Of course I know that Californians come from everywhere. I was born in an Appalachian county of my state, and removed from it for most of my formative years and part of my adult years before returning. People in our area aren't primarily transplants. We have no major industries where there is a lot of social and cultural mix. And believe me, there is no stereotype about poverty and umemployment in Appalachia. It exists. It was a foreign environment to me, until I assimilated back into it. We aren't transplants, and we do have for the most part direct lineage to our ancestors who migrated in from the mountain regions to our south and east, where as Scots-Irish they seeked solitude away from English rules and laws in the mountains and were essentially sequestered. And we also know that we are treated differently by people who come to stay any length of time in our area. Companies are moving in to take advantage of our cheap and hard-working workers. And I've been on the humiliating end of their comments and attitudes. We see this from folks as close as our capitol city. I had to attend 'sensitivity training' by one company so we could learn not to say or do things people from other cultures might find offensive. But, we had to sit for days listening to jokes about things like our puddle jump airport, and lack of stores where anything is worth buying, and boring social agendas. Reporters from New York actually asked us if we knew what a fax machine was. And there is currently a lot of controversy and agendas coming up in our state elections about farming issues and animal husbandry issues sponsered from groups coming out of California. So, yes.........some of it is stereotyping and some of it isn't. I suspect the author was addressing more of a political climate than a cultural one and that always boils down to some basic differences in how people see things as they impact their own world economically. I'm not defending the author, nor his satirical and sometimes grating style.Nor do I necessarily agree with it. But I don't automatically discount what someone has to say by assuming they probably don't know what they are talking about.

I really didn't know Oscar Wilde was so perceptive! Each of the quotes is a 'gem', but like wg, I'm partial to #3. I tell you, NOBODY knew as much as I did, when I was 16 years old! Most of the family quotes I remember were words said by my Mother. I quote her, frequently. The one I like best is when something extra nice--or 'above and beyond'-- is done by someone, I quote her: "You're earning jewels for your crown in Heaven".

Cathy, you really are gonna have to come next year - write down November 6,7&8 on your calendar! It was really neat! And the rest of you folks as well - tons of stuff for homesteaders! I didnt get much in-depth information; but we both came home with a lot of ideas, and sources for more info, lots of web sites especially. IÂve already caught Hubs checking out some pastured poultry sites; and when my pad of graph paper went missing on Sunday I found it cozied up with a MenardÂs ad - looked like he was designing a barn to be made out of one of their metal buildings; and figuring out how to situate it for rotational grazing. So that got us to talking about using local materials vs a metal building; but I donÂt think weÂll be ordering one of those sawmills we saw operating any time soon - too many other things to want! The fellow from Dadant got Hubs interested in bees, so he is thinking of spending some of his winter days out by the fire in his shed, getting our old bee equipment from our orchard years in shape. IÂm not complaining! IÂve always liked the bees - just ainÂt big enough to do all that lifting on my own. Heard lots of info on rotational grazing and/or management intensive grazing for parasite reduction, grass feeding of stock year-round, better grass management etcÂ. Poultry breeding, saving antique breeds, hogs, diversification, beefalo, draft horses, stock dogs, alpacas (which had me reaching for my inhaler every time I got close!), soap making, red wattle hogs, at least 4 different poultry tractors, turkeys, rabbits, small poultry processing houses, fish farming - catfish in ponds and tilapia in greenhouses, hoop house growingÂ.. So, just in case you're wondering, yep - weÂre going back next year! Planning to stay a bit closer to the site - maybe even on the site if we can finagle a camper, or, even better, a heater for our box trailer. IÂm not sure that Hubs is brave enough to take a trailer along, though! At least, not a trailer and me both! A truck bed AND a trailer to haul stuff home in? IÂd think IÂd done died and gone to heaven! IÂve added a cookie tin to the fruit jar and coffee can savings accounts in the pantry - I sure did like the looks of those BSC small walk behind tractors, and I REALLY liked the small round baler that you could run with one...think I could make a bit of $$ around here with that puppy! They had at least 4 booksellers there; and I helped ensure that they wouldnÂt have to pack up quite so much to take back home! Picked up some Logsdon books, and some permaculture ones, nutrition books, small farm books, and this really neat instrumental bluegrass CD thatÂs playing as IÂm typing this! I learned to buy the books I wanted when I saw them, instead of waiting - missed a couple that IÂve been unable to find on half.com by taking a walk around the arena area to think about them first - gone when I got back - bummer! Hey, maybe I could load the trailer with books to sell; and come home with other stuff! Except then, IÂd have to have someone to mind the booth, and I donÂt want to miss any of the good seminars I bought some bars of lilac soap that IÂve cut in smaller slices and tucked away in my knicker drawer, and hung in little bags in my closet - what a lovely springtime smell! I closed my eyes while I was pulling on a bulky sweater against the cold and grey this morning; and suddenly I was out in the back yard among the lilacs and itÂs one of those heady spring days with the sun shine heavy on your head, bees buzzing in the lilacs and kittens tumbling Âround your feet, birds twittering and the scent of soil fresh turned for planting. IÂm talking some REALLY GOOD soap here, folks! IÂm gonna have to write on my calendar to go down to the locker plant and pick up some suet next spring when the lilacs are in bloom and try making some on my own (thus ensuring the soap folks a regular customer!!) Wonder where she buys her essences? Hmmm I also met a really nice lady from here on Gardenweb - Hi Marilyn! (I swear I'll get that e-mail out today!) Hopefully, we'll be able to set up a meeting area for the various forum and magazine folks at next year's show - so if you didn't go this year, do mark it on your calendars for next year - I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Just love all of the e.e.cumming quotes. Thanks for the sunshine in our often dreary world. Deming is for me drudgery. I had to work myself through job related lectures about "14 Management Principles", 13 of which I have forgotten by now. Having a couple of professional photographers in the family, I am familiar with Ruth Bernhard"s work. The things you pick up when you are the designated typist for college students.