Coffee and...part 2 :-D

Woohoo, DD called and said "Let's do it tomorrow instead" Works for me. Then she said her freezer is leaking. The one I gave her. I said "I gave you a freezer?" Apparently more things than appointments and where my glasses are have slipped from my personal hard drive...I keep saying every time I have to remember something new, something old gets crowded out........

Wallpapered only once with my DH. We were lining up paper than had old fashioned advertisements printed on it and it was a bear to match up the seams. After I had done the Lower, honey, no a little to the left, no that's too low a few times, he got down off the ladder, handed me the drippy sticky sagging sheet and said, "Here you do it" and walked away! Saved our marriage. LOL

Lots of good things at yard sales, thrift stores and such. I pinch pennies here and there too just so I can throw them away on other people's treasures! I once bought an eight place setting of silverplated flatware for $25. Knives, forks, teaspoons, dessert forks, soup spoons, and serving pieces. Hardly ever used, and still in the original wooden box. Finds like that keep you hunting. Last year I got a huge ..........chicken? Looks Aztec or Central American ...Made of terra cotta, stands about 30" high, with a hollowed out body for planting. $15. Couldn't even lift it with the dirt in it, so I scooped out all the dirt. When I got home, I found my scavenging buddy had dropped the old weed digger I borrowed inside it....thinking it was mine. Well, it is now. It was only marked fifty cents, so I didn't feel too guilty. Probably couldn't have found the place again anyway, it was just a drive by and peek. And last year I found an old wooden radio flyer wagon with the side slats at a "Family Sharing" (like a Goodwill) with the original paint on it.....$25. Now it sits in one of the side gardens with two big pots of wave petunias falling over the sides. That's where all my coupon money goes!! More stuff!!

Here's that bread pudding. If you like it here's how I made it. First I warm about 3 1/2 c of milk in a saucepan, add about a quarter of a cube of butter, 3/4 c brown sugar, about a cup of raisins, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 3 or 4 bread heels torn in about 1 inch pieces. I prefer whole wheat because it gives the pudding some texture, don't use rye because it makes it taste wierd. Let all that soak until the bread will fall apart, usually about 15 minutes depending on how warm the milk was and how dry the bread. Beat 4 eggs (fork ok) and add those, pour into an 8 or 9 inch glass baking pan, sprinkle the top with more nutmeg, bake at 325 for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm. It doesn't last long at my house. After you cut into it the custard will sometimes weep a light brownish liquid, that's a sign that it was a little too done, but it is ok. Mine usually does that and I just spoon a bit of it over the servings.

M5...we really need to get together and go garage saleing...DH is *not* one for doing that, and I'd love to find stuff for my garden. Only problem is, there is *no* way I'm driving to the opposite side of the state! :0D Oh welllll...such is life.

Mary...thanks for the recipe...I'm definitely going to try that one *soon* (I can't really mess it too much, can I? :-))

Well...I'm up to 54 containers planted so far. My bag is getting pretty low in seed packets and I'm wondering what the heck I did with the rest of them. ~sheepish senior citizen type grin here ~

Back at it. I've got some "wow" soup in the kettle over there. Nothing fancy, just a lot of leftover roast and swiss steak , tossed in some sautee'd fresh veggies and opened a couple of cans potatoes...and my, my, my yummy. I scooped out a tiny bowl for DH to taste with a crescent roll a while ago. He didn't want to take the time...had to get out and shovel the ice, you know. Well, he took a couple of spoonfuls and headed straight out. He's shoveling, and I hear "Mmm, mmmm, mm, mmm...man! that tastes good." He didn't know I was standing on the deck...and it was funny when I asked him "What did you say?" :oD I actually startled him...he turned around real quick and "That's pretty good...uh...what do call it?"

Isn't it funny how leftovers can taste SO darn good when it gets nasty outside?

~julie~

Mary I'm far too lazy to make my own, though I do love it and order it whenever I see it on a menu... sometimes it's a bit too sweet, just add milk.

So I'll just have a wee bit of yours if that'd be okay? I have been doing the chicken with head chopped off dance with the "but-firsts" trying to organize waaay too much stuff into what should be a large enough house for one person.

And I need a sit down for a bit. mmm yep, I resemble that yard sale queen, I had to put a moratorium on that wknd occupation this summer. With not place to put another thing I found myself being disappointed when I didn't find a treasure at least in one yard. /;-0 heehee

So this morning 'Spin suggested that instead of another yard sale /which I can't bring myself to go thru again/ I could donate the least treasured treasures to the local charity thrift shop. Now that I think would be a solution.

If ya see what I mean:

Blooms! You make it sound like you really have NO room! Geez, girl! I see LOTS of space for more 'stuff'...get busy and go BUY some! :_)

~julie~

I have several James Herriot books-he is one of my favourite authors. :-) A dear friend in England sends them to me from time to time.

Might be able to get a load of free lumber- my boss is re-doing his bonsai display... very excited here, because lumber is so expensive!
Gotta get off here for a bit- really tired from all the "hard work" I did today, LOL. - Jocie.

Julie, isn't there someplace halfway from here to there that has garage sales? We're just a bit east of 83, which runs across I94 north of here. Just think what we could carry with two of us!!! LOL And Blooms, I wouldn't mind taking that old sewing machine base......but Utah would be quite a jaunt...
Did go to the movies, saw Beyond the Sea (Bobby Darin story done Hollywood style) and got home just in time for thunder and lightening. Noisy out there! Still haven't figured out what to make for dinner! (Sticking head in freezer, hmmmm there's a big something on the top shelf. Surprise !!! I f it looks bad enough maybe he'll take me out for chinese..................)

I think my dinner is going to be eggs and grits... simple.

I'm baa-ack! :-D I finished up the day with 59 containers...those baskets out on the side walk are looking *really* good to me 'bout now. But I see some *work* coming in few months. ~silly grin here~ Today I got poppies and phlox and, and, and, and planted. Tomorrow! I *clean*...my house is a disaster! "but-FIRST" I have to clean up my mess in the basement...there goes my good intentions. hahaha

M5...I'll tell ya what...on your way to Blooms place, you can pick me up and we'll yard-sale ALL the way there!

Jocie...SUPER on the lumber!! (Got my fingers crossed for ya on that!) You're talking to someone who knows the price of building supplies *very* well. You're also talking to someone who knows how to re-use and scavange just about anything. LOL

Darius...simple is GOOD, especially with a meal like that one! Sounds gooood!

Well...the buzzer just went off and the oven's ready for the biscuits we're going to have with our soup/stew.

Later...
~julie~

I'll be having leftover rice from last night's chicken cacitore, along with some artichoke/parm cheese goo. :) Mmmm...goo is good. lol

You guys are making me hungry! It is cold roast beef and salad in our house tonight - leftover from yesterdays roast dinner, but I have apple crumble, home made, and hot custard for afters.
I'm feeling pleased with myself, I got two big trays of seeds planted. Yippee! Nine mini pots of 12 different varieties of stuff, including 3 for my veg patch. So you see I did get started, even if I did 'just first' have to do......! You know how it is!!!
I popped in for another cup of that coffee, it tastes really good, and if those cookies are going spare, well I know they won't sit on my waist line.
If you get to garage sale hunting in Texas give me a call. Before we crossed the pond I had the biggest clear out you have ever seen, stuff from Car-Boot sales ( the UK equivalent). I'm missing the clutter so i have to start again, LOL

I made chili and cornbread, quick easy and everybody likes it.

Oh I wish I could part with some of my clutter to do a yardsale, I am such a packrat its pathetic LOL. We did have a yardsale last summer and we were able to sell enough to go out to dinner on what we made and still have enough left over for a movie, not bad for a days work but, I really need to learn to let go of stuff. LOL

LOL DC- if you could see all the junk we have been storing for years-!
Being a packrat is a good thing, never know when you might need that slightly used plastic walmart bag!

We re-use and salvage tons of stuff Julie- It's alot of fun sometimes- but then sometimes I wish we could buy new, LOL. I've gone so far as to save all my paper used towels for my composte heap- and use garbage bags as pond liners!

Just had some chicken fingers- can buy a whole big bag of them for about 5.00 at the store- they last us a long time and are a tasty treat. :-)

Well I'm off to wallpaper today so just a quick hello and I'm on the road. Darius, I love grits, but very few of the restaurants around here serve them, so when I have a grits withdrawal I make them for my own breakfast at home...wish I'd thought of that this morning before it was time to leave!! None of my family likes them, but years ago when we lived in Denver (1963) a neighbor from Kentucky introduced me to them...yummm She made redeye gravy too. Just like polenta....only the color and flavor is different. OK, Off I go...roads are clear but traffic looks heavy. Have a nice chat this morning.See you later.
Sheila

Hope you have a nice day papering, M5.

The weatherman is forecasting some really nasty cold weather for the next few days here in southwestern WI. Makes me wish I'd raked up more pine needles and mulched my plants deeper. DH says the high is supposed to be -1 in a day or two. Bbrrrrrr! Better make sure my birdies have plenty of food...note to self, buy a water heating thingy for the little guys.

Hey! Everyone...have you heard the interview with Dave on PBS?!? I listened to the program last night, and Dave was FANTASTIC!!! You really gotta HEAR it! Here's a link to the PBR 'Home Grown' program page...just click on the archives link...Dave's interview was aired on that station Jan 8, 2005. Right now, it's the first one on the list.
http://www.wfpl.org/homegrown.htm

It's a WONDERFUL interview...and really gives a terrific perspective about *our* DAVE and his garden!

And when you've listened (It will take a while to get it streaming through your connection) go over here
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/477787 and let Dave know you heard him! :-) (Yep! I'm the 'bossy sister' in my family. LOL)

See y'all later!

~julie~

M5, I always make a bigger pot of grits than just for one meal. When the leftovers are cold, I slice them about 1/2" thick and sauté in some butter as a carb for another meal, sometimes with a cheese topping, or chives. I like polenta but I also like the chunkier texture of grits (that depends on the brand, though.)

No time for coffee this morning... It's a gray day outside, damp and windy (although warm) and I HAVE to go into town. Forgot to get a birthday card for a friend who is 84, and the birthday is tomorrow. Doubt it will get to Tulsa by then...

I'll stop by later...

Mornin' Jules!!!! (I've always wanted a friend to call that). I heard Dave's interview yesterday morning I think it was. He did a good job. I cannot believe how much seed sowing you've gotten done.

We had that chicken and noodles last night....I'd forgotten I had a roast thawed the other day so we had that 2 day ago. The C&N were perfect because we got our arctic blast yesterday afternoon. Our highs this weekend are looking like single digits too, Julie, except we'll be on the positive side of the scale. Snow and ice is mostly gone here except were it's shaded. We have such unreliable snow cover here any more. I remember as a kid it seemed to be white all winter. Global warming strikes again I guess.

Nothing to eat for me today, had myself a hearty bowl of oatmeal with raisins & brown sugar. Mmmmm.. I will just freshen my cuppa coffee here though.

Mary - thanks for that Bread Pudding recipe. I've copied it to my hard drive, now to find a rum sauce to go over it. Mmmmmm.....it's my all-time favorite dessert. I use my mother's recipe and it's pretty similar (raisins and all).

Darius those grits sound so good. We have them from time to time, but your post brought back a memory. When I was a young girl one of my favorite winter breakfasts was fried cornmeal mush with a touch of maple syrup. Anyone ever have that before? Gosh, excuse me! I can't believe how my mouth is watering just thinking of it. Gosh you can sure see the influence of my GA-born grandmother in a lot of the dishes I fix and had as a child.

Headed out yesterday and did some errands. Grocery shopping, banking for the dahlia coop and Home Depot. Ended up bringing home a new border to put up in the kitchen. Right now the walls are a burnt orange color. I've got roosters and grapes & apples decorations up. I found a nice apple harvest border to put up. Also grabbed some drywall mud to fix a few spots the puppies scuffed up and then I'll begin deciding on paint for the entryway. Also sketching ideas on the unfinished basement. We've decided 2005 is the year to finish it off and it's huge. Trying to decide on an area for wintering over plants/seed starting, a work bench for DH (yep, Julie, model airplanes!) and a good sized area for storage of holiday decorations and other clutter I can seem to pitch. The rest will be a game area -- we're thinking a pool table perhaps and we have an air hockey table the kids haven't played in a while. We'll also set up a "home theater" area I think -- DH wants a big-screen TV and all his audio equipment down there. Probably will throw in a bar/sink area with a fridge. I kept the old fridge when I bought the side-by-side last year and we have an old living room furniture set with end tables/coffee table, so for the most part it's cleaning up the clutter and start framing in walls.

I've been thinking about going with those new carpet squares you can buy. They have padding attached and if you ruin it you just pull out the offending square and replace it instead of the whole room of carpet.
http://www.legatocarpet.com/Legato/LegatoP.nsf/KLKey/Home%20First%20Page?OpenDocument

Might be just the thing for the kids and dogs!

I'm off today to start the dreaded "L" ---- laundry. 5 people in the house and it racks up quickly. DH brought home a suitcase full on Mon. night so there's more than usual.

Ham & beans on the menu tonight. I always make way more than we need, so stop on by. Cornbread on the side as well.

Good morning. I'll have some hot chocolate this morning, brought my own little packet in case there wasn't any here.

Fried cornmeal mush with maple syrup, YES! My husband thinks it's wierd but my kids liked it and we had it for dinner now and then when DH was working swing shift. Another thing we did when he was on swing shift with his weekends in the middle of the week was to go to meet him for a quick dinner at the Chinese restaurant near were he worked, and at least we had a dinner together. We all remember one cold night when a drunk trancient type guy came in and sat in a booth were the kids had a clear view. He ordered a bowl of something with lots of noodles, but he kept falling into it face first. I wondered why they served him but maybe the waitress didn't realize he was drunk. As soon as he got warm he got v-e-r-r-r-r-y sleepy. When his face hit the noodles he would wake up and try to wipe his face, take a few bites and soon it would happen again. The kids giggled a lot watching the poor guy but he didn't seem to know anybody else was there.

So far my morning has been frustrating, trying to sign on to MSN IM and we go round and round, enter password, answer secret question, enter this, enter that, over and over. It was working ok yesterday but this morning we had this problem out of the blue. So I gave up for a while since I have done everything at least 12 times! There is no link to get to a real person. GRRRRR! Maybe my daughter in law will have time to help me this afternoon, they are comming out to buy a recliner from a neighbor so I hope they will stop in.

On the brighter side, the sun is out and it is beautiful with all the snow. The greenhouse got to over 90 yesterday afternoon so I opened the window on the door and one of the roof vents. We have an automatic venting system in it but turn it off and block the vents in the winter to keep the wind from flapping the exhaust vent and letting the cold air in right over the furnace and thermostat, and letting out the warm air. After about an hour it was down around 78 so I closed everything again, the sun went down soon after that and before long the heater was on again. I worked out there for a while, treated some buggy plants with a systemic insecticide. Mealy bugs are such a joy, but at least they move slowly and don't fly. Last year it was aphids, haven't seen any of them this year. I potted up some more sprouting lily seeds, these are the slow ones, I already have a 4 inch pot with about 15-20 in it. These all came from one lily, a red one growing next to a yellow one, so who knows what the babies will look like, but it will be fun to see. I'll plant them outside somewhere with no other lilies around this spring.

Well, I'll be off now to check out Dave's interview. See you all later.

Dave's interview was awesome wasn't it? It's amazing what he's done here, it really is. I was also so proud when I saw 'Garden Watchdog Top 20 Company' on my Select Seeds catalog a few weeks ago! It really is a testiment to the work he has done here when the people that spend their time here feel 'proud' of him. :)

IT's DOWN! IT's FINALLY DOWN!!! YAYYYYYYYYY!!! (The Christmas tree, that is! :oD)

I'll be back in a minute to read what I've missed so far...

~julie~

Julie BUT............... Its not Easter!!!!!

Carol

Brenda, it sounds as though when yu 'finish' the basement you'll hardly need the rest of the house. LOL

Thanks for steering us to Dave's interview, and yes bossy sister I did post where you pointed me. Funny how proud we are of what he has accomplished when he's the only reason we even know each other.
And I guess I'd better check out the botanary, not be afraid of the big ol Latin words.

Carol...you're absolutely RIGHT! :oD) (Don't tell anyone, ok? Maybe then I won't have all that bad luck.)

Hi Darius! Bye Darius! Boy you sure flew through here in a hurry...hope you can stay a little longer next time.

Hey, Brennie! I like it when people call me 'Jules' (Small 'j' is fine too. ;-)) makes me feel like I've been 'accepted.' Your redecorating projects sound wonderful. I like the Apple harvest border...and the carpet for that basement floor is just the ticket. By sure, if you have a concrete floor, that the carpet is for "below grade." (I didn't peek into the web site...had too much other stuff, like listening to DH complain about ALL the Christmas stuff that had to be packed back into the storage room in the basement. LOL) You'll love those 'patches' if something happens that one needs to be replaced. (Think RED kool-aid Ughhhhh! Lived with mine for years!) And that workbench is an absolute *must* for those RC guys! LOL


Mary...I'm so glad you mentioned your greenhouse. I was just wondering this morning how much "heat" an unheated GH would generate. I can understand the daytime temps when the sun in shining, but how about at night? I guess what I'm really asking is could I 'cheat' a zone or so for wintering plants over in a gh or maybe a glass topped pit cold frame? ...Nice job on those lily seeds, how long does it take for them to germinate? (Loved your chinese restaurant story...I can just imagine the giggles.)

Angie and Brenda...I'm so glad you guys heard Dave's interview. Angie, you're right on...he has certainly done a LOT of things right...and I know *I* felt mighty proud to be a part of the site they were talking about.

That pot of fresh coffee is ready...I'm going to have a cup and take a walk downstairs to see "what's happening". (DH brought me 4 more baskets to fill with the last of my winter sowing containers...I think I have about 25-30 more to go. Oh...and Brenda, thanks for that compliment I read somewhere about the amount of planting I've done. I can't remember if it was here or somewhere else. LOL)

~julie~

Ohh Dave is famous!!!! LOL This is so exciting- wish i had a soundcard! LOL!!!

Look at all those lilies! Suchs a happy thread today. :-)
Wallpapering sucks- next time slap some paint on dem der walls! hehe

I found the breed for me! Filas are my next pet- when I save up enough money- I'd like to see a meth head break into our house now. (well, when I get my Fila that is!)

So much to say so few brain cells to remember it all! LOL
I have a ton of threads to catch up on and have to clean my room- y'all have a really good day! (hugs)
-Jocie.

Back again with cup in hand, time for tea and crumpets.... ah.... just what is a crumpet anyhow? These peanut butter cookies will do just fine.

Julie, my gh temp has not been below 44, usually stays between 55 and 60. It has a propane furnace that does not depend on electricity except to run the fan. The 44 came last winter when we had -20 outside with a howling wind. I have a monitor in the house so I watched the temp go up and down, up and down all evening and went to bed feeling confident that everything inside would be ok in the morning. We have the furnace set on the lowest setting and a 250 gallon propane tank feeds it. It isn't real cheap to heat, but we heat our house with a woodstove, (pretty much for free) so I don't worry what it costs to heat the gh. I did get concerned when the tank got down to about 20% and our supplier had gone out of business and we weren't sure who was comming to fill it or when! I almost kissed the man when he showed up! Well not really, but I was very happy to see that big propane truck in my driveway. That week was the worst weather we have had in 12 years that we have lived here in this area. I have a small stock tank in one corner with some fish in it, the water helps moderate temperatures I think. I really need to add more. There is a formula for how much of a heat sink you need per sq ft, we need 300 gallons and only have maybe 100. Better than nothing tho. The gh would be more efficient if it was not free standing.

Leftovers for dinner tonight, have some spaghetti, some of a chicken mushroom soup creation we had over rice, salad, and mashed squash I cooked up today to keep it from spoiling. I love having leftovers since I really don't enjoy cooking much.

Still can't sign in to MSN IM. Sigh. See you later.

I need to download something that is gonna take about an hour before I can listen to Dave's interview. Is it in print anywhere? Of course I would like to hear his voice and see if I think it matches his face. Voices and faces are funny sometimes when they don't seem to match.

crum·pet
n.
A small flat round of bread, baked on a griddle and usually served toasted. (Oftenhas raisins in it, too.)

Jocie...those "hugs" are worth a WHOLE lot of words...Here's some for you
((( ~Hugs~ )))
and some for EVERYONE else!
((( ~ HUGS for EVERYONE ~)))

Mary, Crumpets? Well I know them from the refrigerated case kind that I buy. They look like small pancakes look before you turn them over to cook the other side. Lots of holes to hole LOTS of butter and jam. (Yummy!)

Thanks for the info on the gh. If I had anything at all, it would be unheated. I sure wish I'd known that I was going to get into gardening as deeply as I have when we put in the Hasha (outdoor wood heating furnace). I certainly would have the paid the extra for the piping and larger size fire box to have had at least a small gh. I'm thinking of dropping by a farm that has an abandoned little gh and asking if they want to get rid of the extra 'tax burden'. LOL Do ya think that tactic would work? :-D

And I think Dave's voice matches his pictures real well. Uh...maybe with the exception of the picture in "Love-Lies-a-Bleeding" :-D That's another story.

~julie~

Here I am...just had a good dinner...I had some cooked spaghetti left over from when I cooked one time...a week or so ago...I also had some of Armours frozen meatballs...and a jar of Classico dried Tomatoes & Garlic sauce...I took enough sauce to make the meatballs and 'sagetti marry and enjoyed them very much...eating alone is no fun!!

I still haven't gotten my sun room ceiling painted...but grandson promised to be over early in the morning to finish up....OH HAPPY DAY!!!


OOOOH look! I still have some egg nog left from New Years...gonna put a wee drap of NOG in it and relax! Join me??

Jo

Thanks, I believe I will... if I can put my feet up somewhere.

Darius...you're so quiet when you come in here...I flat missed your post for the crum-pet. Please...have a seat. And if you see anything on the table that interests you...dig in. ;-)

Jo...I think that's my favorite Classico variety. Wish I could have been there...or you could have joined me for a dish of something new DH found at the store. Bertolli's frozen pasta quick meal. Actually, it was quite good. Hope you get that painting done...and give that grandson and rub on the head from me....isn't that what we 'grannies' are supposed to do. hehehe

~julie~

What a busy bunch here today. Got home around 4ish, feet hurt, from standing on the cement basement floor, but we got three walls done, all nicely matched no bubbles or booboos. The paper is white background, and several different breeds of dogs replicated over and over. Will look great when the baseboards are in and the ceiling finished off. We had fun doing it, we've done it together several times and since we think pretty much alike ( poooor DD...turning into her mother) we make a good team. Her grooming business will be called Shear Madness (like the play). Glad it's over though. Oh Boy!! Got my computer back tonight!! I'm so happppy!!! So here's the Christmas socks my sister sent me!! LOL

Julie...I still have a bowl left for another meal...want it?

Meez...you better guard those socks...Darius is a sock fiend!!

Mary...did you get your son all moved?

Jo

Julie, I barge large and loud into so many places that it's nice if I can sneak somewhat quietly into one once in a while, LOL.

Jo, your eggnoggin hit the spot, in spite of (or in addition to) my already prodigious waistline!

I'll have to think of something wonderful to bring to the table tomorrrow, but so far only baking some rustic whole wheat bread is on my agenda. I haven't baked "real bread" in more than a year! Lordy, I can almost smell it now and I haven't even assembled the ingredients.

Yay!!! M5 got her 'PUTER back!!! *AND* got a whole bunch of papering done! You had a great day for sure! (You gotta LOVE a pair of socks like those!)

Shhhhhh....Darius is here....:-D I love that quote, it really is that way for most of us. And...what do you mean "real bread"? I think the rustic whole grain *is* the real stuff...I'd rather have that any time. Unless of course I have a taste for a peanut butter sandwich (SANS the mayo, please! LOL)

~julie~

I guess when I clicked on my thread watcher for this thread earlier it just bounced over M5's post so i missed it. Glad to have you here WITH COMPUTER, M5! (But my socks could give your socks a run... LOL... except I like your mice...)

Julie, I think European style breads (mostly) made with just flour, water, yeast, a tad of honey or molasses for the yeast and salt are "real breads"... All that junk they put in grocery store breads is just that.. JUNK. (Even for PBJ's IMHO)

Darius...Those socks are the ones we need FIRST thing in the morning. Or not? :-D WOW!

~julie~

Yup if Darius' socks had caffeine they would be right off the scale! All my other odd socks have cats on them too....hey, if you don't dress yourself funny when you're an official senior citizen, then you are missing a lot of fun. Although I have to admit, I'm hard pressed to find anything resembling "regular" clothes since most of my attire is jeans, shorts, tees and sweats. Really need the sweats today, we are down to single digits and the wind chill is making the "feel like" temp well below the real temp of 5*. Real bread is hard to come by, we refer to the supermarket varieties as "cotton bread" as it has no texture and hardly ever any whole grains. There are some they call artisan breads that are pretty good, but they are pricey and I'd just as soon make it myself as to pay 4 or 5 times what the ingredients would cost me. Cornmeal that you buy in Italian groceries is much coarser than the kind we use for corn bread and muffins, it has much more "tooth' and retains that texture after cooking. Dad used to save the leftovers to make scrapple, which is just the addition of ham, bacon or sausage bits, onion, and then chilled to slice and fry. Preferably in bacon drippings (are the cholesterol cops lurking here?) which made a tasty side dish. I think my dad was the first generation of "foodies"...he was a good cook, and had a variety of ethnic dishes that he learned from his friends, so we had quite interesting meals.

Sure wish I had a greenhouse. After DH finishes the new garage, I'm thinking of doing something on the back side of it which faces south, maybe just cold frames or something that will give me an opportunity to get an earlier start in spring. I'm sure he'll approve, as he is more than willing to enlarge any of the garden beds, thus reducing the amount of lawn mowing.
I'm leaving some blueberry muffins on the table, help yourselves. I'm being strict with myself today, we went out for supper, and I had cheesecake for dessert......time to pay the piper....LOL .. but I am having GRITS with my eggs!!

Fresh coffee just finished brewing...and BOY am I ready for it! Right now it's a cool -10° on my deck outside the kitchen window...careful when you come up those steps, they're trecherous let me tell ya. If ya need it, there's extra de-icer in the bag as you come up (can't keep the water from dripping on 'em).

M5...when you're a "senior" you can dress ANY way you want. Just make sure you have ONE pair of 'granny' underware in case you need to go to the hospital! (Hey! That comment is based on absolute FACT and an 85 yo neighbor lady...May she rest in peace...I think she delighted in *shocking* the nurses with her 'thongs' and tattoos! Trust me, that's a WHOLE 'nuther' story. LOL)

Those BB muffins look fabulous...thanks!

Today, my gardening chores include:
Cleaning up the mess I made in the basement,
Plant some more perennials in containers,
Get some coleus going (!/2 packs or just a few seeds...I can't WAIT!)
and water my Paperwhites that nearly 15" tall. Unbelievable! I only planted them a little of 2 weeks ago...and they *already* have flower buds about to pop open! I'll definitely put them on the table (post a pic) so we can all enjoy a taste of spring.

Catch y'all later...

~julie~

Hi folks! Popping in for a sec. I haven't really had the time I would like to read all the posts but looks like friendly conversation!! Hi Julie!! Darius I will have to post a pic of my son's socks - they are pretty cute but they still can't touch yours! Well, this is my first time trying to overwinter my Coleus and I'm not having much luck. They are getting sun and being treated like a houseplant but slowing kicking the bucket. The ones doing the worst I have more seeds of but I do have one cutting I snatched from my doctor's and it's started to look sickly too. Any suggestions? Darius, I'm doing the peroxide thing already....

Yummy,,, too by the way - 'real' bread sounds awesome.. I try to get whole wheat everything but always wonder what I'm REALLY getting....

Nicole

Hi Nicole!!! SO glad you found us. I honestly think keeping coleus over the winter depends as much on "luck" as anything else. I'm finding that some varieties are just much sturdier (Read that "handle my neglect!") than others. I'm still looking for a common ground that makes them kick the bucket but, so far, some make it, some don't. That bothered me a little at the beginning, you know, like last fall... hehehehe...but nto any more. I figure if ANY of them make it, I'm $'s ahead.

Mine are, for the most part, under or nearly under florescent lights in a very cool basement. I have some of them on heat mats some are fending for themselves. There isn't much difference other than those on the heat mats were probably pretty happy last night when the temps outside dropped to -10°.

I have noticed that my cuttings are taking *much* longer to root during this time of year, and that the ones I've done in potting soil don't fare as well as those rooted in water with a tiny bit of Algoflash. But I'm just happy most of them are still alive.

Come back and visit again, when you have time...I love seeing you!

~julie~