Where's the Grub?

Something that’s fun to do as we travel around is compare grocery shopping in various areas. I can remember when we lived in Iowa for a winter thinking that for a farm state, their stores sure didn’t stock much in the way of any “exotic” vegetables. Things like avocados were hard to come by. They had never heard of white corn. On numerous occasions I’d hear the cashier ask me, “What is this?” holding up a vegetable they were unfamiliar with. 

Surprisingly, what strikes me as most common is that the larger the area in population, the harder it is to find grocery stores. Why is that? You’d think with a larger population base, there would be more stores, not less. In the Los Angeles area, I would often have to drive miles to a store and then there would only be the one, so no choice or competition. And try finding a grocery store in Las Vegas sometime. 

Here in the Folsom and foothill area of El Dorado County there are so many stores offering groceries it is a virtual Mecca! Not only are there many different chains, but there are several stores within close proximity of each other in the same chain. Just as an aside I have noted: Safeway, Food 4 Less, BelAir, Raley’s, Nugget, Costco, Sam’s, Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet, WalMart Superstore, Supersaver, & Whole Foods. These are only the ones I have personally seen; I’m sure there’s probably more! Now Folsom is a town of 72,200 people but even figuring the greater area at 150,000 this is an outstanding array of choice in groceries! 

One would leave with the impression that people here must really cook at home, but the incongruity is that there are also more restaurants available than I’ve ever seen in any given area. Every corner is loaded with four or five and the shopping centers and strip malls are also full of them. So, which is it? Do people here cook at home or are they always eating out? How can some cities offer only two or three grocery stores and the same sized city in another state offers up ten or fifteen? Who makes these decisions, anyway?

I’ll leave you with some pictures of probably the fanciest grocery store I have ever entered. This is the Nugget Market in El Dorado Hills, a town of 42,108 of very high income demographic.

A few things were striking about this store, starting with the exterior with its filligreed metal window awnings. Inside the pre-made food/deli section occupied an entire side, far eclipsing any other section. Just about anything you would desire to cook or eat (pizza, Chinese, 20 kinds of salad) was already waiting for you. As part of this area, there was also a dedicated cheese “bar”. Look at those wheels of cheese! Seen anything like this?

The other end of the store, normally occupied in most cases by the vegetable section, is solely for wine in this store. I’m not sure even Total Wine stores stock more than was on display here.

The vegetable section, by comparison, was notably front and center and rather on the small side. Yes, this is the entire area.

Another novelty was a section dedicated to candy, dried fruits, nuts, and exotic items like seaweed or okra chips, all pre-packed. That was quite amazing as well. And finally, the seafood section was respectable given that we are a distance from the ocean.

Do any other inquiring minds wonder about things like this, as I do?

This is the Life, Man

Ya see, Mom got me this cool new bed after feeling sorry to see me just laying on top the table on my flannel blanket. Now, it’s all marked up with my fur and I’m diggin’ it pretty good! Especially since the sun comes in and warms me up much of the day. Mom says that’s about all California is good for, is the wonderful weather. But I did hear her tell Dad that she likes this place much better than shitty southern California and that this camp is nice and there’s lots of shopping. I don’t like it when she goes shopping though, as I get something she calls “separation anxiety” when she’s away. Sometimes that makes me feel like shredding things like Kleenex and bags all over the floor. Heck, all I know is that when she returns I sure have to let her know how much I missed her!

We’ve been in this new spot for a few weeks in the foothills above Sacramento and I concur, from my point of view, it’s the best place they’ve landed me in since I was just a little tyke. Since the campground isn’t full, there are lots of empty spaces full of grass (and tables for perching) where Mom walks me twice a day. And boy, you should see all the birds! Holy cow, I get to spend so much time getting down my stalking techniques. And you should see how fast I can run up all the oak trees around here! I’d really show her how high I could go if she didn’t always have that stupid rope thing tying me back.

There are even pigeons that lose feathers and Mom lets me play with them until I get too carried away trying to eat the tasteless things. But I figure any part of a bird is good enough!

The best thing happened the other day when we found a dead mountain bluebird just laying there like it was meant for me to find. Now I really know how fun they are to play with and I’d sure like to get me one of them live ones. Mom says I had better enjoy all these trees and grass good because we are leaving soon and then we’ll be back home. That place has a few birds that I get to watch but every time I try and climb the tree out front it has these stickery things which poke my feet but good. Yeah, this has pretty much been kitty heaven—after my new bed of course!

Time's a Flying

We’ve enjoyed a great break in Yuma after getting out of southern California. We had a nice Christmas with a yummy food get together at neighbor Bill & Rosemary’s and then Marc smoked our Christmas bird on the 24^th. On Christmas we took it and the rest of Christmas dinner around to a couple of my former seniors who were spending it alone and unable to cook. They were greatly appreciative; we had a very nice time visiting, and it gave good meaning to the true spirit of the holiday.  

New Years was quiet while Marc continued to work on his main project of a canning marathon lasting day and days. I think he did up eight turkeys and stock, plus a couple of pork butts; all of it now happily within the bowels of the RV for future easy dinners as we travel and work.

We got lucky and snared a fabulous bread recipe sent to us by my best friend Paulette and we’re getting the knack of no-knead bread which is easy peasy as pie! It is fabulous; so far we’ve done rosemary, lemon zest with cheddar, and just finished a Kalamata olive with roasted garlic loaf. This stuff is so simple even I can make it; it just sits around for 12 hours and then you bake it in a covered Dutch oven. Doesn’t it look delicious and hearty?

We’re on the countdown to leave here on Wednesday heading to Folsom, CA for Marc’s next project. He has worked so hard and such long hours that the last project ended up with him developing plantar fasciitis in his foot and it has been extremely painful for him to get around. For awhile he was even on crutches! We’re not sure how this will go since once he starts the project there won’t be any breaks for three weeks. At least we’re in a preferred location of northern California this time where we have quite a few friends so it shouldn’t be so boring for us.

Tis Getting to be the Season

It looks like we’ll make it home to Yuma (for a 3 week break) for the holidays as Marc’s project wraps up Friday night if all goes well. He’ll sleep Saturday and we’ll plan to hit the highway home early on Sunday. It’s around 310 miles but once we cross the mountains to the Palm Springs side the traffic eases tremendously. It will be such a pleasure leaving LA (the constant roar of traffic, the sirens, the nightly murders and mayhem) in the rear view mirror; you have no idea!

Nothing of any note has gone on other than Marc’s work and watching Rocket grow up. He is changing so rapidly but still the same sweet kitty only with a more pronounced personality. He’s still the master of his domain, which includes all areas of the RV, and for sure the master of my heart as he cuddles up with me every morning over coffee.

San Juan Capistrano

Part I
Sandwiched between I-5 and the coastal mountains south of LA, sits the very expensive and lovely village of San Juan Capistrano. On the beautiful fall Thanksgiving weekend we ventured forth to tour the mission, founded in 1776 as one of the 21 magnificent California missions built when California was under Mexican rule. The mission has been restored throughout the centuries in an attempt to preserve and arrest its decay, which is extensive, since the original building block used was primarily adobe. In addition, there was a major earthquake in 1812 which not only killed 40 parishioners in the old stone church, but toppled it into ruin. Despite this, it still stands eerily powerful against the vivid blue skies.

In the last photo one can easily note the method of reconstruction and the new versus original stone. This was a necessary step to make it more earthquake proof for tourists.

The original 120 foot bell tower also toppled with the church so was rebuilt adjacent to the church using bells of different eras. It’s probably one of the most photographed areas of the enclave and difficult to do without hordes of people appearing in the photos. The bells are still rung on special occasions.

The mission was built in a quadrangle and quickly grew to 1000 population by 1797. Agriculture and livestock (hides and tallow) were the primary resources but this mission was also the first one to see winemaking taking place; a precursor of California’s great wine industry today. A cistern type vat inside the barracks building allowed the grapes to be stomped with the wine draining through a channel to the outside brick lined vat.

Today of course, rather than livestock, the grounds are lovingly tended gardens featuring many species of flowering plants, cacti, native trees and palms.

An adobe chapel was replaced in 1782 with Father Serra’s church and is the only surviving church known to have mass given by the famous Father. It’s ornate gold-leafed alter is about three hundred years old and originated in Barcelona, Spain. Mary Pickford was married here in 1920 and the church is still an active portion of the Catholic Parish of San Juan Capistrano.

Lastly, who can forget the swallows of San Juan Capistrano, which return 2000 miles from their winter grounds around March 19th every year? That must be a sight to see! Final random shots:

Part 2 
Leaving the mission, Marc and I did a short walking tour of the historic district, now lined with well-kept old adobes, boutique shopping, and plenty of restaurants and coffee shops. We happened upon a well-preserved brick house, late 1800’s era, which belonged to one of San Juan Capistrano’s earliest settlers, “Judge” Egan. Peeking through the wavy glass door to a high-ceiling interior, we were disappointed to find it closed. From there we grabbed our picnic lunch in the town historic park and did a little driving around.

Farther along, we happened upon the Los Rios District Park and historic area. This area is also central to downtown so can be easily reached on foot from the mission. Today, with a few blocks of restaurants and small shops mixed in with old residential cottages, its claim to fame stems from it being California’s oldest continuously occupied residential area. Towering trees make meandering languid, shady, and fun. The old train depot here also serves as a stop on the areas Metrolink and Amtrak lines for those not wanting to drive to this area.