Unexpected benefits

Wednesday is Sprouts day.  They offer double ads on Wednesdays so it has become our custom to sail out into the world in search of produce, bulk oats and all the other wonderful goodies offered there.  Yesterday as we walked into the store there were stacks and stacks of luscious, ripe strawberries on sale.  Sophie and I instantly decided that we needed to make strawberry jam.  After collecting all our other staples we headed for the checkout.  We were discussing the merits of making granola bars with dates or chocolate chips (guess which one Soph wanted) and talking about our jam when the woman in front of us turned around and joked that she wanted to come home with us.  This started a conversation about the Grand Experiment, cooking with small children and gardening.  Turns out she has a huge backyard that she wants to turn into a garden, but has been looking for a gardening buddy to share the bounty with.  I have been searching for garden bounty, so it was a match made in heaven.  Although, anyone who has stood in the checkout line at Sprouts on a Wednesday morning may be more inclined to compare it to another place that starts with H (gotta love the snowbirds).  Did I mention she has chickens too?  And a little boy about Orion's age.  This experiment has already brought me into contact with so many amazing people.  Tracy from Double Check Ranch, Farmer Jason and Allison at Superstition Farm, Tony and Tera from Taste of Paradise(love love love the organic fingerling potatoes) and now my new friend and gardening buddy Amanda.  Not to mention that I am discovering all the hidden talents in my friends and family.  Who knew I had so many friends who knew how to make butter from scratch?  All this and we're only a few days in.  I am so excited to see what and who the future holds.  Keep up the suggestions, comments and questions, they inspire and enlighten me to no end.   Oh, and we ended up making the granola bars with chocolate chips, Sophie can be very persuasive sometimes.