Deb re: vanilla beans

I've had no trouble finding them at the local grocery stores. The smaller neighborhood stores may not have them, but all the larger ones should. Sometimes, they're in the spices section, sometimes in a rack by the produce with other spices. The last time I bought them, they came about 3 or 4 to a clear cellophane bag (hanging on a hook in a produce display area). They're about 4 inches long and thin, brown, and kinda' pricey. I think I paid about $5 for the bag.