Grocery Stores Getting Creative, Too

I know it costs more to buy small packets of clean and cut up vegetables at the grocery store. At my store visit today, I noticed that the produce managers had moved these packages from the left rear of the produce section to pretty much front and center when you come into the store.

I looked around at the offerings and decided not to buy any now, but I thought to myself what a great idea this was for the holidays. If you slave over cutting up celery and onions and other veggies to make stuffing, you no longer have to do that. You can just grab a couple small tubs of already cut up vegetables and concentrate on more important things, like mashed potatoes.

I neglected to check the pricing of these small items when compared to buying vegetables in their natural state, but I am guessing they will cost more. How much, I don't know.


There's the decision: Pay more for convenience or not?

It will all depend next week on the mood I am in when I shop for Thanksgiving. Not sure which way I will go, but I know what my decision would have been back in the day when my children were young. I would have snapped up those pre-cut veggies so fast . . .

Creative Fun with Lake Rocks

Lake rocks with Crochet Covers, stenciling, stamping

On a recent trip to Erie, PA to see the Tall Ships, we found a boat ramp on Lake Erie where smooth rocks by the thousands have come to rest.

I was intrigued by these rocks and gathered up a bunch to bring home. I found directions on the internet for covering the rocks with crochet using light thread (but I eventually made up my own patterns as it was easy).

I also began to stencil and stamp on them, using these techniques on the top rock, which I then positioned on top of a crocheted one. Very cool.

There's only one problem. Since the rocks are free and available and only need to be washed before use, you would think I would be making these by the boatload. But I just haven't had time to make the two hour drive back to Erie to gather up some more. Hope to do that soon.

If you are intrigued by this project, I hope you have a ready source of rocks like these near where you live.

Here are some more photos: