Coffee and...Part 31...! :-D

Hooray for Darius. Great news, congratulations.
Mary, fixing breakfast for DH ! Wonder if I would ever be courageous enough to request that of my beloved. After 30 years of fending for myself for breakfast and lunch I doubt it. Has something to do with both working and different get-up times.

She returned from her trip to Saltspring Island last night and said they had a great time. Brought me a goat cheese with garlic,one with herbs and a fresh one made yesterday from the 'cheesery', or whatever the proper designation might be.

New windows are in and re-shingling about half done,inside trim later today.

Pasties sound swell.Might be a treat for dinner tonight,if I can make a pastry that won't crumble that is. How about a carmelized apple pastie for after dinner? Locally those topless nightclubs have been having zoning problems,something about pasties I think. LOL
Tis after 8:00 and time to start nailing shingles again. Hope the neighbors are up.

Balvanie, I think there are two different pasties, the kind discussed here does not do nightclubs. Sheesh, just leave it to a man to do a complete about face with a conversaion.!! LOL

LOL Bal- whenever we go buy pasties, I struggle with the pronunciation...I'm alwasy afraid I am saying it wrong.

Yuck- just looked out the door the cat is munching on a mouse - I was hungry for lunch....

sarv, I feel the same way about Christmas, so much work and very little help. I get very "Scrooge-like" and think that the hassle just isn't worth it.

Last year I got really sick after Christmas, I ended up with lymphitis and my tree didn't come down untill mid March. We had just moved into this house in September, and I can just imagine what my new neighbors thought.

This year I'm loosing the mom-has-to-do-everything-herself attitude. If I don't get help, it don't get done. It's a family holiday dang it!

I like Halloween better, less expectations, more fun!

mg

The edible pasty rhymes with nasty. The "other" rhymes with tasty. Ironic huh?

mg

not just a man, my mind went there too. LOL
Robert - it looks wonderful, can I move in there when you get it all finished? I'm thinking starting fresh with out all this mishmush of collections might be the easy way to go. ~Blooms

rimes with nasty? good thing I didn't try ordering it in a restaurant... woulda said it wrong

This message was edited Sep 20, 2005 9:27 AM

blooms,

I used to pronounce it "pasty" like "pasta" makes sense the way it's spelled. I came into the middle of this conversation, so I may be sticking my neck out here, but does anyone have a good recipe for pasty? I have one from a restaurant everyone raved about; it was good, but I didn't think it had a lot of flavor.

Jody

This message was edited Sep 20, 2005 10:33 AM

Guilty as charged DF, Have to admit to being a man, couldn't do anything about it. I 'spose we sometimes do have a different perspective,and gee,I do appreciate the forbearance you ladies have afforded me.(and I don't do nightclubs either) Sarv,can you really buy ready made pasties ? Don't recall seeing them, but mebbe I don't shop in the right places.

mg- Now I am SURE to get the pronunciation wrong!! I think of food as tasty....I'm a female LOL LOL I like Halloween better too - we never have any trick or treaters!! I buy candy and we always eat it ourselves!! Snickers and butterfingers are my favorites!!

Just finished lunch and was looking in the freezer for a little bit of chocolate and I found a frozen malted that DH had made and hidden - well, it's history now!!

Bal, we buy pasties up north at a little restaurant that only makes them and homemade pies. But I've seen them in the frozen food part of the grocery store -but I bet they aren't very good.

Good grief, I have spent way too much time on the computer today - I need to really set a limit for myself - I get absolutely nothing else done!! I can't believe I am still zooming around after getting up at 3 ish am this morning - wonder if I will crash and burn later.

Jasmerr, scroll up to a post I made this morning, pasties are easy to make and you can season them up as much as you like. Uhhh seems I left the salt and pepper out of the recipe....lol Don't get fancy the first time around, experiment later. I use lard for the crust, any pie crust recipe will do. Robert, with your hand at baking, you would have no trouble whipping up a couple of pasties. The store bought are disgusting. You wouldn't eat more than a bite. Also, your windows look wonderful. You will be done in no time and ready for your next project. But not breakfast. LOL

Were we just talking about falling the other day? I just took a header in the garage, tripped over a rolled up piece of carpet that DH is saving for GOK, skinned my knee, got a bump on my head, and had to lie there to catch my breath. Limped back in the house and said "$^##@%% $^#%$^^ $^#%%%$ carpet, why do we have all that $&#^%% in the garage, so there's not even a path to walk through? ".. followed by more &$^$^## . Carpet is now in the basement, where there is also not a clear path to anywhere. DH said I'm not allowed down there.

Great news Darius! perhaps the next test will go as well, we are with you in spirit.

If we do a gardening helper round robin, we need to drag the 2X4 along........wonder if the airlines would let us take it as a carry on....

Ow ow ow, I hurt all over. No wait, just elbows, knees, head and ankle. #%^@%!!

This message was edited Sep 20, 2005 11:47 AM

Oh no m5!

Time to soak in the tub with some Epsom Salts? I think garages and basements are dangerous places enough without adding all that stuff too. Smack dh upside the head with the 2 x 4 and remind him about fire hazards.

I hope you feel better quickly, our weather is too nice not to enjoy.

{{{gentle hug}}}

mg

Meezer, Dang that hurts. DH deserves the 2x4. What's left besides elbows, head knees and ankle. You just about covered the whole body. What were you looking for in the garage? Send DH after it!!

Robert, I just love to razz you. I hadn't even thought of that application!!

Well off to the post office, ANYBODY WANT THE HOUSE & GARDEN? Reply in the 5 minutes.

Hi again, taking a break, been cutting the elderberry heads. Can't reach them all, have to have my neighbor come down and use a rake to pull them down while I snip them off, that's always fun, we giggle a lot. So far I have 3 large buckets full. I watered them quite often this summer so there is a good crop. I'll make juice this evening. The birds are eating the grapes, they aren't ripe yet but the birds don't care. My juice will have a little sugar in it this year. Some bird netting would help the grapes so I'll be investing in some of that before next season.

Great news, Darius, I agree, a celebration is in order.

m_g, Breezy is a half Arabian half Quarter Horse. He is 14 years old and has been doing endurance since he was 6. So far he has finished over 5600 miles and shows no signs of wanting to quit. I have a retired Saddlebred that competed in over 3000 miles, he didn't gait but sure had a ground covering trot with those long legs!. Most riders use Arabian or Arabian crosses but there is really quite a variety. I also have a purebred Arabian and a half Arabian/QH Paint that are currently going down the trail, and an Anglo Arab that is retired after 5095 miles.

Robert, I have always done the cooking. DH will eat granola or grab something in town if I can't be home.

Back to work.

Thanks MaryE, some people think flashy high maintnence show horses when they think of Saddlebreds. My Jasper did really well in the show ring, but we also competed in barrels, trail classes and even did a little jumping. He didn't care if it was the biggest show at Madison Square Gardens or the smallest at the local fairgrounds.

Yuuuum Elderberry Wine. I haven't had any in sooo long.

mg

Darius - doing the Happy Dance for you - I can't find the link but am doing it anyway!!

Pasties - the Cornish Variety are delicious. We lived in Cornwall for a while and I got taught to do them "properly". The outer pastry is supposed to be hard " so they can be dropped down into the mine to your husband, and not break". The inside is moist but doesn't have a "runny" gravy. Traditionally and origially (around 16-1700) they contained turnip, carrot, swede, not potato, because potato cames from America and we didn't have any until we found you, then it was expensive!! Potato was added as soon as it became common. The reason for all that veg was to be filling without too much meat. The miners were not wealthy folk, and meat was expensive. Mutton or goat was more common in the early days than beef. They used pepper and a sort of Worcester Sauce to spice up the flavour.
You pronounce it as if you are talking about the past, which it is where it comes from, so it is past-y. The crust should be dark gold, not the color of paste so it isn't paste-y.
There is, or was, a shop in Newquay which makes them on the premises and they are marvellous. Never made one to equal theirs. they are best if the filling is still warm, but the pastry cool enough to handle.
Now I will have to go make some - I've made myself hungry.!!

Carol

Darius, what great news. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for your next test.

Maria, as another who's back goes out on a fairly regualr basis (or did before I started aquafit classes 2-3 times weekly - it DOES help), I feel for you. I hope it's a temporary thing and that you'll be able to garden again soon.

Got an hour in the garden before I had to go into work this morning. Had a photographer coming - a local paper is doing a story on my retirement from the Food Cupboard. Now, only enough time to check on DG and I'll have the first 3 of 5 violin/viola students that I see on Tuesday afternoon and evenings. Don't know when I'll really get back into the garden again ad I have to work tomorrow and have a meeting tomorrow evening. I found it was already too dark to do much at 7:15 yesterday. Must remember to make the best of the daylight we have (or learn to go to bed early enough to become an early riser. Ha!)

I'll check in again tomorrow.

Ann

Thanks for all the Hurrah's!! I have a bottle of champagne, left from New Year's Eve (didn't want to open it just for me, I'd be drunk as a skunk!) but will save it for hearing good news about the polyp on my lung!

Hi all,
Yipee, Darius! Some good news at last. Enjoy that champagne, woman, .... hope it's a great vintage.

I was quite surprised to see the first mention of pasties. I got my introduction to them on my first trip to England. My husband practically lives on the things when we're there. I generally get him some frozen ones from a British store in Connecticut every Christmas, but he has informed me that they import an inferior brand. Thanks for the recipe, M5, I'll have to give it a try. Now ---- has anyone ever heard of a Bedfordshire Clanger? I doubt anyone has (with the possible exception of okus/Carol). It seems that the enterprising folk of Bedfordshire took the portable lunch one step further. They figured that dessert ought to be included, so the pastie contained meat & veg on one end and jam or sweetened fruit on the other. I've never encountered one, but husband claims to have eaten some, so I guess it's not just another urban legend.

Wonderful news, darius! So very happy to hear that...now we need a good report on the last test. :)

DS and his friend had fun last week getting ready for Homecoming! Here's the pics... http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/546295/ The car belongs to the friend and is a forest green under all that. DS found out the hard way that those shoes are quite slippery on wet grass! Crashed and landed on the drainpipe at the shop, squished it flat, even pulled the screws out of the wall. DH was not very impressed! lol

I had great plans for my day off but DH talked me into riding along to get a running gear for a grain wagon for his cousin, south of Sioux City. Left home about 11 am and didn t get home till 6.30. So much for getting plants mailed, rats! And hot! wow, hit 92 degrees today!

Picked most of the raspberries after we got home - told DH he had to wait for supper cuz it wld be too dark to pick them after supper. He didn t complain - no 2x4 needed. These are 'Autumn Bliss' and what I really like about them is that they bear fruit on one year canes so every fall I can just chop everything off and not have to scratch the beejeebers out of my arms trying to chop off the canes that have already borne fruit. I had 'Red Latham' about 20 years ago in another house and they were good too but I hated pruning out the old canes. :)

OH, OH, OH!!!
My favorite fruit!
Those raspberries look sooooooooooo good, Kooger!
Past them all to me now, I am not sharing with any of you guys, LOL!!!
Kooger, I just bought 50% off a 'Autumn Bliss' raspberry bush. Am glad that you wrote here what to do with it now. Fall bearing you cut totally and the early bearing you cut just the old canes, I hear. So have you ever tried the 'Carolina' raspberry?

Well, I am tired. Just spent a lot of time digging up Sweet Woodruff out of a whiskey barrel for Julie here. Was more work than I realized. Am getting tired of these plants that root so deep! Am learning what not to plant nowadays, lol!
Still am not cooking. Need to make some more cookies for my sweet tooth tho, so will do that tomorow I hope.
Nite all.
Carol (DR)

Well folks, went to my appointment, came home and had FRIED FISH, HUSHPUPPIES and SLAW for supper, they were great. I found a product called Panko, it is a Japanese coating made of rice. It makes the fish really crispy. Went to DM's and weeded the new flower bed. I used RoundUp on this to kill out everything, then tilled and planted, now it is sprouting wild onions!! Does anyone know what will kill them? I haven't gotten the mulch down, so maybe when I mulch, it will help some.

We are going to Lagoottee, Indiana tomorrow to an Amish settlement. They have a huge auction of antiques, and then a big horse sale. These are Belgiun horses and yearlings. I am going to purchase some wooden wagon wheels for a project I have in mind. Last year I passed on an old hand well pump and have been sorry ever since. Maybe fortune will smile, and I will be able to find one tomorrow. They have the most delicious bakery products. I will bring home loafs of bread, pies and cakes. Just love their bakeries. We are leaving at 6am, 3 hour drive and stay the day, then 3 hours home. Probably in about 7 or 8. I will be sure to post about my hopefully cheap finds.

I am going to try to get in bed early, as I am not a morning person. DH knows that he dare not talk to me until I have traveled, stopped for breakfast and had my coffee. If he would he could carry me (asleep) to the car, and I would wake at my destination. So much for viewing the sights.

Night all, rest well.

Oh yum, I love raspberries. Somewhere around here I have a recipie for raspberry pie that uses pretzles as the crust. I have got to dig that out.

Omg, homecoming. We did some crazy things way back then.....

mg

Bonnie, I love Panko! I have a bag in my freezer.

yup, Panko is great. Alton likes it too ;-)

I like it on oven "fried" chicken. I mix some parm cheese with it.

mg

Meezers, did you notice, that nasty thread in pets is gone? And I worked so hard to word that spanking. rabble_rouser, wasn't it?

I wonder if there was another nasty response or if admins just got wind of it.

hmmm

mg

Panko - never heard of it - would it be in the shake and bake section of the grocery or it is in a specialty store? We love to try anything new.

mg- I read that nasty stuff in the pet forum - I can't imagine someone new bursting in with that! I emailed the admin on Sunday about a problem I am having renewing my membership and still haven't heard back from them. I make a pretzel dessert, but use strawberries - it is one of our favorites!!

Took MIL for her blood work yesterday and when she said something rude, I responded loudly - (so she could hear!!). She said 'I don't agree with you' and I responded "well, I don't agree with you either!!" It was on a business related thing and she doesn't have a clue what it is like in the world. Stupid son who runs the business refuses to call customers back and I told her it was common courtesy to return calls. She said NO, if they were interested they would call back. (wonder how many sales they have lost!) They won't get long distance on their phone - how stupid - how can you run a business that sells all over the US without long distance. They live in the dark ages...they don't even have an answering machine either!!

Seems like I am feeding the world here again. DS and DIL on Sunday. Other DS and DGS last night and folks tonight.

Man, I slept like again last night- up at 1am. I felt like was running a marathon. I took a 2nd allegra D last night and will never do that again. I bet I didn't get over 2 hrs sleep and only had 4 the night before. I must be running on empty now!!

Need to make a grocery store run - we have nothing good (that means sweet) to eat here. I got in DGS pop tarts for breakfast and I don't even like them - outta bread, milk, and cookies!!

It's my 37th anniversary today and I only want good things to happen. DH grabbed my foot and said "Happy Anniversary sweetie" - that's a good way to start the day (although I would have loved to have a back rub!)

Time for a garden stroll - gonna be in the mid 80's here again today

Sarv,

Happy Anniversary to you,
Happy Anniversary to you,
Happy Anniversary dear saaaarv,
Happy Anniversary to you!

mg

No,,mg, I read the post, stuck in my two cents worth and decided I didn't want to watch the thread. The guy must be good at sticking his foot in his mouth. Hope his wife never asks him, "Do I look fat in this?"

Those raspberries look wonderful. I'd like to try that variety, I hated cutting down the old canes, much simpler to do them all! Here, I only have a few wild blackberry bushes, and although they produce a lot of fruit, they have lots of seeds.

A Bedfordshire Clanger!! McCool that is a hoot~ never heard of it but I'm not surprised. Any country that would invent a scotch egg...When I visited the UK years ago, I had the idea in mind that the food wasn't great, but I didn't find any problem with it. We didn't eat in the ritzy establishments, but aside from a disgusting drink called Shandy, the food was wonderful. Fresh fish, excellent bakery and dairy products, we ate very well. Cheese heaven! Wished I could have brought pounds of it home.

Ugh. Christmas. I've started my shopping already because I detest going out in the crowds. I'll inflict a little poem on you that I wrote years ago, when I was still working ...If it gets too awful just scroll ahead.
*****************************

I am sick of Christmas, I don't want to trim a tree.
I'm taking all my money and buying things for me.
To h*** with all the wrapping, and the stupid curly bows
If I get another bathrobe, I'll use it for my nose.

Forget the lights along the drive, the wreath upon the door,
And please omit the candy cames, it's really such a bore.
If auntie buys me underwear and daddy sends me cheese,
I'll swap their gifts and send them back, as nicely as you please.

I bought some cards two months ago, which, now I can't locate.
It doesn't matter, I've no stamps. And now, it's much too late.
But, what the h***, just raise your glass, and give a hearty cheer,
If we can make it through this month, we'll make it through next year.

**********************************************

That must have been one of my less pleasant Christmas seasons!

I'm with you Julie, wrap anything in a crust, and I'm there! Every country seems to have something like that, gyros, pasties, enchiladas, wonton, filled dumplings, burritos,etc . Haven't met one yet I didn't like.

Dcat, nobody signed up for the House and Garden? Aside from the article about DG, I didn't find much of interest in it. Whose house looks like that? Geeez, where do those people keep all their stuff? I don't think I could live up to a house like that....told DH when we got our last tax assessment on this place, I'm not a good enough housekeeper to live in a house this expensive!! LOL Where's their next year's seeds and newspaper clippings of recipes and garden ideas, and books in the process of being read, and to-do lists, and grocery coupons, and all that? If I had to pull open a drawer to find things I'd be searching all day.

50% chance of rain today. OK. Let's have it! I'm just hoping we don't get frost before I get more blooms on the moonflower vine, it's got at least 20 buds ready to open, and the flowers are the size of a saucer!

Check in with you later. Couple of errands to run today, while gas is below $3.

Edited to add: Happy Anniversary Sarv, you must be doing something right!! Have a great day!

This message was edited Sep 21, 2005 7:24 AM

This message was edited Sep 21, 2005 7:26 AM

meezers, you thought it was a guy? Hmmm I had the impression of a teenage girl, lol.

I love your poem, you need to send it to Reader's Digest. I think we have all had holidays like that.

I've got to go get ready for a dr appt. I have to run to my dad's to take a shower, our hot water heater died yesterday and they are supposed to come today to fix it. Dh can deal with that, lol.

mg

M5, are you passing H&G around? If you do I want one, even though I am with you about keeping up with with there homes either
Maria

M5,

Cute poem; must have been a wonderful holiday season! I really don't buy Christmas presents anymore. I make a lot of things to give, maybe a scarf or hat. I've also done scrapbook pages, painted glassware. I do buy a few gifts, but absolutely no pressure. Last year I ordered lots of silk scarfs from ebay. For friends I want to give gifts to (but don't have lots of money) I make homemade, powdered hot cocoa and put in mugs. I've also done that for nieces and nephews with money inside a plastic bag under the cocoa mix. I also don't go to someone's house just because I was invited. Since I have been handling Christmas as a celebration instead of a day we are expected to give gifts to each other, it has been much more enjoyable. You should drive over my way this Christmas - DH and son put up over 40,000 Christmas lights at our place.

Can you tell me what the Home and Garden article is about, or what month so I can get the magazine?

Thanks for the pasty recipe.

Jody

Quickly, cuz I need to get dressed! Maria, defoecat has the H&G, and you can dmail her your address and she will send it on to you. You can then send it to the next person who wants it, (Jassmer?) I picked it up at a big hobby/magazine store, it's the October issue of House and Garden, but it's cheaper to share!

mg- beautiful song- thanks!! DM just called and said 'isn't anyone making dinner for you tonight? I said YA, I"M making it!!! They're coming out to eat with us. Then she wanted to know if all the kids were coming over -I said I hope not!! Just finished the pile of dishes from last night!! My poor mom is always worried that DH or kids won't remember me. For years she gave me stuff on mothers day!! It was funny!

M-5 - hey that poem fits me to a tee!! Think I'll print it off and hang it on my frig....it gave me a chuckle.

Got my bathroom all clean, things dusted, dishes done - just need to vaccuum now. Then go blow out the garage and patio area. Phew, makes me tired just reading about it!! OH have to make a run to the grocery store. Thinking about making a big pan of burritos.

Gonna cruise the forums for a few more minutes, then off to work some more!!

Good morning. Happy anniversary Sarv! I hope you have a great day.

Even cheaper than mailing that magazine all over would be just to go to your public library and read their copy! Our library subscribes to just about everything I think, the magazine rack is a big one and they keep them for a year. I quit subscribing to anything because I can read it free in the library. Not cheap, just frugal. I've been frugaling my way through life for a long time. Frugal here, spend there, kind of like a bank account. Well, yes, I know that is an old fashioned idea in this world of living on credit.

Yesterday I got 11 pints of elderberry juice canned, and my DH helped me get the rest of the elderberries picked before dark so I have enough to can about 15 more. Best crop I ever had, thanks to the extra water they got. The patch is like a jungle, I have to do some very serious pruning this fall. Thankfully elderberries don't have thorns or we'd have been shredded!

Ok, gotta get an early start today. Bye.

Happy Anniversary , Sarv, and have many,happy ones ahead with good health for both of you!(((Hugs)))
Maria

Sarv - Happy Anniversary... 37? you doin' it right gal. and mid 80s in Mich in late Sept must be a record? hot all over the country. weird.

Love the poem M5, permission to copy? and of course send to my sister. she will 'get it' - last year for the first time in years she cut down on her xmas doings.

As to House and GArden, real people don't live in those houses, they are just models to look at. I looked at the mag while waiting in line. Time I got to the check out, I'd "read" it and put it back on the rack. LOL Frugal, good word to live by Mary, and the best of all - it doesn't hurt a bit.

One of my 'used to' jobs was cleaning other peoples houses. I never let any of my clients see my house... if they new how slothful I was at home they'da never let me clean theirs. "LOL"

the thing that got me was how many of them had no books. no magazines. ???? maybe if you've enuff money to hire your cleaning done you are above such things? Never did figure it out. they were nice people too - some of them lived in House and Garden type homes Like settings for a movie. Which was about to take place, just not quite yet. LOL I always shrug my shoulders and say "Different strokes..."

Woke to a powerful bangety bang of thunder this am and ran for the car windows as the big drops started ~ wishful thinking. drops never got close enuff together to really wet the ground. DARN. Got me outta bed early tho.

Weather showing big surf in Hawaii due to their own private hurricane. Visited there while a girlfriend was living there... Was aware alla time I was on island, decided that after all I didn't want to live there. Major dream down the shutes. Had always thought Hawaii would be heaven. Well, mebbe so, but it's surrounded by water. Guess I just like 3,000 miles to ramble around in.

And speaking of rambling, time I got offa here. have a good one folks. I'ma gonna. ~Blooms

Sarv, I saw Dave's answer to your subscribing query here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/545552/

Happy Anniversary!

Maria, that magazine issue has an article that mentions DG quite favorably. I have both pages saved as ,jpg files if you want them.

Yes, I do, Darius, Thank you!!
Maria

OK, will send them regular email. They will need to be enlarged as Dave posted then reduced.

Thanks for all the anny wishes- you don't know how I appreciate it!! Even tho DH says it's just another day - to me it is special and my DG friends have made it so!!

Darius - I emailed the admn and never heard from them - I did see Dave's response to my first question. It is still not working for me, but if I remember correctly, it didn't work last year either. I will just have to go to my son's house and use his computer. Grrr. I know you like macs, but I find them frustrating!! Good thing I have a few days left of my subscription!

I went and planted two astilbe that I had gotten weeks ago and could not believe how dry the ground was. I really had to soak it - hope they make it thru the winter.

Started to mow the lawn to surprise DH and the darn tube thing that collects the grass plugged up. I am not fussing with it take it apart - good intentions tho!

Ok, here's the menu for tonight- three cheese lasagna, rolls, yummy romaine lettuce-apples-pear-cashew-poppy seed dressing (that's all in a salad!). Hopefully we'll be too full for dessert - but I have a watermelon just in case! Now if I could just get someone to make it all for me!!