Mid 70's here all next week but the night time temps are deadly! 33 degrees on Sunday night forecasted here in Plumas County. Already some of my plants are complaining. This afternoon I intend to start yanking annuals in anticipation of what will probably be major cold damage in the garden starting over the weekend. The chimney sweep is coming Monday night to get the woodstove ready for winter.., Kate

There are always the series of expensive things which boil down to a single item which is "priceless". It was there with 3 seconds left in the game. The TV camera was showing a very jubilant Cowher. For less than 2 seconds, Holmgren was shown and the look on his face was one of those "priceless" things! Many of us Wisconsinites have never forgiven him for walking out on the Packers and then taking Favre's best backup. We'll be back! Martin

Well I am way behind you Annie...and always will be. Don't think I'll ever graduate to pressure canning, heck it's a battle to get me to HWB! Been at the cottage for three weeks but came down to make 24 jars of dills. Hope I can find more dill sized cukes 'cause that won't do it. Also did a bunch of Carol's, without an e, (Readinglady) Bread and Butters, excellent recipe and a bunch of Linda Lou's Sweet pickles. My 10 year old nieces helped me can Linda's pickles and took some home as a reward for their efforts. Both girls loved them but Sara really, really loved them. She was pulling an "Ashley" and eating them out of the container as they brined, even hot!!! LOL She says she wants to make them herself next year...that would make me smile.

momo3... thanks for checking in! just so happens that lots has been going on in the last two weeks, but it's still very incomplete. For starters, we had lots more digging while the pb's landscaping crew came in and buried some downspouts and dug out the patio and planting boxes, etc....but still no sign of the actual pavers that will make up both patio and pool deck....so PB does a total 180, sends the plaster crew out and lo and behold we were pebbleteched on Thursday and water was added Friday. PB will complete the patio and decks within the next 10 days...NOW HERE'S THE KICKER...the whole family left town for 10 days at the Jersey shore on Thursday, and we won't see the pool until the 6th! It's sitting in the backyard all ready for us and we're not there!!! PB is minding the pool while we're away, brushing and balancing, etc...esp. since he's building the patio all week anyway. Murphy's Law or what? I'll post pics next week when I return....have to check the log to see if you've updated your pics too...hope you're all swimming now!