Praying & Juicing

My daughter has had her juicer for about a year, and she loves using it. Often, when we are there, she will make juice with whatever happens to be in the fridge. These are the juices she made on Monday:

 

Apple, carrot, spinach, and purple cabbage. We tried different combinations and found that it didn’t take a whole lot of the spinach. By itself, the spinach was very earthy and “green.” It all tasted good, though, and it got me to thinking that this would be a good way to eat a wider variety of vegetables.

After we got home, I did some research and found a model made by the same company that made Jen’s. It got high marks and sounded easy enough to use and it was reasonably priced. I had been leery of buying a juicer, thinking they cost hundreds of dollars. Jen paid $100 for hers and the model I was looking at was under $200. I did a check for where to buy locally, and the website showed that  Bed Bath & Beyond had one in stock.

As an aside, I do not like shopping at big box stores. They terrify me. I cannot find what I want. I cannot get help. Nothing about the process is easy. So, it was with trepidation I made the trip to Bed Bath & Beyond. I prayed about this before I went, asking God to guide me in my decision to buy a juicer. Was it the right thing to do? Was I just buying another gadget? Would it be a waste of money? Here was the deal: if I walked into the store and immediately found the juicer, with no trouble, then I knew it was the thing to do. If it was not just sitting there, then I would leave and figure this was not to be.

I went early in the morning, arriving at the store at 9:50. A sweet clerk immediately greeted me and asked what I needed. I told her about the juicer, that it was Breville, and that the website said they had one in stock. She took me a few steps to the juicer area, but she didn’t recognize the name. We walked around the display, and there it sat, right in front of us. I got out my phone to check the picture I had downloaded to Pinterest, and it was the right model. She asked if I needed a basket, but I said no, telling her my story about praying about this before coming in, and that this was all I was buying. She laughed, and said it must be the right purchase. I took it to the checkout counter, went right through, and was in my car, taking this picture at 9:58:

 

And, this is the glass of cranberry, apple, and fennel juice that I made this afternoon: 

More about life in the San Joaquin Valley

As you may recollect, dear Reader, my retired teacher friends and I headed to small town Reedley on the first day of school this year.  One of my friends had never been there, and she enjoyed that visit so much, she was willing to drive out through the countryside again last week with me. That’s when we stopped and looked at the raisins on the ground in the previous post.

I frequently drive the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, through almond orchards, dairies, and cottonfields, on my way to the bay area to see my darling grandchildren. It was on the latest foray out that long, straight highway that I got a hankering for a drive to the east side of the valley, heading towards the Sierras. Each drive has a totally different feel to it. As one heads east, towards the hills, the roads are often winding, coming up on the Kings River in various places. There are peach and plum orchards, and of course, all those vineyards that produce a bounty of grapes. Lots of citrus groves, too. It can get mighty cold on the east side of valley in the late winter, and often frost reports scare the orange and lemon farmers, prompting them to keep an all-night vigil on their orchards. Sometimes they turn on wind machines; sometimes they burn peach pits; sometimes they flood the rows with water. All to protect the valuable fruit that could be destroyed in one freezing night. Now that I’ve given you a brief description of farm practices in this valley, let me move on to the city life!

My friend and I parked right in front of the Main Street Cafe when we got into downtown Reedley. As I’ve said before, this is like stepping back in time to 1957. I love this downtown. I had a delicious German sausage sandwich which I had been wanting to try on previous trips. Main Street makes their own sausage so I figured it would be pretty tasty, and it was, just like their fine pies. My friend got to have a piece of blackberry pie this time. Previously, I had eaten the last piece they had!

After such satisfying lunches, we had to walk off those calories before getting back in the car. Almost next door to the restaurant are two wonderful shops that are pure eye candy. Garnishes has a myriad of accessories that dazzle the eye. The collection of rings with huge, eye-popping designs was fun to try on.

Laughing at time

Next door is a store where I have shopped for years, David’s of Reedley. When teaching, I would buy holiday gifts for my department here. They have the most beautiful unique things.

At David's

They also have a blog (as well as Twitter & Facebook) that I enjoy. Seems we have a running conversation going most days! This time I bought a Halloween mask: 

Mama doesn’t need a new pair of shoes

For the past three years I have worked hard to get rid of stuff. Hundreds of books found their way out of the house and into other libraries. Dozens of outfits went to the thrift stores for others to wear. Dishes, cookware, glasses, and all sorts of baking dishes are now residing in other’s kitchens. All the paraphernalia I used for entertaining many years ago now make my friend’s parties more festive.  Not only have I removed all this STUFF, but I have refused to let new things take their place.

Some things, though, like books and clothes, which I dearly love, can only come in if something like it goes out. In other words, no new slacks unless a pair leaves; no new book until I give my last read to a dear friend who loves my castoffs. This past week, it was shoes.

I had a wonderful pair of flats, in brown, that I loved. I could walk all over San Francisco in them, I could wear them to school and my  students even liked them, they went with pants or skirts. All that wearing, though, began to show on these shoes and the real kicker came when our sick, elderly cat squatted and peed on them. It was time for them to go. Which meant I could get a new pair. Fortunately, Coach still makes an almost identical shoe, and it was on sale at Macy’s this past week. Ta-da:

New Coach flats

On Sunday I wore a pair of slides that I got for our daughter’s wedding, nine years ago. They only get worn during the summer with skirts and so don’t have much wear, but I did notice a stain on one of the white stripes after I stepped out of the car, and then I realized they were hurting my feet.

“I’m going to get rid of these shoes,” I said to my husband as we walked towards church.

“Does that mean you’re going to get a new pair?” He knew I had just replaced the brown flats.

“Probably not. I still have a pair of mules I bought at the same time and they’re still in good shape, and I always liked them better.”

Here are the shoes that got tossed today:

The Chinese Laundry slides are no more

And for now, I will have an open spot in my closet. I don’t need a new pair of shoes.

Out with the Christmas shoppers

Cool, breezy day here in San Francisco. I ran across the street to Walgreens with just a sweater but decided, before going on downtown, I needed a warmer jacket. Although I would only be outdoors from the tiny apartment to the BART station, two blocks away, I didn’t want to freeze going or coming.

I love taking BART to the Powell station and going right inside the Westfield Mall, never having to go out into whatever weather San Francisco might be dishing up for the day. Yesterday I walked to the Embarcadero Center and only got a little wet as I headed back from making a purchase at the GAP.

Christmas decorations at Embarcadero Center

Today, like yesterday, I went out with no purpose in mind, but just to see what I could see, and to stay indoors as much as possible doing it. Westfield is the perfect place for that.

Merry Christmas from Nordstroms

I started at the top with Nordstroms. Then headed to the other part of the shopping center where Bloomingdales has moved in. The top of the mall has a beautiful domed area and that is where Santa has set up shop this year.

Photos with Santa

Made my way, via escalator this time, all the way to the bottom where all the quick-serve restaurants are located, but decided to come home for lunch. While walking through there, though, I came across a large group of high school students with their teacher, undoubtedly on a fieldtrip much like the ones we would take our students on. I knew they were high school students because they were dressed as such and really stood out in that more professionally dressed environ. Another reason we always required our students to dress well, we didn’t want them to stand out like that.

I bought two presents while out these two days. A pair of slippers for Leeya and calendar for Terry:

Not on sale at Borders

On sale at the GAP

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Westfield Mall Christmas decorations

Catching the train at the Powell station

Powell BART Station

Originally uploaded by dkzody

Public transportation is great in San Francisco. It’s everywhere. Walk a few blocks, catch a bus, a trolley, a train, or a ferry. All these different ways to travel each had their own method of paying the fare until recently a new method has come along. The Clipper card.  It works on all bay area modes of mass transit. Even those fabled cable cars that reach half way to the stars.

I ordered one, preloading it and authoriziing it to automatically reload when it drops to a certain level. Took a few weeks for it to arrive at the tiny apartment, but last week I had it in hand when I headed to the Westfield Mall in downtown San Francisco. I didn’t mind the walk over as I love to look at the buildings and watch the people, but after shopping and loading all those purchases into bags, I didn’t want to walk back, and I wanted to try the new Clipper card.

The BART station is in the basement of the Westfield Mall so it’s very easy to take all those purchases, make your way down the escalators and catch a train. I only had a four minute wait, just enough time to snap a couple of pictures, and I was on my way home, which is only two stops from the mall. Love mass transit, and love the ease of the Clipper card.

At Embarcadero Center

From the top level at Embarcadero Center

Originally uploaded by dkzody

This shopping center, made up of four buildings spread over four city blocks, is a very short walk from the tiny apartment. Although it has no major department store, there are enough little shops to satisfy my shopping bug.

There is a wonderful theater here, on the top level, just steps from where I took this photo. It shows non-mainstream films that seem to appeal to me.

Sees Candy is a couple of levels lower. I occasionally stop in there for some caramels. A toy store and a stationery shop also tempt me on occasion. Terry likes the Tullys on one corner. His bank has a branch here so it’s a good place to stop off for cash on our way to Safeway which is on the next block over.

Yesterday, while wandering around on the top level, I discovered a Children’s Gap that I did not know about. Having found some good sale items at Baby Gap in San Mateo, I decided to try this one. It may become addicting. Such cute things at reduced prices. My grand daughter will have a few new clothes when we babysit on Friday.

Beautiful flowers everywhere at Embarcadero Center

Good morning San Francisco, just not this morning

Good morning San Francisco

Originally uploaded by dkzody

We were in San Fran last weekend, but today, another Saturday, we are in Fresno, doing chores and running errands. There is a house and yard here that clamors for our attention. Oh, and groceries, too. The larder was getting bare so I grocery shopped. A little laundry to round out the weekend.

One grocery store

My main grocery store

Remember my rant about Sephora? Well, I made it to Macy’s today and got my fix.

The concealer is being discontinued.

Unfortunately, Lancome is going to quit making my concealer so the counter clerk suggested stocking up. Is this a marketing ruse to get me to buy more? Probably, and it worked. All companies that make products I like send out spies to find out what I am using. Then they send word back, “Stop production.” It’s a conspiracy, I tell you.

The weather here is so beautiful and so I must attend to my yard, no excuses. When it’s looking better, I will post some photos.

The yard last summer.

Where do I get my fix?

Dear Reader, if you’ve been around here for any time, you know I love makeup and use it on a daily basis.  It is my drug of choice. For many years I have been able to purchase my cosmetics at a variety of stores–Macy’s, Weinstock’s, Gottschalks–here in my own town.  I would shop at Nordstroms and Bloomingdales when out of town.  Well, Weinstock’s and Gottschalks are gone, leaving only Macy’s in Fresno.  Fortunately, Macy’s has added another store, in an old Gottschalks location, fairly close to home.

There is also a Sephora store in Fresno and I have been shopping there on occasion.  However, I have discovered that Sephora is much like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, and other discounters:  they are a good place to cruise through to see what is in stock, but don’t count on them to have what you want on a regular basis.  This became clear to me this week when I specifically drove to the big shopping mall where Sephora is located, a trip I seldom make, only to find that they don’t carry a full line of Lancome products.

Now I will have to make a second trip to the Macy’s close to home and buy the concealer I seriously need to refill.  Due to a busy week, that will have to wait until the weekend.  Shopping is not my bag so not really a way I wanted to spend my Saturday.

I love the Apple store (and others)

Let me tell you, dear Reader, about some of my customer service experiences today.  

I had a lesson at the Apple store for my new iPhone and the service, as usual at Apple, was wonderful.  The girl leading the lesson was very knowledgeable and very patient with her five students.  I left there feeling much smarter.  No one tried to sell me anything.  The store was filled with customers.

Before I went to Apple, I popped into Sephora to see about some blush.  The young lady who helped me was so helpful that I not only got the blush but also a foaming face wash and got checked out in under 10 minutes.  That service sure made me smile.  Again, the store was full of customers and they were buying.

So, my question here is:  why can’t the whole world operate like the Apple store, or even Sephora?  When you stop to think about it, these companies are doing well and others aren’t.  Hmmm.

Where do you shop?

Because of prom, there has been a lot of talk among my students concerning clothes and where to shop.  Plus, a group of my students is involved in a survey about shopping habits, especially involving the mall.  So, the question has been:  where do you shop?

I rarely shop at our local malls, but I do like to go to some of the large regional malls when I go out of town.  There are certain shops I always go into, Nordstroms and Talbots being the main two.  Almost all of my clothes, and definitely my newer clothes, come from these stores.  Liz Claiborne, at one time, had a shop for larger sizes called Elizabeth.  I bought many pants there that I still wear.  Same thing with some pants I bought 15+ years ago at JC Penney.  Those pants just keep going and going.  

The Elizabeth stores closed and I cannot even find that brand at stores like Nordstroms who carry Liz Claiborne, which is sort of disappearing too.   I haven’t been to a JC Penney store in years but maybe I should.  A blogger friend of mine was wearing some really cute sandals in one of her pictures, and when I asked about them, she said JCP.

The kids who are doing the mall survey will get $20 to spend as they wish.  Wonder where that will be?