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Thumbs up to Goodwill shopping  - Attention thrifters, collectors, quirky dishware fans, crafters and those who like warm feet. Groves has a brand-new Goodwill store ready for your exploration. Everybody loves a good find and your purchase will help locals via Goodwill programs. It’s near Bruce’s Market Basket.

Right when I walked in I noted new socks still in the packaging then headed to my favorite department, kitchen goodies. This includes funny mugs and often, things grandmas had in their house. Nostalgia speaking, here. Find goblets to toast, platters to share cookies with friends and curiosities that can't be left behind.  Of course there's lots of clothes, purses, hats and.... books, books, books. 

There’s different merchandise every time you shop. If you can see this photo with the ceramic thumbs up sculpture, you won't find it on the shelf. It came home with me, for reasons I can't altogether explain. But everybody needs to get a thumbs up now and then.

Goodwill Industries of Southeast Texas is at 5901 39^th Street in Groves.

 

January is National Soup Month – Soup month is a thing, and the cool month of January is the time to do it. In my head I don’t care for soup. That’s because I think of some canned, cafeteria style vegetable soups that were some unfavorable memories of my youth. But soup can make us grateful for a hot and simple meal. I have no issue with cheesy potato, savory onion and creamy French soups. Throw in some crusty bread and butter and that’s a great meal. Gumbo and chili are not considered soups so much, but they’re comfort in a bowl and I think January would be proud to count them in. Readers, if you have soup stories, share them here.

“The Continuous Vegetable Garden” -  Does the chop and drop method in a no-dig garden appeal to you? Sounds kind of Ninja to me. But this is from Charlie Nardozzi, who grew up by his Italian grandparents’ farm in Connecticut. All the family lived nearby and had gardens. He’s evolved his techniques to have good stuff cropping up all year round, and teaches us how. I know the feeling of a “compost surprise” and I’d love to have a kale patch at the ready. The mapped-out beds give insight to the concept of “less time, less effort, more food!” Those of us on Southern Soil seem to have the advantage.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who loves thrift shopping and estate sales just to find treasures her Cajun grandmother would have displayed. Reach her via panews@panews.com