I had this great idea for a Bosses gift-A basket filled with different Tehachapi labeled foods, drink and what ever I could find. Good and bad idea.
First stop Edelweiss Deli, no authentic Tehachapi made food here but friendly service and a wonderful new sugary sauce (white/milk chocolate) that is Delicious made it a worthwhile stop. Next stop-Book N Crannies. Lots of stuff, calender, coffee, mugs etc and again friendly great service. Then things took a turn for the worse.
OK, so I have heard all these rave reviews regarding Mama Hillybeans so we go there for lunch. Half hour later, sitting just watching in amazement that Pat hasn't lost it and chewed anyone out for not acknowledging him. He is sitting on a stool watching the waitress? try to figure out the credit card machine and walk here and there doing NOTHING! The dread-lock lady in back is stressed out with this waitress but does nothing but go back to prepare someones lunch?? Anyway after someone else walks in and the waitress asks what they would like, my hubby stops her and says he has been waiting for her to help him. What does she think he was doing on that stool? A mix up where instead of one chili bowl the dread-lock lady brings out two orders, we tell her we ordered one Lox N Bagel (skimpy) and one chili,(good) she stomps away with BOTH chili's. I had to smile it was so unbelievably rude of her. Kids crying, screaming, making kid noises added to the stress in the air. Dreadlocks finally bring my chili back and says , yes you ordered one! UGHHHHH. Tehachapi Art Center looks promising, so what that I am followed around the small area like a shoplifter. I figure- they must have frequent shoplifters visiting them!!!.  Not being put off by this , we buy some artsy stuff. Check them out. You might feel hawk eyed but they are our local artists.
Stressed out myself by now we head for The Appleshed. I ask the lady if there is a zinfandel made by Tehachapi Cattle Co. She says no only what I see is what they make. Hmmmm.  Tanglewood farms seems like a good idea. We walk into the first store where the little heater is making scary noises. Pat shuts it off and we walk over to the other store where we are barely acknowledged. The lady here is too busy talking to her friends. Pat tells her he shut the heater off for the before mentioned reasons and she seriously barely looks at him to thank him and goes back to her chatter. No thank you I think and we leave empty handed. Next stop-Albertsons-There is the Zin, right as I walk in. Busy but always nice cashiers. Final stop, Norbatine Sisters up Water Cyn. Beautiful snowy drive. Sisters there have wonderful jams, biscotti. All made by the sisters. Prayer cards and all kinds of religious odds n ends. They are soft spoken and very friendly as I have found out from my last visit up there.
Home sweet home at last in Alpine Forest. Snow is still thick and my lab & Shepherd are in the yard to greet us. I am tired out from all this. I think I will have a glass of wine, dip some vanilla wafers in the great chocolate sauce and relax by the fire.