Stasia's Place Of Grace

     

Saturday, August 10, 2002

 
Thankful To Live In An Ethnically-Diverse City

Okay, so, maybe the place where I live isn't all that ethnically-diverse. I mean, out here where I live, everybody is Caucasian, and most everybody is Lutheran. I'm definitely the only Buddhist on the block. But I'm grateful that we don't live all that far from Milwaukee, a city known for its ethnic festivals and ethnic neighborhoods!

Today we took a trip to our favorite market - A & J Polish Deli on 12th and Lincoln. This deli is authentic - whenever we go, neither the customers nor the staff are speaking in English. They are able to speak English with us, but just barely, and most of our ordering is done with a lot of pantomiming and smiling. The little, old Polish ladies, always arriving early on Saturdays, will shove you out of the way good-naturedly, as they would in "the old country," and then, their order safely placed after they've received a slice of meat to sample first, they'll turn and smile at you. They can afford to be friendly now that they've had first choice of the best cuts. You wait for them to reach out and pinch your cheek...

What, I ask you, is interesting about supermarkets with computerized checkouts, and bored employees who mumble, "Have a nice day," with no inflection, their glazed eyes already looking towards the next customer? It is so much more fun to go to a small shop where the owner works along with his wife and relatives; where they all look you in the eye and give you a genuine smile and a nod, even if they don't speak your language; where the prices are written in pencil on white butcher's paper; and where the food is as unique as the people. Sometimes it is good to step outside one's comfort zone - whether tasting a new food, or shopping in an ethnic neighborhood, or meeting someone from a different country - to broaden one's horizons.

Unfortunately, now that the folks at the Polish deli have become old friends, the only thing that's currently being broadened are my hips!


A&J Polish Deli
1215 W. Lincoln Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-643-7733
Gift certificates available - they have the BEST pierogies!



The usual long lines on Saturday morning. Everyone is speaking in Polish or Russian. By afternoon, the sausages on the wall will all be sold.



Yummy sausages, pork loin, ham.



Strange delights like head cheese...



The girls slice the meat while chocolate-covered gingerbread and other goodies tempt us from the countertop.


What Else I Did Today

After the trip to the deli, I...

  • Knit on the Lorna's Laces "Vera" socks (actually in the van on the way to the deli).
  • Visited Jeff's grandfather and brought him some chocolate and sausage. We got him a cordless phone and an answering machine, as now he's in a wheelchair with a broken ankle and can't get to the phone quickly. He was happy and said it was, "...like Christmas!"
  • Helped Jeff clip the dogs' coats and their toenails. The toenails look good, but their haircuts are truly awful. I'm hoping it'll all grow back by fall. They look so tiny without their curls and fuzz!
  • Clipped my angora rabbit, Sophie. I was too tired to finish and Sophie was too crabby. Will do more in a couple of days.
  • Ate zakuski - that's Russian for a kind of dinner that's made up of little appetizers - smoked sausage and gypsy ham, fresh tomatoes and a veggie salad, a sourdough baguette.
  • Looked at my Gem. Too tired to spin. That's ok, I like looking at it.

I'm exhausted - this was a lot in one day for me and my body is complaining. So it's off to bed, with visions of making better knitting and spinning progress tomorrow, as Jeff is pushing for his Qiviut/Navajo-Churro/Bison Down hunting socks, the yarn for which has yet to be spun. I have finished the Regia socks but just need to weave in the ends... hope to have a photo for you tomorrow.

Good night!


Animal Breed Zip Code

Welcome To Stasia's Blog

Stasia is a knitter, spinner, weaver, writer, reader, and musician from Wisconsin, USA.

Join her here as she journals about beauty in nature, the joys of fibery pursuits, special people and pets, and great places to shop. It's her hope you'll leave spiritually inspired and creatively motivated. Thanks for visiting!

Mini Me

Recent Comments

Fab Fiberarts Rings

Knitting Bloggers
Previous | Next


List | Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next


Previous | Next

Buds' Blogs

Need To Mellow Out?


Daily Zen


Light A Candle

Need An Excuse?

My Fiber Pusher

The Knotty Sheep

Download Me

Subscribe To This Blog

Subscribe with Bloglines

Subscribe to Stasia's feed

Hear Me

Stasia's Place Podcast

Past Entries

Thankful For Some Little Things Today I am gratef...
Late Night Gratitude Tonight I am grateful for......
Abundance Up late, as usual. I'm vowing to stay o...
New Arrivals I was going to wait until tomorrow t...
To Quote... I have come across several quotes tha...
I thought that maybe you'd like to see me. Here I ...
Blue Skies "Blue skies smilin' at meNothin' but b...
Doing Things By Heart KNITTINGI forgot to mention...
Jobs Well Done This evening, ignoring overcast sk...
Happy Saturday! Today I am grateful for friends wi...

July 28, 2002 August 04, 2002 August 11, 2002 August 18, 2002 August 25, 2002 September 01, 2002 September 08, 2002 September 15, 2002 September 22, 2002 September 29, 2002 October 06, 2002 October 13, 2002 October 20, 2002 October 27, 2002 November 03, 2002 November 10, 2002 November 17, 2002 November 24, 2002 December 01, 2002 December 08, 2002 December 22, 2002 December 29, 2002 January 05, 2003 January 12, 2003 January 19, 2003 January 26, 2003 February 16, 2003 February 23, 2003 March 02, 2003 March 09, 2003 March 16, 2003 March 23, 2003 March 30, 2003 April 06, 2003 April 27, 2003 May 04, 2003 May 11, 2003 May 18, 2003 June 01, 2003 June 08, 2003 June 15, 2003 June 22, 2003 June 29, 2003 July 06, 2003 July 13, 2003 July 27, 2003 August 03, 2003 August 10, 2003 August 17, 2003 August 31, 2003 September 14, 2003 September 28, 2003 October 05, 2003 October 12, 2003 October 26, 2003 November 09, 2003 November 16, 2003 November 23, 2003 November 30, 2003 December 07, 2003 December 14, 2003 December 21, 2003 December 28, 2003 January 11, 2004 January 18, 2004 January 25, 2004 February 08, 2004 February 22, 2004 March 07, 2004 March 14, 2004 March 21, 2004 March 28, 2004 April 04, 2004 April 18, 2004 May 09, 2004 May 16, 2004 June 06, 2004 June 13, 2004 June 20, 2004 June 27, 2004 August 01, 2004 August 08, 2004 August 22, 2004 August 29, 2004 September 05, 2004 September 12, 2004 September 19, 2004 November 21, 2004 November 28, 2004 December 05, 2004 December 19, 2004 December 26, 2004 January 02, 2005 January 09, 2005 January 23, 2005 January 30, 2005 March 06, 2005 April 03, 2005 May 08, 2005 May 15, 2005 May 29, 2005 June 05, 2005 June 12, 2005 June 19, 2005 July 03, 2005 July 10, 2005 July 17, 2005 July 31, 2005 August 14, 2005 August 28, 2005 September 04, 2005 September 11, 2005 September 18, 2005 November 06, 2005 November 13, 2005 November 27, 2005 December 04, 2005 December 11, 2005 December 25, 2005 January 01, 2006 January 08, 2006 January 22, 2006 March 26, 2006 April 09, 2006 April 16, 2006 April 23, 2006 April 30, 2006 May 07, 2006 May 14, 2006 June 04, 2006 June 25, 2006 September 03, 2006 November 05, 2006 November 12, 2006 November 19, 2006 November 26, 2006 December 24, 2006 January 07, 2007 January 21, 2007 January 28, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 18, 2007 February 25, 2007 September 30, 2007

About Me

My Home Page - Updating

I Support...

The Tibet Fund
Citizens For A Free Tibet
Monadnock Humane Society
The National Primate Research Exhibition Hall (NPRX)
The Primate Freedom Project

Your Click Helps At...

The Animal Rescue Site

I Believe...

I'm Involved...

I Listen To...

Important Note

We have a new ISP and my web pages are being moved. My old URLs will not work unless you go here and type them in to get an archived copy. As I upload the pages to the new server, the links in my sidebar will become clickable again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

My Patterns

Knit Koigu Kersti Shawl
Gaugeless Toe-Up Socks
Knit Beehive Hat
Knit Fingerless Mitts
Knit PodPocket For iPod Mini

My Websites

Dyeing Experiments and Instructions - Updating
Textile and Fiberarts Pages - Updating
Beekeeping Pages - Updating
Take The Spindle Quiz!

My Amazon Wish List

...Is Here

My Froogle Wish List

...Is Here

My Photos

www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from jeffnstasia. Make your own badge here.

Pet Rats Rule!


To The Ratlist
Image By Ophelia

Send Me E-mail

jeffnstasia[AT]yahoo[DOT]com

The Weather In Eau Claire, WI

The WeatherPixie



moon phases
 

Give My Dog A Bone

Adopt Your Own Virtual Pet!

Hosted By Blogger.com

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Stats By SiteMeter.com