Supporting Local Farmers and Small Business Brings a Sense of Community

The farms and small businesses around your home are the heartbeat of the community. You get to know the people passionate about their products. Their familiar faces and friendly words sometimes change a not so great day. They know their product and they like talking about it. What would your town be without festive, cheery and professional store fronts?  They would be giant, depressing paved lots with big box neon signs at the end.  

Malls were once a gathering place. Malls were designed to be indoor towns with a roof. I know many people think it was Walmart who started the fall of small business but, really the malls started the downward spiral of shopping in town. As a child, I saw town at the end of it's heydey.  Troutman's in town was a department store I recall going up the escalator with my Great Grandfather and by the time I was 8 or 10 we were going to the mall. The mall at that time had corporate stores and a mix of small business. However malls are expensive to maintain and soon the small businesses were pushed out because the rent was too high. Malls started to decline in the 90's but, old school retail executives would not accept it. They should have went back to the beginning and started to add offices, restaurants/not a food court and small business in the mix. It may have saved these giant concrete structures from turning into eye sores and tax sink holes for communities. 

Now, what are we left with? Half empty malls and small town ghostly business districts that are unappealing due to no tax revenue. Also the final nail to small business in town or online....Amazon with free shipping. Amazon who has literally taken over several retail market spaces. I'm not saying I don't enjoy my Amazon Prime because I do use it on the tv and shopping. However, the community and local politicians need to see the value in having town. I hope the one thing COVID has done is make people realize the importance to gather with friends, neighbors and strangers. Town is for shopping, having a cocktail or coffee, parades, sitting on a park bench, local clubs to gather, dining and more. It's warmth, joy, meeting new people and making connections. Offer your thanks this Thanksgiving and support a small business,

 

Gingerbread Garland Helps Usher in the Warmness of Holidays

COVID is still here but, just because I can't have a house full of people doesn't mean my home is not going to be festive.  Life is what you make it. We have all been though trials and tragedy. I choose to handle this trial in the best way possible. 

The outside of my house will be a gingerbread theme this year. I started making the fake cookies. Usually they come out more brown but, low on cinnamon so a quick coat of paint, puff paint outline and lacquer and will be ready to be strung. Spices are an essential ingredient if you are not coating as they are nice potpourri bowl fillers and the scent is fantastic. If stringing don't forget to add your hole with a skewer before baking! I also made beads to paint like gum drops.

Recipe is pretty standard on web:

2c flour

1c salt

1/4 c cinnamon   *Add others like clove and such for more scent.

1 1/2 c water

Mix. Roll out on a cinnamon board not flour. Make cut outs. Bake 300 for 45-60 min.

I have also been working on styrofoam balls and any scrap circles for candy. They will be wrapped in cello to protect against weather. More to come...

Keep your mind busy so you don't get too down. I decided to decorate more this year so my neighbors can get a little lift in their step too.

Update. Here are some of the painted and laquered gingerbread!