Around Town - Something is Going On.
This is Ed
I hope you're having a wonderful Saturday! I've been dealing with a pesky little cold for the past few days, which made me feel sleepy. But this morning, I woke up feeling much better!
For the last two days, we've been in charge of feeding our adorable grand cats, Ed and Harry. Ed is a bit shy, but Harry is such a chatterbox and loves following us around the house, telling us all that has happened.
This is Harry
They are truly pampered! With toys and fun cat gadgets scattered throughout the house, there’s never a dull moment. They get to enjoy fresh filtered water and never have to travel far for a meal—there's dry food in one room, tasty wet food in the kitchen, and scrumptious treats stashed in another. Ed loves to dine in their cozy Den, while Harry prefers his meals perched on the kitchen windowsill. To keep things simple, my son and wife even leave a friendly note to remind us which bowls go with which food.
After we left their house this morning, we decided to check out the new Tractor Supply store—the second one in our town! It was fun to look around, and they handed my husband a brochure to sign up for the Military Discount online. Unfortunately, the baby chicks were already sold out, but we had a great time exploring! We made no purchases.
We headed over to our favorite local gravel yard that sells all sorts of landscaping materials. They have everything from boulders and rocks of all shapes and sizes to soil, bark, sand, and cobble—pretty much anything you could think of! These days, we usually have them deliver what we need since it’s just a short drive from our place. It makes things so much easier!
I LOVE this place.
I absolutely adore their Koi pond! It's such a beautiful sight.
We're thinking about ordering some rocks next week to kick off a new project, so today, we checked prices.
I've been noticing some changes around my town lately, and I have mixed feelings about it!
In the past six months, several new non-local-chain-type businesses have opened.
After shutting down this Costco for a newer one, a new location was built just off the interstate last year.
Last week, the old Costco owners began renovations! The front is now open, and construction is underway and in the parking lot. It’s going to be interesting...
I just found out that At Home is moving in. I've heard about it, but I've never actually been to one myself. We already have a Home Goods Store, so I’m curious about what makes At Home so special?
I just found out about a new chicken place coming to town that I've never heard of. It makes me uneasy because I loved that our area still felt rural and not like the Bay Area with all its shopping malls. Change is happening, which means traffic. One thing I really like about this town is the lack of traffic! The only times you really get stuck are during the winter when the interstate heading north shuts down because of a blizzard. The other time can be when you're downtown and a train comes through, and you just end up waiting and waiting...
If You Build, They Will Come.
Now I am excited about a new place called the Grange Co-op, which is from Southern Oregon. This co-op has been known for decades for supporting farmers and ranchers in both Southern Oregon and Northern California. From what I've seen on the website, it seems way bigger and offers a lot more stuff than Tractor Supply.
Another chicken spot just opened up last month. Seriously, how many chicken places does this town even need? I've never even heard of this one.
We have some good local ones, and then we have a new Chick-fil-A, and then a second one nearer the new Costco. I guess chicken is in!
Here in California, fast food workers make a minimum of $20 an hour. I thought that was supposed to deter fast food places...
Downtown, they are building this public market with local restaurants, which sounds intriguing.
Sara mentioned the new Five Below store, and I’d heard of it before but never checked one out. Since our 99 Cent store closed last year, I figured I’d give it a shot for some cheap stuff. Honestly, I wasn't impressed at all. It felt more like Five and Above!
Dollar Tree is now $1.25 and up, and was Dollar General ever just a Dollar?
Honestly, just looking at the names, doesn’t that seem like false advertising and misleading?
I’m excited that a Daiso is opening up soon! Can’t wait to check it out!
Amazon is constructing a distribution center, and Granny Goose Potato Chips will also set up operations at this new business park facility.
They're kicking off construction on a groundbreaking $70 million cancer center in collaboration with Dignity Health and Sierra Pacific. This facility promises to be massive and a game-changer in cancer care! SO that's good.
I really need to start paying more attention to what’s happening in my town.
That’s probably why, when they finally replaced that old, rickety country bridge on my road that I complained about for 15 years with a bigger one with two lanes and a bike lane, I should have figured they were planning something in my area. I've also noticed a bunch of older homes with "for sale" signs popping up.
For sure, something's up... My town's totally changing.
I’m curious: Do you have any of these businesses in your town?
What are your thoughts on Raising Cane and Wing-Stop—are they worth trying?
And how about AT Home? Is it likely to break my budget?
Let me know your experiences!
Thanks,
Debby
We have a lot of those stores here in GA. CANES chicken - at least here is always busy and it is across the street from Chick Fil A! My grandson loves it.
ReplyDeleteYour grand-cats are so pretty.
I hate to see it change. Makes me sad and after living my whole life in a crowded urban area, the thought of my town changing makes me sick. We need affordable housing and seems the only housing developments are executive homes. I just don’t understand these city planners at all.
DeleteYour grand kitties are so cute!
ReplyDeleteWe are getting a Raising Cane near us too. Several of the girls I used to work with are excited because they had it in other states and said it is soooo good. So I'll be trying it.
We have an At Home. Some people really like it, I don't go often but they have a huge selection of area rugs, all kinds of wall art, lamps galore and seasonal things.
Some of the other places you mentioned I've never heard of.
I maybe go into Hobby Lobby 3-4 times a year mostly to look and get ideas or at Christmas. I don’t really shop and like I did in my younger days.
DeleteWe have a Raising Canes nearby, and they are very good! And I have heard that the At home store is like Home Goods, but maybe better! We don't have one nearby. Dollar Tree here has items for even $5.00! Five Below has never had much that I like. But the granddaughters love us to take them there. I think Dollar General is actually much nicer than five Below. Your city is growing in leaps and bounds!!
ReplyDeleteOur Dollar Tree has tired pricing. 1.25 on up. I like Dollar General because it reminds me of the little mom and pop grocery stores in San Francisco growing up.
DeleteThere are a lot of new Raising Canes going up around the area. We do not go there. Not sure how they survive business. I have never been in a Five Below store, but we have one in a nearby town. Our town we live in is so small it only has a hometown restaurant, one gas station, a bakery (been there once in 18 years), an insurance company office, and a very small library. The only pizza place closed, after being bought and sold several times (no one would support it because the food was not good every time).
ReplyDeleteSince my town is the only sizeable town (county seat) for miles, it does have a lot of different businesses. It serves not only our town but all the rural and mountain towns who come here to shop. Once you get out of town the next big town would be Chico.
DeleteWe have two Wing Stops, never tried it. We have a Five Below here, not impressed either. The others you mentioned we don't have. I refuse to go into a "Dollar Store" just because their nasty dirty. Ocala has a lot to offer on shopping and eating/restaurants, it's just everything is so expensive. Sigh, sign of the times, right? Wishing you a beautiful Sunday.
ReplyDeleteFive Below is more for teen girls - pink everywhere!
DeleteOh my goodness! Ed and Harry are like a combination of my Sunshine! They are both very handsome, as is my Sunshine, although Sunshine isn't that pampered and has to stay outside. However, this morning he didn't show up on time for breakfast and I was getting concerned. He finally showed up about an hour late, and then wouldn't eat his food until I sprinkled a few "treats" on top, which I guess is a lot like sprinkling sugar on top of cereal. Then he ate it, or at least at the treats. He ends to be picky. Maybe it's the Orange Tabby kind of thing. Blackie doesn't care, just keep feeding him. LOL. I am not familiar with most of those new places you are talking about coming to your town. Your town is much bigger than our town. We did just recently get a Dunkin' Donuts and a Taco Bell, and that made us feel like something's happening. They are also building a new Dollar General Market, which is like a bigger Dollar General that also has fresh produce and meats. We actually already have one of those here plus another regular Dollar General and a Family Dollar/Dollar Tree. All within a 3 mile radius of each other! Crazy! We really could use a decent full service grocery store instead. Our current grocery store has a bad reputation for unfresh produce and meat that could be getting on the old side. Our greater "metropolitan area" is still quite small, and the biggest new thing they got is a Longhorn's, which is way too expensive for most people around here, but they still stay busy somehow. Anyway, "progress" has some good benefits, but we prefer to stay more laid back and less traffic here too. If they get too much bigger, we may want to move further away just because we don't like crowds and traffic. But I'm getting too old to move again, so we'll probably stay put and put up with it. I hope your town/city doesn't go overboard. It startes losing its charm when that happens.
ReplyDeleteWell my town will continue to get bigger but we’ll stay. It will never get as big as the San Francisco metro area - wall to wall cities. Urban sprawl. That got to be too stiffling.
DeleteWe do have a "Raising Canes" near by and my grandkids love the place. They actually love the sauce that is served with their chicken. This looks exciting to be getting new places in town. Oh how I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the Koi pond. I think they are beautiful. How sweet to have your grand cats staying with you..That Harry looks like a good size fella. I think our City town near us is about to get several new restaurants. Hard to believe that all these places stay so busy.
ReplyDeleteEd and Harry aren’t staying with us - poor Ed would have an anxiety attack! My son lives 6 miles away so we just go to their place.
DeleteYou’re right about these places are so busy. But we serve all the rural and mountain areas who come down to shop.
Glad you are feeling better. They are both so cute. Yes, deliveries make things a lot easier. I haven't heard about an At Home store. Cane's is pretty good. My husband really likes it. So many new places. That new Public Market sounds interesting too. We have a Five Below but I haven't been in it. Why all the new places???
ReplyDeleteI have no idea. They are also building all over - we just got a new Court house building too.
Delete"Progress" is hard...I so agree and think a lot of the things really aren't progress.
ReplyDeleteWe don't care for Canes. Gave it a try 2 times and thought it was too expensive and not that tasty for what we got. Won't go back.
We do have a nice Dollar Tree which is now $1.25 but does come in handy for those little off brand things.
Haven't heard of the Home place but we do have Home Goods which I rarely go to.
Our town sure isn't out in the country any more. Makes me sad too but as we are getting older I do like the convenience of stores closer. We don't have to drive so far.
Love your Grandkitties.
Sue
I like Dollar Tree - we have four in town - maybe more.
DeleteWell, I'm ready to visit the "at home" shop. I love shops that sell holiday stuff for the home. Have never heard of the chicken places. We have Krispy Krunchy Chicken here, and it's the best fried chicken I've ever had. I went to the InNOut Burger in your area near the freeway, and it was so crowded! It was good, just crowded. It will be interesting to see what pops up in your area. And for me, Dollar General is better than any of the discount shops. It's charming inside with so many holiday goodies. I am wondering why you are seeing older homes for sale in your area? There are a lot of people that are retiring moving up to the mountains. They come from different areas in California.....Fresno, Bay area, So Cal, and so on. That Koi pond is delightful. I can see why you like the gravel yard with landscaping materials.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely and restful Sunday, Debby, and a good week ahead. Loved this post. Always fun to see the new places that are going up.
~Sheri
Bay Area people retiring and a lot if young families as well are moving to Shasta county.
DeleteThe old homes on the county rd where I live are considered “tear downs” little houses about 600 sq feet built in the 30’s. The owners die off and they sit there because their children don’t want it but there’s property! Or perhaps a subdivision wants those properties. Time will tell.
We have a Dollar General which has been renamed DG Market in my little town but none of the big stores chains except for Walmart which is 20 miles away.
ReplyDeleteEd looks a lot like KitKat. :). But he gets to roam all over town.
No roaming around here due to coyotes and Bob cats. Sad because there was a cat that liked to visit our yard and then it was gone only to find out, he’d been attacked. It’s been about a year since I’ve seen a outside cat. We lost 2 beloved cats. 😢
DeleteThose businesses are familiar to me, but I've never been in any of them except Dollar Tree, so I wouldn't know what to tell you, Debby. Sadly, because of Kennesaw State University, our town isn't small like it was 20 years ago and the traffic can be a nightmare at certain times of the day. Good thing we hang close to home. Oh, and how I love those grand-kitties - adorable! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOur town 30 years ago before I moved up here voted against having a State university and they opened up in Eureka instead. That really changed their town as well.
Delete**My son said Wing Stop is really good. : )
ReplyDeleteGood to know
DeleteI know most of the stores and restaurants you mentioned. The only one that would excite me is Daiso, which I've shopped at when I'm visiting the kids in California.
ReplyDeleteI know I will like it.
DeleteI think once Amazon arrives, you're in the Big Time. ("You build it, they will come.") We've most of those you've cited, but haven't patronized any except Chick-Fil-A. Your grandcats are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked actually about Amazon.My niece worked at an Amazon facility in Sacramento and they paid very well and had good benefits.
DeleteHello Debby....Thanks for your visit to Writing Straight from the Heart and for your comment, as well. Looks like changes are taking place in your town. Here, lots of places are closing! We are in a kind of rural, isolated area of Massachusetts-----in the hills! It's a very picturesque area, with natural lakes and forests and very clean, pure air. It's a summer draw for tourists who want a change of scene from cities.
ReplyDeleteWe do have Five Below, but, as you said, it's not that great. I love Home Goods, filled with beautiful things we don't really need (but still want. ha haha). We have a Five Guys hamburger place but it is totally overrated and expensive. As for restaurant choices, I like Vietnamese and Chinese and we have several of those. Take care, Debby, and thanks again for visiting and commenting. Have a blessed day of remembrance to day. Susan
Ok, I am a little bit out of it as I keep reading the wrong words such as actor not tractor, then read grave not gravel, then chicken finders instead of fingers, followed by fanny goose not granny goose.
ReplyDeletesorry I can't help, our town has grown so much I don't even want to drive anywhere. we have all of these stores but I have been to none of them. and for 2 months now I don't even go to Walmart, i order amazon and Walmart delivered. Publix I do go to at least once a week, it is almost walking distance and is RX and things I run out of store.
ReplyDeleteAgree Dollar General is not a dollar store, but until bob stopped walking I shopped there for pharmacy things. they have better prices than Walmart.
forgot to say, I love Harry and Ed, so sweet and I do love orange ginger cats
ReplyDeleteI love our AtHome store here. You can find pretty much anything you are looking for for inside and outside your house! And the prices are reasonable (at least here in Michigan they are). A Raising Canes just opened by us a few months ago. For a few weeks the traffic around there was crazy with police having to direct traffic it was so bad! It's died down now. I haven't tried it yet but I get mixed reviews.
ReplyDelete