Get out and . . .

Volunteer!

You thought I was going to say vote, didn’t you? Well, you should do that too but that’s in a few weeks. (Thank goodness. I’m tired of these political ads on the television and snail mail. So much waste. It goes right in the recycling bin.)

This weekend is a Volunteer Expo in my area. So, those that are local, please check it out! If you’re not local, maybe there is something similar happening. I think I found something I can volunteer for on weekends… I’ll post more when I know more.

Volunteer Expo, Newport News, Virginia.
October 25 : 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1st Advantage and the Volunteer Center are partnering to give people of the Peninsula a place to go to volunteer or donate. We will have at least 25 non profit organizations in the area for guests to learn about. This event is free and open to the public.

Just another Sunday in the fridge….

I’m still extremely upset about this class. I have spent so much time on it compared to my other one. I feel like I’m just wasting my time because no matter how much time I put in it, it seems I get the same result or it’s an inconsistent result anyway. What really gets me is that I could cheat and use someone’s answers but I don’t. I’ll cheat by eating food but not to get a silly score on a silly piece of paper. Weird, eh?

Well, the great news about today is that I got a gift of local honey! Its taste isn’t the same as the other local honey. This one’s more bitter? No. Not sure how to describe it but it’s not as wonderful as the other. But it’s local and it will do its job well. I also have a new place to check out, it seems, for local produce!

Breakfast

• Cheerios, 2 cups: 3.5
• Milk, 1%, 1 cup: 2
• Sugar, 2 Tbl: 2
• Diet Dew, 1 can: 0

Lunch

• Honey, LOCAL!, 2 Tbl: 2
• Bread, Whole Wheat, 2 slices: 4
• Banana: 2
• Kiwi, organic: 1
• Diet Dew, can: 0

Dinner – 6p.m.

• Amy’s Shepard’s Pie: 3
  Why don’t things look like the darn box? I should have had a clue when I looked more closely and saw the little bowl on the box that was nothing like the little white paper-y thing my pie came in. Taste was alright. There’s something in it that I don’t like though and not sure what it is. Did I miss the meat? Heck no. Amy’s great about that! Was it worth the almost $4? I don’t know. It’s better, point-wise/world-wise, than what I could have had for dinner so maybe.

  Do I get “activity” points for not having more leftover lasagna?

• Diet Dew, 1 can: 0

  I don’t usually start caffeine this late but I have a class meeting online at 7 p.m. and want to be somewhat “sharp” for it.

To market we go!

Checked out Williamsburg Farmers Market this weekend. It’s only open about one Saturday a month still and had quite a few vendors that sold flowers. There were also sellers of fish, goat cheese, bison meat, and honey. I went there to buy some local honey. I enjoyed the multitude of dogs that were out and about with their owners. I think I saw every breed except Great Dane!

I picked up a magazine called Edible Chesapeake that had some great information about what one can buy from local markets and a good list of what’s in season. I can usually tell what’s in season by the sales at the local grocery stores though. Asparagus for $1.99 a pound, anyone?

I am looking forward to checking out the Yorktown Market. A lot of the same vendors that are at the Williamsburg market look like they are going to be at Yorktown so I’ll save in gas!

If you’re thinking about going to a local farmer’s market, I recommend a few things.

• Bring a camera. It’s fun to take photos of the displays, especially if you buy something and can’t remember the name of it.
• Bring cash. That way you don’t have to worry about local check and ID, or whether or not plastic is taken.
• Bring your own bags. And make sure it will hold what you’re buying.
• Bring a cooler. If you’re going to buy anything that needs refrigeration like cheese, bring a cooler or cooler bags to help keep things from spoiling.
• Bring your sense of adventure. One of the great things about buying from the person that grew/raised what you’re buying is that she or he is a wealth of information. Try something new! That ugly vegetable might be your new BFF. Also ask about recipe ideas.