Shopping
We got our first delivery from Amazon Fresh. I believe you have to live near a Whole Foods store, which was a requirement on my retirement location spreadsheet.
Go me.
Amazon has two ways to shop at Whole Foods, and honestly, I don’t understand the difference, but I got what I wanted. Fresh raspberries, radishes, our favorite bacon, salmon and other goodies.
One item I ordered was a boneless ribeye steak. We usually split one. Was it as thick as we normally get? No, but hey, it’s a steak!
I liked the experience because they tell you whether it’s in stock before you complete the purchase. The packages were delivered within a two-hour window with no personal contact. Not even a ringing of the doorbell, which is fine with me.
Later we went to pick up an order at the Safeway. I drove to a designated spot, called the number posted there and popped the trunk. A few minutes later a guy put the groceries in the trunk and waved bye. No contact. They were out of oatmeal and hot sausage, but they substituted regular sausage. No substitutes for oatmeal.
Dale has entered the acceptance phase of his grocery store grief and is helping me with the tasks. He’s the supply chain guy, and he’s teaching me how to do it efficiently. I’m keeping a log of what I’ve ordered and assuming some things might not be available, I’m checking them off as they come in. Also keeping a running list of items we might need soon.
We have enough toilet paper, but I’ve been on the lookout just the same. Target claims they have some in stock, but you have to go into the store. This morning I found it on Amazon – a popular national brand – and theoretically it will be delivered next week. My days of treating toilet paper like party streamers are over. No details, of course, but it’s like my ass knows there’s a toilet paper shortage.
BAking
Oh, and I guess everyone is baking! We have plenty of flour, but thinking ahead, I ordered more AP and bread flour from King Arthur. Shipping is three to four weeks out, but that’s fine for us. I had some pastry flour in the freezer. I forget what I bought it for. I used it to make cinnamon hand pies this morning.
Reading
I successfully downloaded a book for my Kindle from the public library … the first of the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson. I liked it and want to read the rest, but I like to read them in order, and the next one wasn’t available as a digital download. I don’t want to pay for it, so I got another Jack Reacher by Lee Child. He can be a bit violent for me, but so far, so good. This one is “The Midnight Line.”
At the recommendation of writer Ann Patchett, I purchased (for $0.99) “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo. It’s a children’s book, and I loved it. In fact, it’s a quick read, so I may read it again today. I highly recommend this book if you haven’t read it. Quite uplifting!
I’ve been reading more than watching, although I look forward to every Sunday, when a new episode of Outlander arrives.
We’ll need to replenish the liquor soon. That’s when I learn about just-in-time delivery.
Hi Donna, Yum… Your hand pies look delicious! Yeah, regarding Target… last week, I decided to internet check for toilet paper and saw it was available at one of the several close to me Target stores. Well, I didn’t get out in the morning and by afternoon, it was still showing as available at the same Target store. I figured that if it had been available, it was all gone by that time and that I’d wait until early the next morning to check again. Guess what? Checked on the internet the next morning around 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. and the internet still showed as available at the specific Target so I took off. Ah, nope, nada toilet paper in the specific Target store and I continued to check the internet during the day and that same store still showed it as available. Hmmm, “Fake News?” ha! Luckily I don’t need it right now.
A cruel hoax! The other one I love is putting something in your cart on Amazon, but it never actually goes in there. Your cart is empty.
Those hand pies look great. Can you just use all purpose flour? We met Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series, at the Mystery Book Shop in Seattle. My DH is a fan boy so he was too shy to talk to him, but I just went right up and shook his hand (pre-corona virus obviously) and proceeded to chat. He’s a really nice guy who loves to talk. I imagine you’ve watched the TV show, which is where I became acquainted with Longmire.
With you on the toilet paper. We’ve got enough so I’m not buying more, but definitely using less just in case.
Yes, I would normally use AP flour. I had this other stuff in the freezer and thought I’d check it out. I just eyeballed the filling — a little bit of flour, brown sugar, a dash of salt, cinnamon and enough melted butter to make a wet crumble.
How fun to meet the author! I actually haven’t seen the show, but it’s on my watchlist. I thought I’d check out the books first.
I tried to get a delivery from Amazon and live near a Whole Foods but they don’t have that delivery service in my city. I signed up for Instacart and they will deliver groceries in a couple days. No toilet paper or cleaning supplies available.
Interesting — sorry to get your hopes up! But I’ve read great things about Instacart.
I have everything that I need for right now, but I’m spending more time than I want to exploring the internet for things that I will need in a week or two. Disinfectant cleaners are sold out, with no signs of it ever coming back in stock. But the most important thing is that I live in a state where liquor is sold in state stores. The state closed the state stores two weeks ago, with very little forewarning. Now they have opened up online sales for home delivery, but within an hour of it coming online, the site was crashed with heavy traffic. In the meantime, I’m scouring recipes to use up any old liquor on hand that aren’t my favorites, saving the little bit of gin left for a day when I’m in dire need of a G&T.
Geez, that would put us over the edge. The G&T season approaches, so I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Maybe get the tonic now?
Sadly, I have tons of tonic and even have fresh limes, all in the hope that I can score some gin. But I do have vodka, so I will be ok. Also, I haven’t been baking for the past couple of years, and your posts (scones, cinnamon hand pies), combined with stay-at-home orders, have inspired me. I ordered everything I need for baking in my last pick-up grocery order. So, thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you’re getting supplies for baking. It is fun. We had the cinnamon hand pies this morning, and they were amazing. I almost always have homemade scones in the freezer.
I have been going to the store about twice a week to get things needed but missed due to outages. I had a very well stocked pantry as for some reason I saw this coming….just surprised it was due to a pandemic! Just needing some fresh salad ,fruits and veggies. Flour has been sold out and garlic for some reason. I don’t think this will be over In the near future so continue to look ahead. In my area of South Jersey there is relatively few options for delivery. I did also buy flour as you did, delivery in about a month ( I love to bake and give away my treats) and did see that Amazon had TP only about 10.00 more than I could get at BJ’s and avoid an 2 hour round trip and not go to the store and get delivered to me. I am discovering what I did not anticipate needing and will be on the lookout and I have vowed that I will always be prepared as I was and able to help others as needed since many nearly live day to day and boy have their attitudes changed!
Yes, I made fun of my husband for buying so much stuff. My attitude has certainly changed! I’m surprised we seem to have all the delivery services, while bigger places don’t necessarily have them.
I’ve always had a well-stocked pantry & freezer. It’s paying off in these times. I purchased veg seeds the last time I was at the store so I’m prepared when it’s gardening time. There was 4-5 inches of snow 3 days ago. This morning the thermometer read -28C. Gardening season seems a long way away at this moment. In regards to the TP shortage, a friend reminded her young niece of the days when we washed bums with a cloth that was washed and reused. After some thought, her young niece said she was glad she had kept all the mismatched socks and those with holes in them. The other day, I came in from shoveling snow and saw the huge hole in the heel of my sock. I didn’t throw it out.
I love that — “I didn’t throw it out.” I’ve said all along we could cut up old towels and wash them. I thought I’d even buy a diaper pail to keep them in until laundry day.
We’re also getting the hang of the grocery delivery process.Here in Arizona it is about 4-5 days wait for a delivery.I think pick up is now available sooner, and our local Kroger’s has waived fees for PICK UP! We will feel we do not want to get in the car right now so delivery it is.
I have overstocked a bit, but I feel we are gonna be on isolation through April AND MAY (at least).. one of our simple pleasures is sitting down to a good meal each evening.We’re saving so much money on other activities! I can splurge a little on groceries!!
I really miss my weekly Trader Joe excursions,though..the friendly people, the fun displays, the yummy food..they are not on Instacart.. so maybe in some future dream of mine, I get to shop in person at TJ’s again.
Til then,we’re exercising,reading, relaxing. Soon will be warm enough to get into he pool. The pandemic is a lot like just plain old retirement except we are missing the trips we had planned….
It sounds like you’ve figured this out. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Dale was a naysayer, and he’s on board now. I don’t think we got in our pool until early June last year. We are looking forward to warmer weather, poolage (as we call it) and eating outside.
Tim did find tp at Target so he got some. I wasn’t worried about our supply but he was thinking ahead. He also got some paper towels. I never thought about a flour shortage. Oh my. Sugar too? I will have Tim check those out. We haven’t tried Whole Foods delivery yet but they have a great selection of gluten free items. With my dad here now, we might need that. (He’s a celiac.) This just might be the time to try it. Stay safe.
I had no problem getting sugar, but my sister did. I saw yesterday that Whole Foods delivery was backed up. I assume this will happen, and you just have to keep checking until they open a window. I really do feel lucky to have these options.