.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, August 17, 2013

A surprising first for me

I bid Gypsy a fond farewell early this morning as she headed out to continue her journey to New York.  Then it was back to the business of living.  I hung out two loads of laundry to dry, gathered my things, and drove to Fargo, ND, to take care of some errands.  It seems that after only a little over a month, I had run out of chocolate covered sponge candy.  Horrors!  I’ve told you before how much I like sponge candy.  It’s hard to find, and I’m going to enjoy it while I can.  I bought a full pound this time.  I did ask if they ever sold it without the dark chocolate covering, and they said no.

Since going to Fargo meant I would miss the farmer’s market in Detroit Lakes this morning, I decided to check on line to see where the Breadsmith store was in Fargo.  They come to the market every Saturday, and it’s the best bread I’ve had since Ackerman’s Bakery in Chicago when I was growing up.  Turns out there are quite a few Breadsmith stores scattered throughout the country.  Their breads are old European type breads that are hearth baked, hearty, and have a crispy crust.  None of that mushy Wonder Bread kind of stuff.  I ended up buying three loaves at their store: Rustic Italian, Russian Rye, and a loaf that I think was called Patriotic.  The patriotic loaf was a crusty white bread with blueberries and cranberries baked in.  The young sales clerk said it made the best toast she’d ever tasted. 

Three loaves is a lot for one person, but they freeze well for up to three months, so I just cut them in half.  I’m set for several weeks.  As I was checking out, the young lady said, “My, you have beautiful nails.”  What the heck?  No one has ever commented on my fingernails before.  I’ve never had a manicure, and I don’t do anything special with them either.  That was a surprising first for me.

After a couple of other stops, I headed back to Tamarac.  I saw a sign for fresh sweet corn, and just had to stop.  I generally only buy two ears, but this farmer had three varieties for sale today, so I ended up with one of each variety: white, yellow, and bi-colored.  After fresh tomatoes, fresh sweet corn comes next.

IMG_0175

                             It’s wheat harvesting time around here.  I just love the undulating contours.

After a hearty breakfast this morning, I had timed my trip so that I would be hungry just about the time I would be returning back through Lake Park, MN.  Now why would I do that?

73 Tamarac NWR, 201326

So I could stop at the malt shop, of course. Winking smile  I’m a malt fan, not a shake fan, so with home grown tomatoes, crusty bread, sponge candy, and malts within driving distance, this area could be my paradise.

IMG_0177  And next to the malt shop is a classic car place.  It’s kind of like slipping back in time.  How cool is that?

73 Tamarac NWR, 201327

I’m not into old cars, or even new cars for that matter, but I enjoyed taking a peek at these old classics.  You’ll have to figure out what they are, because I sure don’t know.

IMG_0182

I’m thinking someone could pick up this old Catalina for a song if they were into that classic restoration thing.

Well, that was my day today.  It’s time to bring Emma back into the rig, and I suppose I’d better wash the dirty dishes.  I leave you tonight with a bevy of trumpeter swans swimming off into the horizon…

IMG_0170

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

32 comments:

  1. Malt?? Did you say Malt?? Oh boy how fast can I get there. I wonder if it is a midwestern thing? And Rye bread, my favorite and always in my freezer. How do you feel about German Chocolate Cake?? David can tell you the make and model of every one of those cars if you want me to send him over to your blog. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful day...I could almost hear you singing "these are a few of my favorite things!" all the way in Moab! You really cashed in today!

    What a nice picture of the wheat being harvested. Such perfect rows! I do love old trucks even though I don't have a clue as to the make or year. Just think they are so cool.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love malts. So much better than shakes. Just no comparison. The bread sounds wonderful. I'm really having a hard time finding a bread I like anywhere. I love heavy multi grain breads. Jim is the mushy white bread kind of guy and I just don't understand that at all. I haven't said anything to Jim but I really don't care if I see any more old cars for a long long time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, gosh, that bread sounds FABULOUS! We're planning a trip to Iowa in October and I hope to find some Midwestern deliciousness there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad you were able to restock your chocolate covered sponge candy. I'd hate to see you go into withdrawal... :cD

    No wonder you got compliments on your nails. With all that post painting you've been doing, your nails must have taken on that color!

    ReplyDelete
  6. In the malt versus shake wars, I'll always take a malt, preferably chocolate! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. A native midwesterner, I split as soon as I was my own boss (lived thru 3 tornadoes too many including the Palm Sunday tornadoes of '64) and since my family's gone don't often think much of it, but you've done now!

    Wheat. The smell of it, the warm sun on it, wading barefoot in it up to your knees to shovel it into the wagon (not the way they do it now I'm sure, but look what they miss), chewing it for "wheatgum", the sight of the last few rows falling to the combine....some things really do get to me!

    And then you piled on fresh corn and tomatoes...and then malts!! It's a good thing you didn't add in breaded tenderloin or I'd have to quit reading you. :)

    Thanks for the trip...

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fun reading up on your escapades in my old stomping ground. I've been to that malt shop. Yum. Beautiful pics!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Malts and that great bread. Hope the sweet corn is just as good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the photo of the wheat field.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a perfect day to me. All the things I like too- food, old cars, and a nice road trip.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The wheat field photo is beautiful! Maybe that's where they get the wheat to make all that fantastic bread.

    ReplyDelete
  13. now that was a great haul. . .I love homemade bread, the Patriotic one sounds so great!

    Janice
    ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing Blog
    FaceBook.com/ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing

    ReplyDelete
  14. yep i too am in the malt camp...

    ReplyDelete
  15. One thing I will never hear is anything related to my nails. They are horrible no matter what I do to them.

    Sounds like just about a perfect day. Love the malt shop.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm glad you got your malt! I would have to say I love the photo of the wheat field too. I've been fascinated this whole trip with all the hay fields and bales of hay, and commenter Sarah really waxed poetic on the subject!

    ReplyDelete
  17. yes it is harvest time. My favourite time of the year. I forgot to mention that in Canada they sell a chocolate bar called a Crunchie Bar that is chocolate covered sponge toffee. You can just run down to the local store and pick one up. In fact I had one last night lol

    Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  18. That bread sure sounded good. What's the difference between a malt and a shake?

    ReplyDelete
  19. It sure is in the little things, isn't it? Life is good.
    (It helps if you have nice nails off course :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. A couple of weeks ago, I took my two young nieces out for shakes. I ordered a chocolate malt. Both wondered what a malt was. Once they had a taste, I did not get my malt back :/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Paradise... possibly... except for ticks, skeeters, and biting black flies!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great day (other than Gypsy leaving)...artisan bread, malts, fresh corn...man you hit the mother load! My Mom used to make sponge candy at Christmas. Wonder if I could find the recipe. No chocolate on it though. I don't think it was hard, but probably not something you'd want to do in the RV. I remember it was HOT making it. Will see if I can find that.

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a great day (other than Gypsy leaving)...artisan bread, malts, fresh corn...man you hit the mother load! My Mom used to make sponge candy at Christmas. Wonder if I could find the recipe. No chocolate on it though. I don't think it was hard, but probably not something you'd want to do in the RV. I remember it was HOT making it. Will see if I can find that.

    ReplyDelete
  24. PS: Forgot to tell you I LOVE the wheat field photo! And of course the old cars...and the malt shop....sigh.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a wonderful day you had. All the goodies in the breads and then topped off with chocolate malt...so good! That bread makes me want to go make some fresh bread. The loaf with the blueberries and cranberries sounds very tasty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How did you know it was a chocolate malt that she had?

      Delete
  26. I am of the malt generation too! The bread sounds really good. Soon there will be wheat chaff glistening in the air every night unless it rains:)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Got to stop at the malt shop- a girl can't live on bread alone:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nice Post.Thanks for Sharing this in your Blog

    ReplyDelete