THE EXPEDITION

It had been 46 days since yours truly left the house to go out to where more then three people might be. Since this pandemic started, the only time I have been out is on walks or runs with Buster or a few car rides. Being on extrovert, it's not been as hard as I thought it might be. I can very easily bounce between intro and extro...especially since I have a stronger dislike for earthlings then in the past, but I digress. I must admit to having had  some anxieties to going out.  I didn't know what to expect, would some idiots not be following guidelines, would there be to many people or lines, and then there is the whole getting ready. I got fully decked, yes... as in dressed and shaved and all. Hey!!! As Joan Crawford said, "I never go outside without looking like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want the girl next door, go next door." After that I collected my bags and mask and my handy rubber gloves!!!! Oh yes I did!!!! I only really needed staple items and meat, a few cheese's, and some snacks. My milk I get delivered and my eggs come from a neighbor, so I was off and must admit to being pleasantly surprised at two different stores. Both stores were in Doylestown and across the street from each other. the first , THANKFULLY was where most of my provisions came from.

The produce sections was tidy and empty. YAY!!!!!!!

The meat section was a ghost town!!!! I couldn't believe this. I was able to get pork, lamb chops, chicken breast, and hamburg for stuffed peppers.

Even the bakery section was null of any humans!!!!

The baking aisle surprised me...sugar and flour was almost depleted.

The butter too was very low...it was mostly boxes of sticks. The container of Blue Bonnet was gone. The horror!!!!! So sticks it was.

It was refreshing to see their nuts were neatly stacked and organized.

The frozen foods aisle was a ghost town as well. And fully stocked I might add.

Curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to check out the paper goods, even though Im fully shocked in all those. CLEAND OUT! 

Nice to see though they had guidelines posted. After collecting everything I wanted and got, I went to the checkout. They have one line, and a sale person would then direct you to a self check out or a to a clerk, your preference. 

Now the other store I used, had a person at the door counting people going in. The store was also much more crowded..so I was already more jumpy. People scurrying around like little mice. I'm one of those shoppers who uses different stores for different items .I use like four different markets.This store I like better for produce and seafood.

Again a nice, full selection of produce. A couple of people did get too close to me several times. I almost was going to put my basket down and just leave, but I muddled through. Outside of this section, this store at the end of each aisle had directional arrows, so aisles are up or down, which I thought was nice, in addition to announcements stating various guidelines. Also the first store I went,  didn't allow re-usable bags, so once out to the car, I moved my items to my owns bags, and then disposed of the cheap plastic ones to the store recycle center by the door. The second location allowed re-useable bags.

This store too I noticed was hit harder in the rice and beans aisle.

Again, the paper goods aisle was empty. They had even less then the other store. Thank the Gods, I don't need any paper goods.

All over the store they had posted these handy list, so costumers knew up front what items were limited to purchase quantities.

Of the two stores, when I have to go back, I will most likely frequent the first store till this is over I think. While they might not have certain things I want, I was much more relaxed and not anxiety ridden. The second store is always nice and clean, but way to many people for my current comfort zone. And while I like the aisle specific direction, it was work to keep cognisant of which direction the aisle was, and if you forgot something that was at the other end you already passed, could you go back and get it, or did you have to leave the aisle, go down another to return to aisle to get forgotten item?

I saw the above sign on the way to the market. There are some great small bussiness out there. Good on them. Luckily at my farmers market which is all curbside, I ordered what I wanted and it was brought out to the car. Otherwise , it is too much drama shopping right now, trying to remember everything, getting ready, and trying to be social etiquette distancing. Once home, everything got a wipe down. I then fixed a very nice gin and tonic. I shouldn't have to go out for several weeks again.

But my gloves were a hit with several people, so there was that.