Grocery Shopping

I just wanted to report I went to the grocery store today, no alarms sounded - none - zero- zilch...it was a much more pleasant experience than a couple of days ago.

I am using many of the recipes from More with Less. If I had not purchased a gallon of organic milk and a couple of 12 packs of Diet Coke (they were on special) my bill would have been 10.00 less than normal. I did buy produce, meat, and chicken on sale. I planned menus for 8 days. I will have to purchase more produce but no more meat or chicken for at least 2 weeks. I will be using olive oil instead of shortening in the recipes.

There is a great book called Simply in Season I like very much. Some of the veggies which are in season now are growing in large pots in my yard. Hopefully I can harvest them soon. I have also taken a chance on 6 tomato plants. They are in pots ready to come indoors if need be. I want to eat a homegrown tomato in the worst way, broiled with a little Cajun spice sprinkled on it and a bit of melted paremsan or mozarella cheese...or a broiled tomato stuffed with spinach. I love homegrown tomatoes.

I may buy a giant pot and lots of dirt and try my hand at growing potatoes. I have broccoli, spinach, lettuce, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and basil growing. I will decide what to plant in the summer pretty soon. Last summer I didn't do much gardening because dad was so ill. I need to thumb through seed catalogues and see what looks good to me.

So as I talk garden, remember this from the Gospel of John:

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.