Talking of eating (as always), we are putting a lot of effort into finding local sources of good food. Supermarkets are all very well, but the quality of fresh produce can’t match Waitrose and other stores in London we used. We have found a virtual farmers’ market (place your orders on the internet from what is available this week, pick up your order on Saturday morning), though at this time of year it is mostly collards, mustard greens and carrots. So, we were interested to hear from a friend about a mobile fishmonger, who brings in fresh produce from Savannah once a week. We placed an order, and met Tom of Tom’s Awesome Seafood on Thursday. Awesome is the word – his van was full of freezer chests and smelled as fresh as a daisy. The fish selection was wonderful. Home-made crab cakes on Thursday, pan-seared scallops on Friday. Yum!
Lisa continues with her Master Gardener course every Tuesday. This week was a crunch time – mid-session examinations. Lisa did very well, not surprisingly to me, and I believe she was fairly diplomatic in pointing out when one official answer was actually wrong. I also had an opportunity to participate – there was a public meeting and presentation on growing fruits and berries which we both attended on Monday. Hungry making stuff, all the delicious berries that we can grow here (and warnings about those which don’t do so well because of weather, pests and even avaricious bears and deer). Plums are apparently magnets for predatory mammals.
Spring seems to be advancing, with more and more daffodils and now forsythia. I wonder why it is yellow colours which predominate at this time of year. It’s not all plain sailing, though – it bucketed with rain over the weekend, and so we decided to give Sunday’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations at Three Sisters Winery a miss. I have been busy this week compiling an updated list of vineyards, wineries and the like in Georgia as first step to creating a GPS Points of Interest database. We had been told by local experts that there are 30 wineries now in Georgia. I have assembled a list of 59 so far, and some more to come.
On the build site
The basic structure of the building is now almost complete, though there are few structural things pending. The amazing front porch is rather precariously propped up awaiting solid foundations, as is the covered deck at the back – but Bill assures us that it is quite safe. The roof is shingled and the walls are wrapped in waterproof sheeting awaiting an exterior skin of brick, stone and siding (siding is a sort of plank made of cement and other materials which is very durable and strong – unlike cheaper substitutes like corrugated aluminium sheeting or even plastic). When we had heavy rain, everything stayed snug and dry inside apart from water coming down the chimney. There has been a lot of tidying up of scrap materials on the site, so it is all looking very spruce and open for admiring visitors.
However, as we move into detailed interior work, there won’t be so much to show over the next few weeks (unless you have a real interest in septic tanks and air conditioning ducts – in which case contact me directly).
Inside it should all run to a tight schedule for the coming month – this coming week the plumber will be installing the first fit piping infrastructure, with the HVAC guy is doing the aircon and heating infrastructure, and the electrician then has his week of fame installing the wiring in the walls. So by early April the building should be handed over to the drywallers who put up all the plasterboard to make the internal walls. And now that the outside of the house is watertight, work can roll on inside. Covering the outside walls in siding will go on in parallel.
Fingers tightly crossed that it all goes well – come back soon and find out if the crews meet their schedules.
Robin’s Opinions of America
What’s in your wallet? That’s the catchphrase on a repeatedly repeated TV advert for some credit card. However, it raises a practical question about the bulging wallet which I carry about every time I leave the house. I started to wonder why it is so full, and did a personal audit. And these are my findings from the 20 items, most of which are the size of a standard credit card:
A credit card proudly labelled “Robins Federal Credit Union”. Not really my personal bank, though it makes a talking point.
A matching debit card, normally only used to draw cash out of ATMs. Don’t get me started on the iniquitous practice of charging for withdrawing your own money from almost anywhere other than your home bank. Like so many other aspects of American life, banking is fragmented into far too many little local banks. In Georgia, there are about 250 banks and credit unions, ranging from multinational operations with hundreds of branches down to single branch local banks. And your card may well incur a penalty if you use another bank’s tills.
Which is why I have an additional ATM card for use at a bank in Dahlonega.
A Georgia driving licence in attractive shades of pink and green with two photographs of yours truly. Essential as a proof of identity, and legally required to be on my person when driving a car.
A car insurance policy card, also legally required to be in my possession whilst driving.
My health insurance card , necessary to get medical treatment and collect prescriptions. Getting insured was a real hassle, but thanks to Lisa’s strenuous efforts, it was finally achieved. The Obamacare healthcare marketplace DOES work.
Now we get onto the multiplicity of cards to assist in reducing the cost of living. You may remember my blog of 10th November where I discussed America’s relentless hunt for bargains. Many of the possible savings require presentation of a discount card, so I carry a huge number of these on the off chance of getting an often substantial saving.
An AARP membership card, opening up a wide range of possible savings. To join the American Association of Retired Persons, you do not need to be retired (just being over 50 gives you entry to this group), nor do you need to be a US citizen or even live here.
A pharmacy discount card which may get prescriptions at a reduced cost and somehow also benefitting a worthwhile charity. I have absolutely no idea how this scheme works or who pays for it!
Three credit-card-sized store cards which offer discounts and other benefits if presented when you make a purchase.
Five mini store cards offering benefits at other stores who realise that something about a tenth the size of a credit card can be attached to a key ring or the like and make attracting shoppers to their store a less bulky option.
And, finally, two winery loyalty cards to support my own interests, anda photograph of Lisa (did I hear you say Aaaaaah, Sweet!).
No wonder my wallet is bulky and will need replacing soon!
.A list of an outsider’s observations on USA
1st September Thoughts on Grey Squirrels
6th October Subdivisions
13th October Flags in America
27th October The Confederate flag
10th November Groundhogs and A relentless hunt for bargains
17th November The American Mailbox and American meat
24th November Georgia Public Television and TV scheduling
1st December Serviceable roads and Awesome
8th December Wines from Georgia and Blue laws
22nd December Licence plates and Polystyrene plates
4th January Pressure balanced valves and Knocking Copy