More groceries... in These titles mean nothing.

… this time from the local store that is open on Sundays. It’s now called Quillins, and it used to be Quandahls. How a little town can have two stores starting with Q is kind of interesting. I have a Quillin story to tell if you get to the end of this. If I remember. Oh well. Life is such. A jumble and time in a bottle and incense burned for religious purposes.

Onward!

1 gallon Oak Grove 1% milk 3.09
sf baked beans (big can) 1.89
sf mayo (quart) 3.49
Pepsi Throw Back 12x12 4.89
bottle deposit .60 you’re in Iowa, remember
sf pecan pie 6.39
sf horseradish mustard 1 .69
folgers breakfast coffee 4.19
braeburn apples 3 lbs 4.29
yellow onion .78 lb @ .79/lb .62
sf hot dog buns 1.19
ballpark buns 2.49 comparison shopping
om bun-length weiners 3.49
om bun-length wieners 3.49 comparison spelling
nabisco oreos 3.69
tomatoes .8 lb @ 1.89 lb 1.51
bone&skinless chk breast 4.51
sf banana pepper 2.29
sf cut green beans .59
M&M dark choc mint 3.69
sf relish 1.99
sf cut green beans .59 they got separated
20 lbs russet potatoes 2.49

7% sales tax was .60 (on taxable items - not sure what they were)

total was 63.75

I took the gas discount - the sunday open store gives you a discount on gasoline purchased at their adjacent convenience store. It used to be 10 cents a gallon, not sure what it is now. I have a full tank of gas but the kids have two vehicles here and one of them might need gas. It’s good until they close tonight.

The Quillin story? Quillins were from Waukon and they went to LaCrosse and became grocery store moguls. During the Depression my dad worked for a farmer north of town. He would tell me how much a month he was paid but I don’t remember what it was. I think he took a pay cut, or was asked to take one.

During the time my dad worked for the farmer, his own parents who farmed not too far from where I live now - the farm is still owned by my cousins - needed some help for a couple weeks and he went home to work there. While he was gone the farmer he worked for hired a temporary worker - who was one of the Quillins who later had a grocery store on every corner in LaCrosse. My dad would add a punchline to his story. The guy had wanted to keep my dad’s job.

No idea if there is a bit of truth to that story but I grew up listening to it.

~~~

I’m making potato salad. The twenty five pounds of potatoes will most likely be shared with relatives. When I opened the plastic bag, they smelled really fresh - like good earth.

John and family and Joana are expected for lunch. Hot dogs! Will suggested. Potato salad and baked beans. I always dress up pork and beans with catsup and mustard and I cook down the sauce a bit.

John and Will have been building a small deck/front porch on Joana’s house. Her house has a front door with side lights with the open stairs inside the door, living room to right and a hall back to kitchen. It must have been a kit house because it has a really nice layout. My house is a let’s build a little and then build a little more and I guess we are done now type of affair.

Anyway Jim found a picture of the little porch and steps that had been on the house in the 1950s and John is using that as a suggestion. Will is wearing safety glasses and carrying a tape measure clipped to his pants pocket. He has new work shoes that are hurting his feet.

Jim is still picking corn at the neighbors. And getting ready to start here too.

I brought in the flowers from the deck. They seem pretty happy on the round table by the east windows of the room without a name.

I washed the Buick this morning. The blue shows better now. It had gotten very dusty. Inside could use a once over with the vacuum but it’s going to have wait for a day when I have more ambition.

I’m working impossible hours and ended up on a couple sour notes at the end of last week. Sometimes I want to work there forever and sometimes I want to not go back at all. Life is a compromise.

I’m reading a book lbh bought me at one of our many book store visits. It’s called Out and it’s by Natsuo Kirino. It’s good, about a group of women who work together in a factory that makes lunche After about page 40 or sooner if you read the notes on the back cover, you realize your problems are kind of minor.

OK, friends, I gotta get moving. My boiled potatoes are cool enough to peel and slice into salad.

Have a good week everyone.

Before I leave I have to tell you about the Oreo Thins - Mint. My gosh they are good. I’ve never been a huge fan of Girl Scout Thin Mints - every one I know loves them. But these are sort of crisp and tasty. Even if they come from Mexico and if they are totally made of evil ingredients, I recommenc them.