To Sister's House I Go

Yesterday, I met my sister at the ice cream store 1/2 way between our two homes to return items she left up north after visiting us at "the cottage" earlier this month. My blouse with the theft protection inker still attached just happened to be in my car, as I was planning to visit a Sears sales associate soon to have it removed. Sis was headed out to do some shopping for her upcoming trip to Philadelphia, so I suggested she take my blouse to Sears, have the theft protection inker removed, then borrow the blouse to wear on her vacation. She took it.

As it turns out, there is not a Sears in the shopping district nearest her town, so she inquired at Victoria's Secret where she was told employees have to sign an agreement when they are hired there that they will not attempt to remove theft protection inkers on articles of clothing from stores other than their own. Who knew?

She then took the blouse to J.C. Penney's where the absence of that rule allowed a helpful sales associate to attempt removal of the inker. Apparently, theft protection inkers vary from store to store and so do their removal tools. This faux pas has become a grand opportunity for education. Stinker inker remains clamped on.

In honor of the Penney's associate, who at least gave it the old department store try, I will return to Sears with the blouse in this:

Years ago, I.T. discovered a back roads route to my sister's place that I have never been able to successfully navigate. Instead of shaving eight to ten minutes off the trip, I add about twenty every time I attempt the shortcut. Today marks a milestone. I got it right, arriving at Sis's in 17 minutes flat instead of the 25 it takes by the main road route, with only light speeding.

The back roads offer additional advantages. The Family Farm that sells thee best donuts in the mid-west is on the route. When the sign is out, the donuts are available- they're seasonal.

I don't recall ever meeting a baker whose donuts aren't ready until 3p.m. It was 10:30 in the morning- normal donut time. I stopped anyway. The gals who run this outfit homeschool their kids. I've sold them plenty of curriculum from the Home School Bookstore, where I used to work. I bagged a box of one dozen donuts for $2 less than regular price- baked less than 20 hours earlier. Fash and I shared when I got home.

I wasn't as lucky with the corn I craved for dinner.

A half a mile later:

No corn. But later in the day I found this growing in my back yard! I never knew it was there. Never saw it before. Vegetables can be sneaky like that.


Wish you were here. (Cause it really woulda been better if I hadn't eaten mosta these myself.)

*The coffee was too weak and I put too much cream in, that's why it's so light colored. But this French press I got from my brother-in-law is fabulous and makes an excellent cup of creamy, delicious coffee. I'll never go back to my machine. Have you tried a French press for making coffee? Fabulous!

Finally, wanted to show off the productivity of my sister's chickens. Clearly, someone is not doing her part, but that's beside the point. Fresh eggs! To quote a famous and faithful blogger, "Woo to the hoo!"