Grocery shopping

Summer and I recently went grocery shopping with our friend Judith and her mother Esperanza. We have been trying to conserve our budget as much as possible and I thought it would be a good idea to go to the market with Judith and her mom because we know they too are on a tight budget yet eat well. Plus, they would know all the best places in the market to buy vegetables and what not. So this past monday we met up with them and started our trek through the outdoor market. It's crowded and bustling with vegetable displays galore, chickens skinned with their heads being chopped off before your very eyes, live chickens hanging from women's arms will brush your own as you try to squeeze by, and bartering, always bartering. Its one of my favorite places. Well, Esperanza led the way. We learned who to buy our lettuce from and bananas. I enjoyed watching her shop. The way she would scrutinize the vegetables, how she checked if they were ripe, the way she rubbed the beans in her hand to tell if they were fresh. I felt like a little kid following her every move. What she bought, I bought :) It was fun. Judith said that morning on their way to meet us that they were running late and her mother told her in spanish "Hurry, I don't want my daughters waiting!" We have become very close to Judith and her family, so we loved that Esperanza said that. Now during our morning of grocery shopping I brought my camera to document our day. But since I had a professional in my presence I asked Summer to snap a few shots. There was a really pretty bean stand, all different colors. So Summer decided to snap a shot of it. We continued on our way when all of a sudden Summer belted out while grabbing onto the back of her head "SOMEONE JUST HIT ME WITH A BEAN!!!" I immediately began laughing due to the indignation in her voice and on her face, because of a bean! So we kept walking and not 3 seconds later she yelled again "I JUST GOT HIT WITH ANOTHER BEAN!" this time clutching her back. It was all too much :) I told her it was just a little bean and she replied "A bullet is little too!" I suppose the beans had such force and accuracy due to the way the young boy at the bean stand propelled them with his spatula. I secretly thanked him for the entertainment :) I included some pictures of that day as well. All in a good day at the market....and if you're wondering what I am posing next to its a large bowl of pork fat/grease, yum :)