ABC Wednesday: V is for Value

I never win anything, which is why I very seldom buy a lottery ticket. I might as well send a dollar or two each week directly to the State Treasurer's Office rather than waste my money on any kind of chance drawing. You can imagine my surprise then when a couple of weeks ago, Jane Marie of Thyme for Herbs notified me that I was one of three winners of a new pair of Burpee clogs that she was giving away on her blog, courtesy of Burpee.

The clogs arrived on Monday--a lovely shade of green, don't you think? If I take them off and accidentally leave them in the garden, I should be able to find them without any problem!


They fit perfectly, and, just as advertised, they're very comfortable. The insoles feel cushiony, which is good for my finicky feet. Burpee sells them on their website for $14.95, which is a great Value for that price. They're lightweight, washable--even in the dishwasher, the ad says. (Who washes their shoes in the dishwasher??) They are just perfect for the summer time instead of my old sloggers below.

I won't be throwing these away, but you can tell I've had these awhile. Three years, to be exact--I know because of the tell-tale chew marks. Coconut was a puppy when I got these; his first year with us he ate more shoes than dog food. These are also great paint shoes, as you'll see from the specks of white. (Please ignore the feet inside--who knew I had wrinkles on my ankles as well??!) So I'll keep them for the really dirty jobs, but my new pair of clogs won't make my feet sweat, er perspire, during the hot days ahead.

I hated to get the new clogs dirty, but I decided to break them in today anyway. It was such a beautiful, sunny day with mild temperatures and a cool breeze, that I decided to pick some strawberries. I don't have a strawberry patch, but a neighbor down the road has a small truck farm and sells U-pick strawberries. I spent a little over an hour on my hands and knees, but in my new clogs, picking strawberries. I came home with almost 13 quarts of fresh strawberries, not bad for an hour's work.



As anyone who has ever grown strawberries knows, the "store-bought" variety just can't compare to home-grown strawberries. They are so sweet and full of flavor, it's hard to resist eating them while you are picking. I made a double batch of strawberry freezer jam and then froze some sliced strawberries as well. Of course, I saved quite a few back to eat fresh. I fixed strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for dinner tonight--yum! Daughter doesn't like strawberries and my husband fell asleep watching the Cubs game before eating any, so I decided to eat his share, too. But strawberries are so good for you, right? I'm already thinking strawberry pie tomorrow . . .


Thanks again, Jane Marie, for the lovely new clogs. And by the way, she is offering another give-away from Burpee, this time a gardening cap. So visit her before Friday, June 20 for a chance to win.



ABC Wednesday is sponsored by Mrs. Nesbitt; you can see other ABC posts by visiting her.