently reared up and took a bite of my arse. Things are calming down and going with you can only make it better.

I love the noses too, what a fun meal that must have been. Don't know how many of you have been to a site called, We want plates? They post photos of stuff served on anything and everything. They would have a real heyday with this meal. Much of it is done tongue in cheek but it gives me a giggle.