Saturday!

I woke up Saturday morning at the ungodly hour of 4:00 a.m. and could not fall back to sleep. This doesn’t bode well. I finally gave up and got up at 5:00.

I made a cup of coffee and started the weekend shopping list. It was mostly based on my plan for Sunday’s supper and things I knew I was out of.

I was hungry, but after last night’s supper, I damn sure didn’t want eggs. So, after I took my morning pills, I ate Ritz crackers with peanut butter, watching the morning news.

So, I eventually shaved, showered and got dressed. First stop was CVS for a box of 80 non-powdered rubber gloves, mainly for dealing with raw chicken, but also now for rat poison. Then I headed out to my next stop, Kroger’s, checking the gas stations along the way for the lowest price.

Now, once I got to Kroger’s, I got everything on my list, except for the following: fresh, flat leaf parsley, fresh grated Parmesan, little-neck clams and rhubarb. Note: when I asked at Kroger’s, the stock boy/man went in back to check (which I appreciated) but there was no rhubarb in the store.

Sidebar: WTF!?! I paid OVER $12.00 for three pounds of ground chuck? The drought out west is hitting home!

I was wandering down an aisle and happened to glance to my right. I saw the squeeze bottles with the caps I had been looking for! So, I bought three.

I finished up and got out of the store in record time (it was still early). From there I went to Westborn.

I grabbed the fresh, flat leaf parsley, rhubarb and fresh grated Parmesan.  But when I went to the seafood counter, they didn’t have any little-neck clams! He said he would call their fish-monger and find out about availability and cost and call me back on Monday. So, I gave him my cell number.

I then had to rethink my weekend dinner options. It was sunny out and I could grill. So, I bought two packs of bratwurst. They had a variety of buns, hoagie rolls, steak rolls, etc., but they all looked like too much bread to me. So, I had a moment of inspiration (I get those sometimes) and bought a baguette. I also bought some sauerkraut.

I stopped on the way back home at the cheapest gas station and filled up the truck.

I dropped everything off, treated Caley and put the groceries away. Then I headed back out on a mini-road trip.

I was headed out to Detroit Iron, a motorcycle shop in White Lake (of all places). For those of you who are not familiar with White lake, it is North of Wixom and about due West of Pontiac.

I ran into one of the dangers of using the phone's navigation feature. I was headed West on I-96 when it apparently lost the GPS signal. I drove 12 miles past my turnoff before it dawned on me I was going too far. So, I turned around. Once off the expressway, it was a confusing number of turns and short trips on little roads. But, there are a lot of lovely lakes up that way, so I didn’t mind.

Now, you may be asking why I was driving all over hell and creation to go to a bike shop when there is a big one on Ford Road near me. The answer is that they sell Royal Enfields!

Back in the day (1950s and 60’s) a number of British bikes were popular, among them the British Royal Enfield. I knew that they went out of business years ago. What I didn’t know until Jake told me is that they had built a plant in India as they had a contract to supply the Indian Army with bikes. That plant did not go out of business. Over time they modernized the bikes with fuel injection, disc brakes, etc., but kept the basic style.

The one I wanted to see was the military one. I talked with the guys who own the shop, who explained they both are locals from White Lake, which is why the shop is there. I told them about the Triumph and they showed me a 1968 Bonneville that they had restored (it’s not for sale).

An example of the Royal Enfield

The one I came to see

A restored 1968 Triumph

I headed back home, stopping at Hiller’s market to see if they had Maldon sea salt. They didn’t! They did have little neck clams, but I had already changed my plans, so I let that go. However, if Westborn doesn’t pan out, I know where to go.

I was home just before 3:30 p.m. I treated the cat, changed clothes and started the weekend wash. Then I went outside. It was sunny, but chilly with the wind. So, I went back and got my jacket.

I refilled the squirrel feeder and then spent a good hour picking up branches in the back yard.

Back inside, I caught the last of the Red Wings game and watched their playoff attempt end. Next year!!!

I used the rest of the hard boiled eggs to make creamed eggs on toast for dinner.

I watched some TV, but switched to reading until bedtime.