That why I stick to the sandwiches - they stay the same temp while I type...LOL
Many apologies, have to postpone Groundhog's Day Party
Choir boy? ROFLOL Golly, he must have been practicing his "innocent look" that day.
Lunch! Good idea. :-)
As long as I alternate between forums and whatever article I'm working on, I can excuse a whole lot of DG time!
Sally, I'd love to get out to the garden. Tried to get downstairs to my potting bench yesterday (I have amaryllis bulbs languishing)... managed to quickly fill a pot with dirt, but then I had to go lie down again! Sheesh. I'm actually feeling a lot less sick, I just can't manage to get around very well yet. I'll get there.
Good point that we haven't heard anything from Miata for a while... I'll have to give her a buzz!
Happy, Miatablu is blue, she won't get to see all of you :( I have a wedding to go to that day. We've been trying to think of some way to get out of it but unfortunately we're committed. Rick wants me to go to the swap for any bit of time I can (you're right Sally he is a great guy). He even said he'd come with me so we could leave straight from the party, but I'm afraid if it doesn't start till 1pm, I'm not sure I can make it. The wedding is at 4pm in Boonesboro. Bummer I don't get to meet any of the others that are coming I haven't met yet. Maybe something will work out (fingers crossed).
Jill,
Just found this Thread! I think i am spending too much time now on the "Best and Worst" Thread.....Starting to fall into all that yakkety--yak there.
I am pretty sure I can come too. After all, I am NOT working at all right now! NO hours! Nada! Zip! Since Dec. 1st--I have worked 18 whole hours! Put in for unemployment and will be getting between $100-$150 a week! Depending if I have any earnings. Ha!
This may be ongoing until March, when the busy season kicks in. Hey! December was a "busy season", and they still cut ALL the PT'ers--every one of us! Whassup with HD?????
Jill,
Those small, thinly-sliced, square loaves of cocktail bread are in all the Grocery Stores. They are somewhere in the vicinity of the produce dept. and the deli. Usually on a small rack--just sitting there. They come in very dark rye and in light rye. Do not look for them in the bread aisle!
I LOVE those small, cocktail, open-faced sandwiches. Yes! That is, sort of, a European thing. Not too many people here even know how to hold an open-faced sandwich! Bec/wrightie--you made me hungry with all the topping suggestions.....
Here are some of MY favs:
--Buttered bread, slice of boiled egg (or egg salad) and a imported anchovie on top + dill.
None of the anchovies here taste anything like those from Latvia/Estonia. Totally not!
--A slice of cucumber and some smoked salmon sprinkled with dill
--Or-- herbed cottage cheese spread with a slice of cuke on top, sprinkled with Dill.
--Or-- "" "" with a slice of tomato and onion and dill.
--Or--slice of smoked ham and a slice of cuke on top--with chives
--Or-- " " " " with a piece of cheese and a pickle slice.
--Cream cheese with smoked salmon, dill and chives
OH! How I miss these at a party!!! Good bread is a must, though! Rye, preferably.
wrightie,
Looked at EVERY picture in the link you provided! OH, to live in CA where everything can just stay outdoors year round! Could never do that here.....
Gita
Gita, thanks! I'll bet that's just what I was doing the last time I searched for those little loaves, looking in the bread aisle... drove me nuts 'cause I knew they should be around somewhere!!
Jill -- I think at Giant they are usually in front of the deli counter or somewhere right around there. And I know they used to have rye . . .
I'm think I'll get some big disposable decorating bags... I can turn out a lot of little open faced sandwiches, cute little topped crackers, etc., very quickly that way... and no mess to clean up later!
Hmm, now who is volunteering to come an hour earlier to help with the "catering?" It can't be Miata -- she's on a tight schedule that day! I know... I'll suggest an outing to Dutch Plant Farm in the morning... and we'll all get back here with half an hour to spare... which we'll spent spreading cream cheese on crackers! LOL, I am so sly!
I can't, alas; I have French class until 1:40, then I have to drive out from DC. So I won't be there before 3.
LOL... You'll just have to volunteer for the cleaning up and wine tasting party that follows the tea party! Miata will be sorry to miss you, though.
And I'll be doubly sorry to miss Miata -- she could have practised her Italian on me, and me my French on her, and we'd both think the other was doing great! But I'll be happy to assist with cleanup and wine tasting -- sounds like the perfect combination.
Hey Jill - I'll most likely be available on one end or both. . . .
Sherry
Hmmm...Jill...so tempting - let me check w/my partner in crime!!
I could post some photos of DPF...
O Yea, Were going there first and then lunch with friends? What a great day. LOL
Ah #%$@...THAT was just plain wrong Jill - esp. THOSE types...you are so bad!!! Checked with partner in crime - she said to count us in!!! YOU need to be in time out!!! LOL Hugs!
I knew I needed to start out with the succulent display!
I have more photos, but I'll save them in case I need to argue the point further, LOL.
Well, maybe just one more...
Anybody else like Rexies?
Critter, I have mints that need lifting and dividing, but I don't think of doing that now. They are Kentucky mint, Apple mint, and Spearmint. They are dormant now and in large pots.
Don't forget that I have the Texas Sage to propogate in April, if you're still interested in a clump? My snapdragons haven't quit yet!! Looks like I will have some more and bigger clumps in Spring!!
Well, I think it's more likely that I'll get some mint to this person in spring... but if they come up next month and the ground isn't frozen, I'm sure I can dig a clump for them... I don't see any reason a dormant clump couldn't be moved. I've got Chocolate Peppermint all along one side of the driveway, and I've got Kentucky Colonel Spearmint by the deck.
And yes, I sure will take some Texas Sage this spring! Thanks!
I'll go back to my same ole begging: anything that attracts butterflies or hummers...anything highly scented...or some with color to go in my cactus patch. Speaking of which - anyone wanting pads and/or cholla let me know...
Come spring I might even have some limited cuttings from my Sarcococca confuse ‘Christmas Box’ - 2 of the 3 seem to doing ok...yipee Also the Persian Lilac....
Hiya all - I did confirm with "partner in crime" - but, will confirm here as well - I am game for anything - from cheese in bags to plants!
And I will also chime in on the picture, Jill - so wrong on so many levels - of course I wanna go :)
PS. I hereby volunteer to go to the British store for goodies - they have a great selection in tea-biscuits, savouries - I feel the need to stock up on OXO-cubes and bangers :)
(wrightie - I do get the salmon spread - yup, that is how Old I is :)
Oh great...now food temptations....I just chew on carrot sticks...hey, there's always the dark chocolate covered soy nuts....yeah those and the Kefir into a tea....
LOL, Beck, I'm pretty sure that I'm in that same age group.
Critter, you are bad, bad, bad...tempting me with Rex Begonias! If I'm early enough to make the trip to DPF, I'll need to delegate someone to tie my hands and hide my credit card! LOL
Yes, because of course none of us knows where to find an ATM in Frederick...
Woo Hoo, I get to spend a few hours with you all! We're coming before the wedding and leaving straight from Critters. You think Rick looked good in his Harley shirts, wait till you see him in a suit. He cleans up real nice. Double-darn that he's gonna miss meeting Happy and Wrightie again. We'll just have to plan something again soon!
Yipeee - it's gonna be fun. Hey, Jill - they wouldn't happen to carry Broms at the DPF, would they? I can only find the common ones (duh) at the big box stores. Have a buddy in FL that was gracious enough to share...I just LOVE these plants - so pretty.
Y'all could wear something casual and bring your glad rags along if you want to just change here before you go... as long as I get to see Rick in a suit at least for a little while!
Hmm, what's that saying about the worth of a picture?
Miata: That's great news! So when will you have to leave Critter's to get to the wedding on time?
She's going to start leaving around 2 so she can absolutely positively be in the car in the next half hour or so... I think we might push the start time back until noonish, but I doubt the two of you will quite manage to intersect. :-(
How much time do you think we need at DPF for our pre-party expedition? It's a big place... 1 hour, or 2? I know this part is more tentative, but I wanted to get a feel for it so I could incorporate the info into the official party thread (I know we need a new thread!)...
We could just leave it a little flexible, meet up at DPF between 10 and 11, then gather at my place between 12 and 1, official food serving time will be 1 pm (unofficially, nobody will starve). How does that sound? Workable?
Oh Jill - you're killing me. I know this is tacky (but ya'll should know by now THAT'S never stopped me - LOL) Are the prices reasonable there? Gotta know how much to "tuck" away...ha!!
Your schedule sounds fine with me!
Their prices vary... on some things, they strike me as reasonable, and on other things, I know I can find the same plant at WalMart for half the cost. But the plants are invariably healthy, and that counts for a lot. Often, they have several sizes to choose from, which I appreciate... if you love the $20 plant, you can choose to take it with you in the $6 size and wait for it to grow. I don't remember at what point they start marking stuff down over the winter... they have this color coded tag system...
So, tuck away what you can, because you know you'll just buy more plants if they cost less than you are anticipating.
When I get back on my feet, I can head up that way and check a few prices for you... I seem to recall those little pots of succulents being maybe $3-6 depending on the plant... is that reasonable?
Jill, here's the first paragraph from their last newsletter I received in my email Jan 9.
"Hello Dutch Plant Farm Customers!
First notice our new winter hours, were open monday thru saturday 9-6 and
sunday 9:30-6.
Right now we have our annual clearance sale on a lot of tropical house plants. They are marked by a red poka-dot ribbon and are half price. We also have our seasonal flags greatly reduced and there are some very nice ones to pick from."
etc. etc.
Do you get the newsletter? They had a clipboard at the register to sign up for it.
I've signed up twice now, and I'm still not getting it! *sniff*
Hmm, you know I bet I'll be back on my feet by the weekend... don't you think Jim should take me there to celebrate how much better I'll be feeling?
Do they say if the clearance sale has an end date, or does it just continue until they run out of old plants?
The truck comes up from FL some time near the end of Feb I think... :-)
Oh Critter, You really are bad. Unfortunately I have already spent my extra money for this month or I would be headed down there right now.
I've spent too much time in Conservatories and looking at my daughters Banana Tree. I've decided that I must have a couple of Bananas for myself. Looking at a hardy Musa basjoo for outside and a dwarf for inside and of course I'll need some tropicals to plant or sit around it. Just spent a wad on Cannas and Caladiums in the co-ops.
"You know cheap plants doesn't mean you save money, It's means you can buy more." LOL
Does your non-hardy banana have to be a dwarf? And do you care if I the label came out of the pot and am not sure if it's an Apple Banana or an Ice Cream Banana pup?
Critter, you still pushing those bananas? No end date in the newsletter for the clearance items. It just goes on say they have straw back in stock and don't overwater your indoor plants this time of year.
No, I wouldn't care what kind but I wanted a Dwarf that I could take inside to over winter. I don't think I have a spot to overwinter a non-hardy Banana. My house doesn't have a basement. I was hoping to get to talk with you about your Bananas. BTW last year I got quite a few Caladiums from the same co-op your buying from this year you will be very pleased with them.
LOL - over water? Hardly ever my problem - poor plants that NEED more are leaning toward me as I pass. Needless to say the cacti are fine!!! "You know cheap plants doesn't mean you save money, It's means you can buy more." OMG, how true is THAT!?!
My husband always says "You have to spend money to save money".