G'day to all! A Chamber of Commerce day here in central Georgia. Been out in the workshop building a table for a farmer friend of mine and starting to get in the short rows with it. The same table on the internet sells for $549 with shipping. Just a token of appreciation for all the help that my life long friends do for me and my family. I am chomping at the bit to get started planting. Corn will probably be the first thing I plant as it can handle a frost and keep on ticking. Yall mentioned earlier about planting cowpeas in the corn. I tried it, but didn't care for it as corn loves nitrogen and peas don't need much of it or you get a lot of vines and not many peas. Plus, my favorite cowpea is Red Rippers and they make a heck of a bush with runners. It gets too 'snakey' to harvest either of them! I live near Eastman, Georgia (Home of Stuckey's candies) and buy my seed at a local home garden center (Chas Mar) as they have a good selection and are reasonably priced compared to ordering from the internet. Soon I will be taking my wife down there to choose the peas and beans she wants me to plant this season. My wife was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, but loves the country. It does my heart good to see her so pleased at looking at the different kinds and making choices. Getting all sloppy now... lol Mr. Brown, I have a friend that lives in Avon Park, Florida (below Orlando) that loves gardening too and wonder if your 'winter home' is near there? George, we should keep quiet about the country life... hee hee We might not be in the country long if the word gets out... Shot

WOW..I should be so lucky! The only Flicker nests I've seen have been deep in the woods on steep ridges. They take a bit longer than song birds; about 25-28 days to fledge from the time they hatch. But if you can hear him, he must be older by now

Beez, I seriously love everything. I am sure I will like grits, the list of things I won't eat is pretty limited (unfortunately!). They are after all, another butter delivery mechanism! I may have to plan a trip to visit you and the mill someday. How funny the potter is from Maine. I don't recognize the signature on the bottom but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. It is a beautifully made piece. The towel/mitt set is like sunshine in the kitchen -- so welcome after last week when we got nearly 30" of snow! Funny you should mention the Thai/Asian thread. last night I had difficulty reaching escape velocity at the office, so the hubs met me for dinner at our favorite Thai place and we enjoyed the Kao Soi noodle bowl I wrote about. It reinforced my need to be able to make that dish at home, it is so delicious. Thanks again, Beez! That package really made my day.

And that is the Gospel! "Bless her heart, she cain't help being ugly, but she could'uh stayed home." I first heard that from my Daddy. Also he would tell us about the old fellow who always took his wife with him every where he went. He said he would rather take her than kiss her Goodbye. Bless his heart. Thanks Ruthie, for the refresher in proper Texas twang-talk. I lived there from age 5-7, an' I aint forgot it. Sue