Vermont Shortbread Company

The Flour Crisis

I've known it's coming for a long time, but I was still sticker shocked during my last trip to Costco where I buy 25 lb. bags of King Arthur flour. 

You've seen it in the TV news - the price of flour has risen...a lot.  My cost has doubled. 

Why the rise?  The growing worldwide demand for wheat, especially in developing countries, is making supply tight.  Also the value the American dollar is weakening and the supply is tight because we send much of our wheat supply overseas.  Lastly, the growth in ethanol production is pushing up the prices of commodities.

We are all going to see a rise in wheat-based flour products.  We are going to be limited to the number of bags we can buy at the grocery store (this is already happening - I've been trying to stockpile flour since I learned of the inevitable).  Bottom line?  I'm going to have to raise my prices soon.  I'm not sure how much yet, but somewhere in the neighborhood of a 10-15% hike will keep Vermont Shortbread Company profitable.  I'll let you know when I understand the situation better.  I know this seems a bit hefty, but I have not raised my prices in more than 5 years and in that time, the cost of butter has also risen substantially.   

In the meantime, BUY YOUR SHORTBREAD WHILE IT'S STILL AT THE OLD PRICES because they won't last much longer!  Shortbread freezes well for up to 6 months, so you can buy now for upcoming events.  Lock in the low prices now, buy placing a BULK order.  Buy 10 now and send them out at your convenience.   

Want to know more?  Want to place a bulk order?  Then visit our Vermont Shortbread Company web site  now, or call me at 802-264-4835.

In the meantime, be prepared to pay a lot more for your pizza, bread, and other baked goods at the grocery store.  Maybe we can all save some money this summer by growing big vegetable gardens and and preserving our harvest.  It won't help the flour situation, but it will save food costs elsewhere...and it tastes good. 

Your friend, the shortbread chick and eternal optimist   

A Social Plea Near to My Heart

I don't typically post this sort of thing here, but this topic is near to my heart.  I have become a member of ACFC (American Coalition for Fathers and Children), an organization "dedicated to the creation of a family law system, legislative system, and public awareness which promotes equal rights for ALL parties affected by divorce, and the breakup of a family or establishment of paternity."

I was lucky.  I had an easy divorce many years ago.  No money exchanges hands: no spousal support and we split our daughter's expenses 50/50.  I have always supported myself since my divorce.  We share custody.  I respect and think the world of my ex as a friend and as a father.  More often than not, divorce does not work that way.  While I recognize that the family court system is set up to protect children, I have watched far too many times as it is abused and manipulated by lawyers and exes who want a free ride.  Worse, I have witnessed, in my community, parental alienation syndrome (usually it's the father who is alienated), which I believe is a form of child abuse.  I do not believe the family court system is always fair and just and it is gravely flawed (at least in my state of Vermont - I can't speak for other states). 

If you, or someone you know and care about, is dealing with a pressing problem related to domestic relations, there are excellent resources available to you from ACFC.   

ACFC is generating a petition which will be presented to legislators to help faciliate changes in the family court system.  The signators with the following principles respecting our nation’s children and encourage America’s leadership to develop policies which both reflect and support these principles. 

"Children thrive with the active involvement of both parents.  Children and parents should be encouraged to spend substantial time with each other regardless of the parents’ present marital status.  The undersigned recognize that absent issues of abuse, neglect or abandonment, social and government policy must be structured in such a way as to promote and maximize the opportunity of all parents to contribute to the social, emotional, intellectual, physical, moral and spiritual development of their children."

I've signed this petition because I've watched what happens when the system is abused and it breaks my heart.  If you feel so moved, please feel free to click on the link below and sign it too.  I promise not to make any more social pleas, but this one is too important for me to ignore! 

Your friend,

The Shortbread Chick (we'll be back to our regularly scheduled content in a few days!)

Shortbread, NASCAR, and Me

As I was channel surfing this weekend, I giggled hysterically when I heard a TV announcer say that the fifth annual NASCAR Day is the same day as the shortbread chick's birthday this year! 

I haven't figured out how to celebrate yet.  Maybe race car shaped shortbread cookies?  Any ideas?  Let me hear them!  I love any excuse to draw attention to my special day and to one sport I know nothing about and just don't "get".  Let's have some fun with it. 

Post Primary Day Observations

I don't believe the Shortblog is the place for me to talk about politics, so I won't tell you who I voted for in yesterday's primary.  I'll just say I was obsessively checking the stats last night after yesterday's primaries.  It's the most I've cared in my 28 years of voting.  It's the first time I made ever made a matrix of the issues and my beliefs in order to make an informed vote.   

I've also noted how driven by the media this election is.  It's a little scary and feels cultish to me.  I suppose it's always been like this, but I'm only just starting to observe the power the media has in whipping people up about...anything!  For me, a writer, it highlights the power of language: the language we use in communicating with others as well as the language we use in our own thoughts and beliefs.  Fascinating.  I've been analyzing everything I say lately personally and professionally - why do I believe that?  Why did I choose that word?  How does that belief affect how I behave?  How does it affect people to whom I talk?   

I try to read foreign news media as much as I can.  For example, why is there so little coverage of the Zimbabwe situation in American media?  Zimbabwe is near and dear to my heart after I spent a month there way back in the days before I had a child.  And how many Americans really understand or care about what's going on there?  Not many I know.  But everyone knows about the countries the celebrities care about!  Blech.   

I had to cancel my subscription to The Economist when I got laid off from IBM last year because it was too expensive.  Anyone wish to donate their old copies to this hungry reader?   Maybe I should just go to the library...seems precious little time for that these days.  And I'm tired...when I read lately, I veer towards brain candy reading - cheesy romantic novels and I like them!   

I'm hungry on many levels...and tired on more.  And I'm feeling jaded and grumbly today.