This spring was the first time we sold lettuce for market and we did really really well. We almost sold out every week, and people would come back every week for more. In fact we had a lot of people disappointed when we did not have any available during the summer. We did not plant any for the fall because we have plans to put up a hoop house where they would have had to be planted. I believe that I bagged 6 ounces and sold it for I think $3.00. I mostly sold mixes, but would usually take some bags of just one variety, but they would not sell as well for me. Would usually end up bringing those back. I linked a page from my blog in which I explained the different mixes that we had available, if you would like to check it out. The lettuces and greens were smaller in the picture than when I took them to market. I believe I took the pictures a week or two before the first market. They were a nice size when I started to pick for market. They were still very good though, not bitter at all. I think what really helped us sell our lettuces is that no one else at our market sells lettuce, so we do not have to compete with anyone else. It is something different that they could not normally get from our market. Maybe for you it will just take time for customers to start buying your lettuces. I know I love selling lettuces and greens. It is a lot more work to harvest than other things, but for me is very much worth it. We are actually done for the year (so sad). I can still hardly believe the summer is over, how quickly it goes by. We did not even go to the last market this Saturday. Just hardly seemed worth it. We do not have much of anything left and not many customers have been coming anyhow. It would have been different if we would have had more fall crops planted, but didn't. All I have to do now is get things ready for winter, build a hoop house, and plan for next year, oh and hope spring gets here quickly. Here is a link that might be useful: Blog Salad Mixes Page

Wow this sounds so much like what went on here. I put a bowl full of mealies out the day they fledge but none after that for awhile. I find they don't come for them much until the babies are ready to come with them. If this is your same female that means Dad was left to raise 5 kids and it may take a little longer with just one parent. My Pop showed up with the kids later than normal. He's always been nearly 2 weeks to the day and this time it was closer to 3. I have learned that NO, Blues do not always mate for life. There is no question this is Hussy Mom and that Pop got ditched with the babies. I have been feeling bad for Pop (but I guess more for myself). I hope I have not lost him, I know hes not too far, I hear him but still have not found his new nest. Pop has been here for 3 years that I know of. Something happened to his first female between first and second nesting last year and that's when he took up with Hussy Mom. I never would have know it was a different female untill she quit feeding the babies.(maybe the fisrt female took off on him too)? There was no question this years first nesting was Pop and Hussy Mom. The thing is I could never be certain I had the same pair each year, there was always a little something different about each nesting except for Pop, he's always been in the same branches and been consistant with his behavior. His red goes down much farther in the front also.I really hope that I will have both Hussy Mom & Joe Daddy AND Pop with his new female next year. I am looking at the bright side, I should have twice the Blues and after all more Blues is what this is all about! I hope your Dad shows up with the babies soon and as stated above, mealies have nothing to do with survival especially at this time of year!

I know where your coming from. Friday dad was fighting mad and ready to bust out of the home. He told me to get him out NOW. He even yelled at two of the workers there. Dad is not going to be easy he'll fight it all the way and he'll even blame me for putting him in the home not his illness or problem with over medicated himself. It hurts really bad because you don't want them in there but you can't do thing's they need. Dad wouldn't be happy here with us and I sure wouldn't be happy with him here cause he's the type to get on my case for going outside and being to long coming back in. Oh yeah he's that bad. Friday when I got to the home I stopped off at the office and he came bursting into the office yelling ...What took you so long...reminded me of my childhood ...then he said I was scared you were kidnapped yeah right he was ready to let me have it about being in the home. I'm thinking I will not be able to see him for sometime and I'll have to hire someone to take him to his doctor appointments for I will not be able to handle him. He just might bolt on me and then were will I be. At least with hiring a BIG MAN to handle him he'll have to behave. Dad didn't call today, I'm sure he's now mad at me casue he asked who's keeping him there and I said it was me. What was I to tell him, I'm not equipped to handle this part of life, I feel as though I have know ideal of what I'm doing. Sorry I don't have any suggestions only thing we can do is what's being done. Hug's to you from someone now going through the same, Barbara

Duane, What a beautiful letter. I lost my Mother just over two months ago. I thought I knew pain in this life. But never anything like this. I loved my Mother. It was always there, just like she was always there. But both I took for granted at times. But now my love hurts and she is gone. At times, I too feel like I do don't want to go on with out her. I often wonder HOW am I going to make it with out her. The years seem long before me. You are not alone in your sorrow, even though, I know at times you must feel like it. I feel so alone in my sorrow. I feel like the tears will never stop. Being a Mother myself, I know that her love for you will absolutely never die, it will endure through the eternities.. ((Duane))