A Shopping Trip
- May 15, 2011
- Category: Daily Diary
- (15) Comments
Rain, rain go away! It’s been raining here for a couple of days now. Horses just want to sleep.
And I’d like to as well but Mountain Man and I decided to take advantage of the wet weather to run errands. We headed out on our crowded interstate.
It’s a beautiful ride past lots of bodies of water. I do my best to capture it for you but Mountain Man will never slow down.
We arrive at our destination, Lowes. There’s a Home Depot right next door but for some reason, we never go there. Only Lowes. What about you?
I think Lowes would be very wise to use Mountain Man. He could have an ad saying “Mountain Man shops and uses products sold by Lowes.” Okay, I’m dreaming of fame and fortune again.
First we stopped at the fabulous riding lawn mowers where Mountain Man drooled over the John Deere zero turn mower. Looking at the price tag, we kept on moving until we reached our destination; storage bins. Yes, I’m rehoming and organizing in preparation for our upcoming adventures. My first choice was pink or purple. I guess you can tell Mountain Man wasn’t so sure.
We decided color didn’t matter but the lid had to secure tightly. I’ve learned the hard way mice can slip through the smallest of openings. So we conducted multiple lid tests.
In the end, we found an American made storage bin with a tight locking lid at a bargain price and we were on our way.
Next stop Walmart where Mountain Man had to get a pair of shoes. We were walking out of the parking lot when we heard a commotion. A beautiful Irish Setter had been left in a truck and was sitting in the driver’s seat. The man returned to the truck, got angry, grabbed the dog out of the truck and then kicked it and yelled at it to get in the back. The poor dog cowered and yelped and Mountain Man told the man what an @#### idiot he was. Oh, we were so angry. I wish I could have taken the poor dog home. Anyway, after that unpleasant incident, it took me a while to calm down. Back to scenery. No matter where you go around here, it’s beautiful. Here’s the scene from the parking lot at Walmart.
Headed home, we once again encounter major traffic jams. Did you know Vermont does not allow billboards along the interstates? What do you think about that?
Passing by this herd of black angus means we are near home. Do you see cows on your way home? Those are rain drops on my lens. It was pouring.
And see all the flags on this house? Do you know what they are? I see them everywhere and for the longest time, I had no clue what they were. I’ve learned they are Buddhist prayer flags. There are different flags for different purposes; i.e. peace, healing, prosperity, etc. When the wind blows them, they serve as a blessing to everyone. And when you view them, you are reminded to pray for the welfare of people and to be mindful to be kind, compassionate, and joyful throughout the day. Have you seen Buddhist prayer flags where you live?
And now there are purple objects hanging from trees put there by the town we think. We haven’t been able to figure out what they are for but we imagine they are collecting some kind of bug. We do have some invasive wood destroying bugs here lately. Any thoughts about what this might be?
Home again. Everything is so beautifully green. Emerald really. So breathtakingly beautiful after so many months of white.
And although I’m glad to be back, I can’t help thinking about that poor dog.
Thanks for visiting us! I hope your weekend was fabulous.
I’m glad Mtn. Man said something to that idiot, but he should have asked for the dog. I’m still bothered by what you saw too.
I don’t like Lowe’s because everything is in Spanish and English there and their signs are wayyyyy too overstimulating. I went to buy a gift card there once for a Christmas gift and all I could find was Feliz Navidad. We are not Hispanic, nor do we live in a Hispanic area. If I were to buy a bilingual gift card, I would want one in Lithuanian because THAT is MY heritage. I asked for a Lithuanian gift card and the girl said they did not have one. (I was being snarky) I did not buy the gift card.
Sooooo, I do not shop at Lowe’s for that wacky reason. But I come from a family of store boycotters anyway, so it’s just us. My brother forbid us to shop at one mall where they have leveled a lovely golf course for its building. Yeah, we are an odd bunch!
Date: May 15, 2011
Dog story is not so good. I’ll chicken out and just say that I always prefer Lowes. HD treats me badly.
Date: May 15, 2011
I’m with the horses… I want to sleep all the time too. At least until the snow and rain take a hike. Neat to learn about the mice getting in the small spaces… thank you.
Date: May 16, 2011
I enjoyed this post, seeing your travel to the store. Those tubs are really nice for storing things. We use them at church to carry our puppets in when we do a show. I liked the purple ones but agree the color doesn’t really matter.
I never knew about the Buddhist prayer flags. I kind of like the idea of using flags to remind people to pray. The wind blowing them gives blessings to everyone is a nice thought too, but I doubt if it really happens.
Home Depot and Lowes is a toss up for us–I guess I’d rather go to Home Depot simply because Lowes is in a more congested area so for us it’s easier to get to Home Depot.
Love your deserted highways! Such an upsetting trip though because of the poor dog being mistreated. Unbelievable how cruel some people are!
Date: May 16, 2011
Love how you took pics to show us your trip into town! The incident with the dog would probably have had me kicking the man and taking the dog. I don’t tolerate that kind of treatment for animals. What an idiot to do it in public, too! DUH!!
For some reason we usually go to Home Depot, probably because it is closer to our families’ homes in Colorado Springs. I did go to Lowes last week and buy some rose bushes for $5 each and a Colorado blue spruce tree for $20. But yesterday we went to Home Depot and got a dimmer plug for our heat lamp for the chicks. I had no idea there was such a thing until someone on the chat group about chickens on Facebook mentioned that was the way to lower the temperature each week as the chicks grew. Who knew?! We had so many helpful sales associates asking us if we needed help yesterday at Home Depot as we wandered the aisles dreaming of home improvement ideas. If only we could win the Lottery! LOL
Can’t believe all the rain you’re getting. It is foggy again this morning after a foggy and rainy day yesterday, which is great for us because we have been under a red flag fire warning for weeks now. The fire danger is now down to moderate. Whew!
Date: May 16, 2011
20 plus years ago our area had a few Lowe’s stores but they all closed down as Home Depot began to saturate the area. Then about 10 or 12 years ago Lowe’s made a come back and they started popping up everywhere. We tend to frequent both Lowe’s and Home Depot but have decided that Lowe’s seems to have nicer items, more variety and friendlier more helpful staff.
The cruel man who abused his dog should not be allowed to own a dog. Dog’s have to have tags, too bad a person doesn’t have to have a license to have a dog ! Matter-of-fact it might be a good idea if people had to take a course and get a license to have any pet … or have children for matter.
Date: May 16, 2011
Sara, I’m a Lowe’s shopper as well. For some reason I just like Lowe’s better than Home Depot. I can’t tell you why but I just do. I don’t know if they have a Menard’s there in Vermont but I like that store as well. Walmart is only one mile away so of course that’s my favorite store for what ever can’t be bought in the Lowe’s store. I’ve been running up the tab at the Lowe’s store lately with spring being here. The projects abound in the spring and being outside working in the yard just makes the world right. Don’t you think so?
I don’t see any cows on my way home and the streets are just a wee bit more crowded that your crowded interstate. What I see on the way home is kids playing organized soccer and baseball. I see people scurrying here and there late for some meaningful appointment in their lives. I see workers fixing the roads. I see utility workers up on poles and down in holes to make sure our convenient facilities (water, electric, sewer, Internet, natural gas, etc.) are all keeping us comfy in our homes. I see police cars with lights flashing and hear sirens from speeding fire trucks. I hear the dull background roar of the city. As you can see my place is quite different than your place.
Have a great Vermont view day.
Date: May 16, 2011
You live in a beautiful world….someday I’m going to get to visit you I just know it. Until then, I have your posts.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Date: May 16, 2011
The weather in your pictures looks as dreary as around here. I did go to the garden section at Lows to see what’s new and got rained on! LOL
Date: May 16, 2011
All I want is to curl up and sleep around here too, we’ve had record rainfall the last few days here in Merrickville, Ontario. Your scenery looks so pretty! Reminds me of here, so of course I like it
Poor doggy. I would have screamed at the man, burst into tears and then stood there until he either gave me the dog, or ran me over with his truck (meanwhile my hubby would think I was nuts, lol). Then I would have had to give the poor dog to the local no-kill shelter as we can’t afford another dog, so I would have cried again, lol.
We shop at Canadian Tire or Home Depot. We don’t have a Lowes here that I know of, I think it is more of an “all-American” store, whereas HD just wants to own a piece of everything, LOL.
Hope you’re doing well with your downsizing, I think I know what’s going on, but I won’t ruin it for the rest of your readers (my in-laws’ family had a couple that did that, and then, well, I’ll tell you later, lol!)
Date: May 16, 2011
I hope that man, the one who mistreats his dog, gets a boil on his butt.
Why did I have trouble seeing MM in a Lowes? Like the first time you see your elementary school teacher in the grocery, I suppose. Just seems like they wouldn’t have normal lives. LOL
Date: May 17, 2011
Our scenery between our house and Lowes includes traffic, angry drivers, strip malls, more traffic, and medical offices. I’m so sad to say Lowes is only two miles away.
We had similar containers to that purple one here a few years ago. They were put up by the state to monitor the Emerald Ash Borer population. Of course, the bugs eventually killed all the Ash trees in the area and the monitoring boxes got taken down.
Date: May 17, 2011
We have those same triangular purple bags in the trees here in the Champlain Valley. I Googled around and found out they are traps for the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. It is (yet another) invasive species first noted in MI in 2002. If it gets into an ash tree, the tree can be dead in 5 years. I understand the state is on the lookout for them in Vermont. Other states are also on the lookout. I hope they don’t spread!
Date: May 18, 2011
My youngest son, Jeremy, now 26, worked at Lowe’s for about 6 years. When he left to go to Cal Poly to finish his last two yearsof college, he went to resign and HR was so nice. They wanted to keep him on the payroll, telling him he was such a good employee and, that way, if he wanted to work when he was home for vacations and summer, he could just step back in at his old salary, etc. He did! I actually like Lowe’s better than Home Depot because it seems easier to navigate for me.
The scenery is just beautiful in your part of the world.
Honestly, I think people should be arrested for animal abuse just the way they are for child abuse.
Date: May 20, 2011
Gorgeous scenery. I get a smile thinking of you snapping away at the hubs and his humoring you…cute.
I’ve never seen the flags. Purple things in the trees, yes. Have a dry weekend!
Date: May 21, 2011