trip to Mars size
We are filling our days.
K is in a holding pattern whilst waiting for two projects to begin.
He's cooking a lot (cassoulet last night) and computing a lot (hard-drives clean), he's done some design work (the tile for the shower) and is cleaning the store room in the basement.
One day we even went to the super store.
You know the one - some people go there once a week. We go once a year.
We just can't fathom using twenty rolls of paper towels. Or eating so much of any one thing.
K calls the giant boxes of cereal, laundry soap and body wash Trip To Mars Size as he's pretty sure that it would take that amount of time to finish four gallons of pickles.
We went, specifically, for maple syrup. They have real maple syrup there - for far less money than our regular market and it's from Canada (where they don't use formaldehyde to make it).
We bought three jugs.
We were tempted by grapes - but who eats FIVE POUNDS of grapes?
K looked at the five foot televisions - we don't have any place for something like THAT.
Youngest likes their muffins - but can't eat 15.

I wish I could describe the enormity of this clock.
It was the size of my dining room.

This one was even bigger - close to the size of my truck.
Apparently there was a BIG CLOCK EVENT. Perhaps an IMMENSE TIME KEEPING FESTIVAL.
They were on sale - it's your job to figure out how to get them home.
Oh, did you want a weather vane with yours?

Don't worry - they had some smaller garden ornaments...

Maybe a fountain?
Around the corner is the Jacob's Surprise Bird Bath -

And I get that the 'surprise' is that Jacob has found a wee turtle near his ball - but why do I feel like it's also that Jacob takes a wee IN the bird bath? or that Jacob slides INTO the birdbath and ruins his new shoes? Why do you suppose I need to assume that there is a further surprise?
Just my stupid sense of humor I guess.
Surprise! There's someone hiding in the tall grass just behind you, Jacob! EEEEK!
Moving on.

No comment.
It's wine.
With a little person on the box.
I don't know why.

This clever display pretty much knocks the romance out of my purchases of inexpensive wine.
I didn't buy any.
And I didn't buy any of this one either -

Youngest likes gum as much as the next kid - but he called me over to say:

Who's buying this? 50 packs of gum.

I would like the BAG from the Super Lucky Elephant rice.
It's not just super - and it's not just lucky...
it's ELEPHANT rice.

I feel so much better just KNOWING that this much mucus relief is available. Somewhere.
Prudent though he may be, Youngest made sad puppy eyes over this:

The largest apple pie in the world.
We stood for a long time, discussing:
how long would it take to eat it?
how much would we throw out?
everyone in the house likes apple pie...so...
we bought it.
I've be documenting our battle to conquer the pie -

some are giving it their all..
all have had SOME...


We are making headway.
And Mom's coming to dinner tonight -
I hate that super store - the excess of everything upsets me.
And then I come home and see that although we don't shop that way, we have far too much in our home.
We've been making a concerted effort to use what we have -
to eat from the pantry
to use things up
to purchase less
and to get rid of as much as we can.
I started as soon as we got home by making a pledge.
Each time I am confronted with a drawer or closet full of junk, I will discard three objects.
It's been pretty funny just trying to identify some of them.
But that's another post.
K is in a holding pattern whilst waiting for two projects to begin.
He's cooking a lot (cassoulet last night) and computing a lot (hard-drives clean), he's done some design work (the tile for the shower) and is cleaning the store room in the basement.
One day we even went to the super store.
You know the one - some people go there once a week. We go once a year.
We just can't fathom using twenty rolls of paper towels. Or eating so much of any one thing.
K calls the giant boxes of cereal, laundry soap and body wash Trip To Mars Size as he's pretty sure that it would take that amount of time to finish four gallons of pickles.
We went, specifically, for maple syrup. They have real maple syrup there - for far less money than our regular market and it's from Canada (where they don't use formaldehyde to make it).
We bought three jugs.
We were tempted by grapes - but who eats FIVE POUNDS of grapes?
K looked at the five foot televisions - we don't have any place for something like THAT.
Youngest likes their muffins - but can't eat 15.
I wish I could describe the enormity of this clock.
It was the size of my dining room.
This one was even bigger - close to the size of my truck.
Apparently there was a BIG CLOCK EVENT. Perhaps an IMMENSE TIME KEEPING FESTIVAL.
They were on sale - it's your job to figure out how to get them home.
Oh, did you want a weather vane with yours?
Don't worry - they had some smaller garden ornaments...
Maybe a fountain?
Around the corner is the Jacob's Surprise Bird Bath -
And I get that the 'surprise' is that Jacob has found a wee turtle near his ball - but why do I feel like it's also that Jacob takes a wee IN the bird bath? or that Jacob slides INTO the birdbath and ruins his new shoes? Why do you suppose I need to assume that there is a further surprise?
Just my stupid sense of humor I guess.
Surprise! There's someone hiding in the tall grass just behind you, Jacob! EEEEK!
Moving on.
No comment.
It's wine.
With a little person on the box.
I don't know why.
This clever display pretty much knocks the romance out of my purchases of inexpensive wine.
I didn't buy any.
And I didn't buy any of this one either -
Youngest likes gum as much as the next kid - but he called me over to say:
Who's buying this? 50 packs of gum.
I would like the BAG from the Super Lucky Elephant rice.
It's not just super - and it's not just lucky...
it's ELEPHANT rice.
I feel so much better just KNOWING that this much mucus relief is available. Somewhere.
Prudent though he may be, Youngest made sad puppy eyes over this:
The largest apple pie in the world.
We stood for a long time, discussing:
how long would it take to eat it?
how much would we throw out?
everyone in the house likes apple pie...so...
we bought it.
I've be documenting our battle to conquer the pie -
some are giving it their all..
all have had SOME...
We are making headway.
And Mom's coming to dinner tonight -
I hate that super store - the excess of everything upsets me.
And then I come home and see that although we don't shop that way, we have far too much in our home.
We've been making a concerted effort to use what we have -
to eat from the pantry
to use things up
to purchase less
and to get rid of as much as we can.
I started as soon as we got home by making a pledge.
Each time I am confronted with a drawer or closet full of junk, I will discard three objects.
It's been pretty funny just trying to identify some of them.
But that's another post.
Comments
My mom is a Hoarder, therefore I know not to be. She spends SO MUCH TIME managing STUFF. It takes away time from more satisfying life pursuits.
b
I am so with you one the whole excess thing. BLAH.
I'm going to Ginormous Store today. I'll keep an eye out for maple syrup.
It's liberating, really.
However, yes. We still have too much crappe.
Meaning, in three weeks all of the food we've purchase has been consumed by four hungry mouths.
Yes, that store is full of excess.. but also a lifesaver! :)
Sorry, we still go for the T.P. P.T. and napkins, which husband calls serviettes. I like to buy it a few times a year and call it a day. Oh and the cookbooks, such a good price on cookbooks....
Shopping there, loading the stuff in the car, unloading when you get home and then trying to shove the stuff in every nook and cranny. Exhausting.
Our local GrabGobsMore is full to the gills with smaller amounts of fresh organic stuff. Including meats and herbs. As well as the usual suspects like dairy, fruit and veggies. (I see the organic beef and think - is this from bb's daddy's cows?)
But excess is still - excess. Which has to be stored and tended.
And here I am, in my cottage years, while dh is still in his castle years. And he loves that place of infinite excess. So I find places to store cases of ziplock bags and tp.
Mscellania
I like your three-items idea. For a while I tried a tactic--everytime I went into the basement, I would try to bring up something to either throw out or give away to the thrift store. Same thing with the corners of clutter around the house. I now keep designated bags and boxes stashed around so that anytime I realise that something isn't justifying its existance in my house, I put it in... But getting rid of paper is much, much harder.
Haven't been to a "big" store in ages, but always get on the clear it out kick about once a month. Welcome to the macaroni and cheese (CHEESE!) oh look at that we have frozen vegetables week.
I'm addicted to going there, though, I always end up spending too much money. There and Target are my downfalls.
Throw away three things...sounds like a good start.
Was at Target last night....downfall, oh yes!!
most ppl i know with smaller families split their superstore buys with someone else. we actually use all the waffles, cereal, and yes, rice.
not sure about the gum, maybe give it out at halloween?? ;)
And...I bought one jug of CDN maple syrup too there...it was delicious.
We once bought a gallon of sweet pickle relish at Sam's. No, I don't know why we did that, it took like 6 years to use it up. Sheesh.