Souvenirs

I'm not big on souvenirs. I don't like clutter or knick knacks. Actually, I think I DO like those things, it's just that I can either have a bunch of stuff, OR remain organized and tidy. Not both, unlike my best friend, who has more stuff than anyone I have ever known, but everything has its place and stays clean. She is a world champion duster.

So I do not have a lot of stuff. We buy perishable things, of course. In Montana we stayed for one night at a winery and ended up buying three bottles.

Side note: the winemaker told me that they only make wine from grapes that are hardy enough to withstand a Montana winter. I didn't know there were ANY grapes that hardy. When I asked him how low the temperatures got, he told me,

"Oh, negative 20 or so." My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. As a Northwest girl, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around temperatures that low.

It was sad when we finished the Montana wine. Just as it was sad today when I used up the last of the black beans we bought in Louisiana. We got them at this awesome fruit and vegetable stand in Lafayette, called Fresh Pickin's, where the people were delightful and the produce was epic. Their shop is full of locally grown tastiness (local oranges, OMG) and Cajun treats.

We arrived in Louisiana late on a Saturday evening, and on Sunday we went out exploring and looking for groceries. We were a little tired and disoriented, as we always are after a long travel day, and the folks at Fresh Pickin's were fabulous. They welcomed us in, helped us find the fruit and veggies we needed, and were shocked when they found out we'd never had boudin before. Boudin is a spicy, meat and rice filled sausage that people in Southern Louisiana are, justifiably, very proud of, because it's delicious and filling and unique and just writing about it makes me want some.

After that first trip, we shopped at Fresh Pickin's at every opportunity. One of the opportunities we grabbed was for a full pantry and dry goods restock, which for our family includes things like rice, beans, popcorn, oats, and grits. At Fresh Pickin's, every one of those items was local and organic. Because we used to BE a small farm, we love to support small farms across the country, so shopping there gave us a chance to do that, and also to connect with people who became friends.

That, ultimately, is why I have this blog. Because I don't do souvenirs. But these stories, while they are simple and small and not particularly exciting, are important. I used the last of my Louisiana black beans today. The Montana wine was gone a couple of months ago. But my memories and stories of the people who provided them for us will never be used up.