Day #353 Goodbye to Another Favorite

 

This seems to be the week for dying. First a bee, then Wangari Maathai, and now one of my favorite stores.

I found Grains-n-More through Rancho Alegre, the place where I buy goat milk, meat, fresh produce, all of it organic and delicious. Rancho’s program is called Gwinnett Locally Grown. Grains-n-More  was one of the locally-owned businesses that distributed products through Rancho Alegre.

I bragged about Grains-n-More on Day # 282. That’s where I bought my wonderful Teecino, which brightens my tea cup every morning (and afternoon and evening) with its perky –and non-caffeinated – taste. And coconut oil. Vanilla beans. Steel-cut oatmeal. All of it organic and wholesome.

Several days ago I received a call from Dan, the owner, telling me that they couldn’t fill my latest order for two more bags of Teecino, because they’d had to close down. Not enough orders to avoid the steadily-increasing shipping costs from his suppliers, costs that he couldn’t pass on to his customers.

For bees, the cost of doing business is reflected in the high early-mortality rate when they are subjected to herbicides and pesticides.  At least Dan and his wife still have life. They’re bright and intelligent, and I have no doubt that they will get through this rough time.  They’ll figure out what to do to make it.

Bees don’t have that option. They gather nectar, trusting that it will be good, not knowing that some ill-informed soul, in quest of the perfect lawn, has sprayed Round-Up on stray weeds (which just happen to be blooming, inviting bees for a sip).

BEEattitude for Day # 353:

       Blessed are those who support local businesses by buying from them regularly, for they shall find open doors wherever they go.

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LAST CHANCE – TODAY ONLY – to Get Your Dog in My Next Book!

Today’s the last day. If you donate $10 to WAG, also known as the Walton Animal Guild, you will be automatically entered in a drawing.

If you win, your dog will be in my next Biscuit McKee mystery!

http://www.wagwalton.com/News.php

Every $10 donation is automatically entered in the drawing

See Blog #324 for the details.

Day #282 Teeccino

I have to get up pretty earlier nowadays to be able to enjoy a cup of tea on the back deck near the bees. The later I wait, the muggier it gets. By 7:00 or so it’s not worth it to try to relax outside.

I’ve always been a tea drinker. Hot tea any time of year. The British believe that drinking hot tea at the height of summer opens one’s pores and therefore cools one off. I suppose that’s true if the humidity is in the 40 or 50 percent range. But when it’s 97%, nothing much cools off, particularly when the temperature is in the 90s.

A couple of months ago I went to Grains ‘n’ More to pick up some food I’d ordered. This is the most amazing company. The owners, Dan and Fran, had been looking for a good source of bulk organic grains. They couldn’t get them easily and affordably, so they started their own company. http://www.grains-n-more.com

While I was there, Fran asked if I’d ever tried Teeccino, an organic herbal coffee. “I’m not a coffee-drinker,” I said.

“Give it a try,” she said. “It may change your life.”

I bought the Almond Amaretto blend. Yummy in the tummy! It changed my life. I am now a committed Teeccino-drinker. And at 5:30 in the morning, it opens my pores for sure.

BEEattitude for Day # 282:

       Blessed are those who follow their dreams, for they shall find exciting new directions in life.
 
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