Today I went to Clancy’s Meat Co to pick up an easy quick dinner (we like that kind around here). I picked the Mediterranean salmon and a zucchini boat, and because I was a new customer and asked some good questions, he threw in a couple stuffed mushrooms for free (where have THESE been all my life?). Driving toward Fort Langley on our way home, I was kicking myself for forgetting to stop at the regular grocery store for some fresh veggies.
Fort Langley is our closest little village, and basically has all it’s stores on one main drag. It’s small, and that’s part of the charm. Unfortunately, Fort Langley lost their IGA in a fire recently. It was an incredible blow to the community. Open since 1975, it was the only grocery store for local residents – and though we didn’t yet know we were going to move, it would have been the closest store for us as well. It’s my understanding that they plan to rebuild, but of course it is a big process – you can read more here if you’d like to keep up on the news.
So, back to my day. The Mr. and I are driving along and I’m trying to think of what frozen veggies might be available, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I spot… vegetables! As it turns out, right at the beginning of that main drag is another little grocery store. This is what people mean when they talk about country stores! Veggie Bob has been in business since 1978, and I’ve literally never noticed his market. We went in, and it was lovely. I picked potatoes and celery, found some almond butter and organic sour cream, and Bob himself went and got me half a dozen eggs from the back when I asked (farm fresh, of course).
It was sort of a blissful place to shop! One of the things I loved when living in Scotland was the small stores and country markets available to shop at. The Yellowhead Market really reminded me of that kind of shopping, only better… because it’s right here, for us, available when needed. And it doesn’t get much sweeter than that.
Love and Peas Mama 