As it happens...

With the recent moves, and the fact that I've been essentially unemployed for the previous six months, and the fact that my rent has nearly tripled, and the fact that my job has me on a summer layoff... I am now penniless. As a single mom, I've been there and done that before. I coped as best I could, and usually managed fairly well. This time, however, I've had to turn to the food bank for help.

I've mentioned it before. Food bank fare can be less than apetizing, or in some cases not paricularly healthy. This time I have to say, I am proud of the donations made by the members of this community.

In my box, I found pasta and pasta sauce. I found canned meats, beans, soups, and crackers and cereal. I found variety of product, not variety of brand name. There was fresh milk, there were fresh eggs. There was even fresh vegetables available... Stuff that the grocery store would throw out was donated to the local food bank, and we could choose amoung lettuce, potatoes, plums, and apples.

I was even asked if there was anything in paricular that I needed. I asked for tomato juice or canned tomatoes and received both! What a blessing!

In these difficult times, where many are struggling to make ends meet, lets remember those that rely regularly on the food bank. Talk to your local grocery stores and restaurants... Maybe they can make fresh donations of produce still good to eat, but not necessarily marketable.

If you need to go to the food bank, know that you are not alone. There are people there from many backgrounds, and with many stories. Most of all, you will find a blessing there.

I know you have all made donations in the past, and I'm positive you will make donations again. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

Summers here and we moved... twice!

Well summer's here and since I've last posted I got a new job in another town, found an apartement, packed, sent one of my girls to France on a school trip, moved, got sick, called the health departement only to learn that there is a ton of mold in the place, searched for another apartment and moved for a second time in less than three weeks...

I am slowly unpacking the non-essentials, as long as we have clothes, food, and dishes, we are okay. So now I can start exploring my new (old) neighbourhood. New because I've never lived in this neighbourhood before. Old because I've lived in this town before many years ago. I am excited to see so many new restaurants, and ethnic restaurants too! WOW! I'm glad to see many of the old places are still there too. That means my chosen industry is doing well here... I do beleive I have come home...

What makes this place, well, next to heaven? The farmer's market that is half a block away. We can roll out of bed early Saturday morning, get dressed, walk over and buy a danish to eat while we peruse through the other stalls. Local meat, thick cut bacon, fresh farm eggs (which I'll have to get the kids used to...) And fresh vegetables grown within a few kilometers from town. I bought a bag of mixed salad last week, we ate from it over the week, and had the last serving on Friday. Bagged salad from the grocery store wouldn't last so long! Specialty dishes like samosas, and fresh kettle popped popcorn (what a show that is!!!) And fresh baked goods... Local artists selling there wares... Talking with the producers of the product about there goods, sharing recipes and ideas... This has to be a simple taste of heaven. I think I'm going to like it here!