Old railroad ties were usually treated with creosote. Especially with well-weathered ones, you don't need to worry about treating them like 'toxic waste', particularly, but the recommendation seems to be to put the pieces in ordinary trash that will end up in a landfill. Sad but true. You *don't* want to burn them, or compost them, or use them around your veggies..... If you google "old railroad ties" and "creosote", you'll be able to find out more.

DebbyA, I would like to say that I truly appreciate your generosity. I neglected to say that last night. Please accept my apologies for ignoring you. I am overwhelmed by the generous nature of the lovely people that I have met through GW. I am doubly touched by your gesture of kindness and friendship. I am blessed to know people like you. Diene, I appreciate your stepping in. It was not an easy decision for me to post my review of this swap. I felt that it had become necessary. I never like to say bad things. It is an uncomfortable feeling. I, like you, felt awkward posting last night, but felt the need to do so. I am finished with this thread and am moving on to new experiences. I am blessed to know you as well. I aspire to keep my experiences positive and follow the example you have set in Make New Friends. Kim, I believe when Klickitat referred to "dissed" she was referring to the disrespect shown to the members who were supposed to have received from you. The lack of communication, the lack of follow through, the starting of the new posts while leaving loose ends in other areas. Not that you were saying bad things about anyone on the boards. I did not sleep last night due to the stress I felt at your anger toward Klick, she was acting on my behalf. Please no more postings on this matter. I hope you respect my wishes on this. You have sent the package, I will acknowledge it here when it arrives. Thank you for following through. I will also make sure to update the Rate and Review once it arrives. Respectfully, Tracy

Question 1: Do you know who your secret pal is? Yes 2: Who are they? Deb 3:Do you prefer inside or outside plants? Outside only up to zone 8 4:Favorite plant? Do you have one? All blooming plants, except weeds! 5:Do you have any hobbies besides gardening? Cooking, traveling, cross stitching, decorating and remodeling,reading. 6:What are the rooms in your home decorated in? Colors are= Tans, burgundy, greens, dark blues, purple. 7:Special themes or collections in any of your rooms? Kitchen is italien themed, Olives and lemons, veggies. 8:Do you wear jewelry, perfume, nail polish etc.? Yes, yes and yes. 9:Favorite colors and fragrances? All colors, except neon. Fragrance: all, except Rose and Patchouli?(or however you spell that). 10:If you do crafts would you like supplies in your box? No, because I never know what I'm going to start next. 11:Do you want only garden items in your box or anything? Both. 12:If anything please give tons of ideas? Scented candels,plants,seeds,bulbs(no tulips,they don't do well for me) kitchen towels, Napkin rings,napkins,Soaps, bath salts, fizzies, body lotions, cook books,Garden decorations:Frogs, bunnys and other critters. Bird houses, wind chimes,bird feeders. 13:Any special friends you would like to receive for in your box? Nope. 14:If you read please list favorite author, types of books or magazines? John Grisham(but I already have all his books), also like garden magazines, craft magazines(especially croche and knitting) cook books, your favorite family recipe. 15:Will you accept old magazines or used items, only if in good taste and in good clean codition? Yes. 16:Please list special plants you would like to receive. Try for at least 10 varieties. 1: shredded brugs- variegated brug.(rooted cutting only please, I suck at getting things to root). 2: variegated Iris 3:Cone flower" Razzmatazz" 4:Sempervivum(hen's and chicks) any! Only have the green kind, would like any others. 5:Black Mondo Grass 6:Variegated honeysuckle 7:Variegated Money plant 8:Crocosmia 9:Cannas 10: Daylily- any except ditch- have plenty of those! 17:Please list special seeds you would like to receive, try for at least 10-20? Please see want list. 18:Please list things you are most interested in recieving. Bulbs, Tubbers, corms, scented candles, garden deco items...Frogs, bunny's and other critters for my garden. 19:Please list items you definetley don't want to receive. Food items!!! I'm on a special diet :( 20:Do you want Holiday themed packages for the upcoming Holidays? Yes, I love themed packages.

I found this: Monday, November 13, 2006 Iron Chef Wannabe? Last night Iron Chef America on Food Network ran a special show featuring Giada De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay vs. Rachael Ray and Mario Batali. The special ingredient with which they all had to work was cranberries. One of the dishes on the Ray/Batali side featured a "drunken" pasta that made my mouth water just watching it. After the show I checked the Food Network site to see if they provided recipes from the Iron Chef dishes, but I couldn't find any. If they do provide them, they aren't easily found. Sooo, luckily I had saved the show on my DVR and rewatched it again this morning. I basically just kept playing the parts with the pasta dish until I figured out all the ingredients and how it was cooked. I cooked it tonight and it was just as tasty as it looked on TV. My husband had THREE servings; he never eats that much! Two hours later he was still talking about it and telling me that it was the best pasta he ever had. So, if I missed any of Rachael's ingredients or techniques, it didn't seem to matter. Even my two-year-old liked it! I can't wait to make it again over the holidays when my family comes to visit. Here's the recipe exactly as I made the dish tonight... Drunken Pasta with Cranberry Ragout 1 tbs olive oil 1 hot Italian sausage 2 sweet Italian sausages 1 Onion, diced 1 garlic clove, minced 2 bottles of red wine 1 bunch of red chard, stems removed and leaves chopped Pinch of nutmeg 1 lb of bucatini 1/2 cup of dried, sweetened cranberries 1-2 cups of cranberry juice Butter Salt and pepper to taste Parmigiano cheese -- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil -- Remove sausages from casings, break up and add to skillet -- Once sausage browns a little, add onions -- When onions soften a little, add garlic -- While sausage mixture browns, pour two bottles of wine in large pot and fill one empty wine bottle with water and add to wine in pot if more liquid is needed; add salt and bring to boil -- When wine boils, add bucatini -- Meanwhile, add chard and nutmeg to skillet -- Add half of the cranberries; reserve remainder and add more if necessary -- Add cranberry juice a 1/4 cup at a time to taste; you may not use all of the juice -- Let the sausage ragout simmer to allow all the juices to blend -- Add a ladleful of the wine from the pasta pot to the skillet; use more if necessary -- Add a pat or two of butter to the skillet -- Add salt and pepper to taste -- Pour the sauce over the pasta when it's finished -- Add parmigiano cheese to each plate As you can see, my recipe isn't as precise as you would find in a cookbook, but it's a pretty good approximation. I always cook to taste and amend my amounts accordingly. The pasta will come out with a beautiful purpley-red color which looks great with the reds, purples, and greens of the sauce. And it doesn't take very long at all -- maybe 35 minutes from start to finish. It's definitely a keeper recipe. By the way, Rachael Ray and Mario Batali won. Here is a link that might be useful: Food blogger.