Westward Migration

     After six weeks of vagabonding around the country it feels good to be settling in to our west coast home away from home. We have been in the LA area for about a week checking out countless apartments and trying to find a place we like that will also be an easy commute for John. Several days ago we found and rented a beautiful apartment in a brand new building. We are the first people to have ever lived in this apartment which is a first for both of us. Its fun to have brand new appliances and carpeting.We will be here at least three months and I feel we will be very comfortable here.
 

     We live right on the main street of our town and it looks just like one of those Christmas villages that people display around the holidays.I was delighted to discover that we have a farmers market every Friday evening right in front of our building and another smaller market on Sunday mornings just a few blocks up, at the library.

The town library is a beautiful new building and I cant wait to get my card and join their book club if they have one.

      This is our fourth day living here. We moved in on Thanksgiving eve and spent the holiday with family. Friday we took a drive to Laguna to enjoy the winter version of the Sawdust festival, one of my favorite craft fairs of all time. Saturday we drove over to Santa Monica to window shop the 3rd Street promenade, a pedestrian walkway in the heart of Santa Monica lined with shops, eaterys street performers and  people watchers just like me.

     Today my mission was to explore my local grocery options. I had a wonderful time and found that I have a huge variety of choices when it comes to shopping. Some names are familiar from my time in Texas and some old friends like Trader Joes have resurfaced to become part of my foodie roster. I found a new store called Henry's produce market that looks  very promising as well.

     Tonight's dinner was as easy as can be. I found some lovely plump organic chicken drumsticks $5.00.

We almost never have drumsticks but, these looked wonderful.

I served the chicken with

roasted  vegetables

1 carrots

1/2 onion

1/2 sweet potato

1 golden beet

1 clove garlic

cost $ 1.50 for the veggies

Total $6.50 

We have two drumsticks leftover which will make a wonderful lunch for John on Tuesday..

The home of smart cooking for the next several months