Me and my sister...

I have four sisters and one brother. For a family of this size we are uncharacteristically close. In face, most people, when I tell them about all the time we spend together are pretty amazed that we do. I guess most families are more "separate" than we are. I chalk our closeness up to my mother who spent her life instilling a sense of fmaily closeness and responsibility for each other in us. That can be a doule edged sword but that's a topic for another blog, another time.

Today I spent the morning with my oldest sister, Verda. She is about 20 years older than me. Actually, I have no memories whatsoever of ever living in the same house with her. I'm told that I did but she was grown and married when I was a toddler so I just don't remember it. Verda is a character unto herself. She is extremely opinionated and very set in her ways. She loves shopping at little stores and going to "specialty" places that sell things like home made wine and craft supplies. Today we decided to go to the local Farmer's Market and then to Harbor Market. Do other cities have these? I don't know. We have a traveling Farmer's Market that goes to different city parks on different days. Local farmers bring in their produce and set it up for sale from 9am to noon. It's nice to go and get freshly grown, organic food. I got some tomatoes, lettuce, mushrooms and new potatoes.

Harbor Market is different. It also has some produce available but it also has some real specialty items. It takes place each Saturday down by Kenosha's Harbor Park. We wandered through to see what people were selling and then made our way back through to make our purchases. I ended up getting some home made portabella mushroom salsa, fresh eggs, blueberry muffins and cookies from the Wild Flour Bakery, fresh lamb chops, and some home made soap.

Verda, of course, was in high gear at this place. She lives for these kinds of outtings and she spent a goodly amount of money! I bought a lot but she spent twice as much as I did and had so many packages at the end of the day! She bought us lunch there - Thai food - spring roll and vegetable stuffed chicken wings. YUM...btw. And, on the way home, she asked me to stop at the candy store (Sandy's Poppers, Kenosha, WI) so she could get some home made caremel corn and malted milk balls.

I have to admit, it was a fun way to spend some time with my oldest sister. I came home, ate a cookies and a few malted milk balls, called my other sister, Terry, who lives downstairs and then gave away all the muffins, cookies, and candy I just bought! Haha! I know myself too well. I would have sat here and eaten all of it and, frankly, my big ass just doesn't need that right now! So, in the end, it was a win-win day for everyone. Verda, who got to do what she loves best. Terry, who benefitted from my shopping spree. And me, who had a pretty nice day, walking around at the Harbor, spending time with my sister.