Going to the Market

Going to the market sounds simple doesn’t it. Well, for the basic bread and milk, yes.

Approximately thirteen years ago I left what was known to me - New England. First living in the Rocky Mountains then in the Sierra Mountains.

I always loved knowing or exploring what was around the corner, or taking people out and about.  Perhaps one could say that I am no different than “Janey” in the late 1700’s.  I have seen all contiguous 48 states in the USA.  For Canada I have traveled between Toronto and Nova Scotia.  I did visit Victoria in British Columbia.

I crossed the mighty Mississippi eight times, and for fun I touching the Pacific Ocean and Lake Tahoe on the same day.

Even my first life companion dog, Vangogh, visited 22 states, been to both Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, swam in all types of lakes across the USA, and played in 3 Great Lakes.

I drove the entire length of route 1/101 West coast from Canada down to 30 miles shy of Mexico with my dogs (sorry southern California, was not impressed after Oceanside.). With the East Coast, yes I drove ¾'s of 1/101 of east coast; need to finish. I also need to research and find out when it is a good time is to drive with a dog down to Key Largo.

Overall, not bad for a 44 year old female.

With all that traveling that I have done, I am now back in New England.  Back to the original thought to this blog entry, going to the markets, or more simplistic – food shopping.

This new adventure I jumped into without hesitation or regret, but with a full joy of life that led me to a unique issue with traveling (or in this case moving) with my dog – food.

Let’s start with shopping for my canine companion. With regret my German Sheppard has a food allergy to grains. (Also 1 grass, 1 weed, and 2 molds). He is now turning 3 this Tuesday. I found alternatives to steroids and Benadryl for my loyal friend. From Homeopathy to special diets, I am able to keep his aliments at bay, however finding stores for his treatments are a challenge.

The food I like to give my dog, at the moment, is Taste of the Wild – Salmon, with fresh boiled chicken mixed in.

Finding the food he needs is not easy at times. Each region you need to hunt and scout. Even though I plan ahead (I am a pain in the butt for planning) you may run out of supplies. Before going to a different region than you are used to, find the local feed store that carries your brand. IF the driving distance you decided on does not have your brand of food or supplies, call ahead and inquire if they would be willing to special order your dietary needs for your much loved canine.

I know it would be much easier if Wal-Mart made deals with real healthy no grain dog food, perhaps next year.

Now for us two-legged creatures.

If you really REALLY want to know the people, don’t go to the local bar or the local fast food place. Go grocery shopping for your favorite foods (other than potato chips and dip. You know, the cuisine you would consider “comfort food”.)

Now living out on the west coast, the food, well, in the region that I lived in for ten years, had little English/Germanic groceries, mostly a California base mix of Mexican, Asian, Indian, and Muslim.

Fruit and Vegetables – ah, no comparison to the rest of the United States; and that is not an insult! This is just a fact. Corn on the cob from May through November.  Fresh strawberries - three picking seasons.  My roses in my garden, without any kind of spray or fertilizer – in the mountains - bloomed from March through to the first snow fall of mid December. Just a different clement that requires a lot of watering from May through October for there is no rain fall.

Living out in California for 9 years I found and modified my own guacamole recipe (no different than some of my specialty recipes that I have for New England style cooking. One always takes a recipe and then tweaks it to a better perfection, or so we all think. Notice I did use that awful word assume.)

To buy my ingredients in a ruralish (not according to the stores, but according to big cities) I took hours in two well know established chains. Established chains are like IGA, Stop N Shop, Safeway (seems to be near identical to Stop N Shop), Piggly Wiggly, Yvonnes, Shaws, Albertsons, and Kings to name a few larger chains.

From basic fresh fruit and veggies, to can goods you will be hunting half a day to make the desired dish for your family and friends. The meat selection varies also. For example in the northern Midwest region you will find every kind of sausage. Every kind. (However, one of the best sausage places I ever have been too was in Lockeford CA called Lockeford Meats. One word FRESH! And description – OMG!!!).

Now settling in and settle for what is available until you are able to create your favorites from scratch. Once you find the local unique and special flares, you will be on your way to reestablishing you roots in a new locations with ease, be it for a return visit or a permanent move.

Side note to end:

They say you can never return home, however that is only partially true. There is a saying that change is good, however it is comforting to know that a few things do not change. For instance the fast food Chinese restaurant serves the same dishes that I recall over 30 years ago. Then a nice treat happens when you walk down the street and you are remembered as someone’s daughter and not by your own name.

The best part of no change are true and dear friends. Unconditional in their care for you as you care for them. They never change who they are in their hearts.