I hadn't been to my regular grocery store since Gracie had been born...until today. It's just far enough away that driving there uses up too much of my window of time between feedings to actually shop, bag my own groceries, and get home to put away the cold stuff before needing to feed Grace again. And, I'm not going to feed her at the grocery store, especially while somehow getting Jonathan to just sit there and wait.
Anyway, we decided to give it a try today, and it was a successful trip. I have really missed shopping there, both kids did great, and I made it home before my window of time disappeared! I'm glad to start shopping at my favorite store again. (Although I didn't miss bagging my groceries.)
On the way home, I passed a fruit stand (one of many,) and there was a sign in front that said Fay Elberta peaches! This is a once a year opportunity, and last year I missed it. I don't remember ever seeing a sign for Fay Elbertas in the past. A sign isn't usually necessary to sell these peaches. Locals know where they are and come to get them every August...no advertising necessary. I generally don't do fruit stands with kids, but I turned the car around, got the kids out, and found the peaches. I was going to buy a basket, but the fruit stand lady said that tomorrow would be the last day for Fay Elbertas. So, I bought two baskets. $9 and hopefully worth it. We all got back to the car-and carrying an infant carrier with bags of peaches is tricky. At home, I weighed my beautiful peaches and found out I had gotten 12 lbs. of peachy goodness for $9. Not bad! I really hope they are as good as I expect. They're a little too firm to eat tonight, but we'll eat as many as we can as they ripen, and puree and freeze the rest for Grace to enjoy this fall when fruit isn't in season. (I'll introduce her to veggies before peaches, otherwise she'll be spoiled for life.)
There is something really special about living where all our food grows. I love it in the spring when the trees start to bloom, and I love it in August when harvest season begins. (I can't really call it fall because it won't feel like fall for quite awhile yet.) It's a dry, dusty time of year, but there's something beautiful about it, too. Beautiful like those peaches that grew just a hop, skip, and a jump from here.
