Hey, EG...wanna see my beets? They're snuggled in there next to the beans, and they look to have roots about the size of a 50-cent piece. The carrots may not reach edible size before winter, germination wasn't great in 100 degree weather. I watered the seed and put a board over them until they sprouted. That's why they are planted in a row and not in squares. The ones I didn't cover, in another bed, never did come up. If these don't mature, the tops will make good food for my bunny...he loves the thinnings. I've been picking outer leaves of the red lettuce almost every day for the rabbit. My neighbor's dog loves to watch me garden ;-) The pole beans don't want to climb the twine. I did go out tonight and gently wind a few stems around, maybe they will get the idea. I transplanted four lettuce plants (thinnings) where they will eventually be shaded by the beans, in the heat last week. I am very surprised they survived. The cucumber was rescued from a pot near the patio. It's puny, but looks to be gathering strength. This will be my permanent herb bed next year. It got the odds and ends I could find at the nursery at this late date, a purple basil, parsley and the center of attraction, the rosemary. A neigbor gave me the bell pepper from some leggy ones she bought on sale. I added chives that I'd had in pots, some lettuce plants that need to be pulled (bitter), marigolds from the front yard, green onions (from the grocery store) that we didn't eat....this is a great way to keep them fresh for later use. Just trim the tops back a bit, and plant them in garden or pot. They die back a little, but within a week or so will begin sending up new green leaves. This next bed is experimental. I mixed up leftover seeds from two types of mesclun greens, put them in a salt shaker and "salted" the bed with them. These are for the rabbit, and I'm hoping I can harvest it by cutting with scissors, enough to feed him once a day. I'm not going to thin it or anything, just let it grow wild. And finally, I'm trying for another crop of yellow crookneck squash, but I will never try this in the sfg, it just takes up too much precious space. It will now be relegated to the edge of the garden. Right after I took this picture I turned my back to it. When I turned around, my boy dog, Otter, was laying on the squash, nibbling a leaf. I think it will survive, but he may not :-D Granny Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

Thanks for asking. He's home & trying to work. He's a rep for a large medical equipment company & works from a home office. Using his laptop is difficult & slow. He's frustrated but his attitude is great. The pain is variable. Sometimes, it hurts sending jolts up his arm & burning but other times it feels numb. He says I don't want to see it &, for now, I'm taking him at his word! He was at the doctor's first thing this morning & I haven't heard from him yet... The kids seem to be settled down. My GD (age 8) is playing nurse wanting to take his temperature & "help" change bandages. :) They moved a couple days after Christmas & not all of the kid's toys are unpacked. She spent half a day in the basement rummaging for her nurse kit. How cute is that?! Her oldest brother wants just Dad to read his bedtime stories & turns the pages for him. Sam (just turned 3 April 1) just points & says, "Pappa has a boo-boo". Kids are amazing. /tricia

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/crafts/msg1113552314128.html http://www.sunshinecrafts.com/body_project_tom_turkey_soda_can.php Soda Can Angels "Squash a soda can in on one side so that it is bending over and pull OFF the little pull tab. The hole is the mouth, and the little 'button' that holds the pull tab on is the nose. Paint the can, add some hair,a halo and ribbon wings and paint on a face. Glue a painted wooden heart to the bottom for feet." --Candice, Moore, OK Pop Can Snowman Make a snowman out of an old soda can, an easy Christmas project for kids! You will need: * 1 cleaned, dried aluminum soda can * 1 sheet of white construction paper or printer/copier paper * 1 full sheet of newspaper * Masking tape * White paint * Fiberfil or quilt batting * Scrap fabric Wrap the entire can with the white construction paper. Using the full sheet of newspaper, form it into a ball and, using the masking tape, tape it to the top of the aluminum can. (This will form the head.) Cover the rest of the newspaper ball with masking tape. Paint the taped newspaper ball with the white paint. Let dry completely. Cover the white body of your snowman with the Fiberfil. Buy or make a construction paper hat for your snowman. Add jiggle eyes and an orange pom-pom for the nose. Cut a scarf using scrap fabric. If possible use pinking shears and cut approx. 20" long and 1" wide. (You can trim later, if necessary.) Your snowman is ready to display! Contributed by Roberta, isewg@email.msn.com Recycled Soda Can Frogs clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by shysue (My Page) on Thu, Jul 26, 07 at 13:08 Toomuchglass, I will try to write out the directions for you. You will need: 5 soda cans 4 bottle caps 4 flat backed black glass marbles scissors (I used cheap Dollar Store scissors) paper crimping tool spray primer green spray paint red acrylic paint paint brush E6000 glue 6 1/2" x 10 1/4" cardboard or wood black permanent marker or paint pen wire For the two bodies, remove tabs from cans. For each can press on rim to bend top down. Do the same for the bottome rim. Step on middle of can to flatten body further. Cut through opening and down to bottom of remaining cans, then cut tops and bottoms off. These will be for the legs. Cut four 3/4" x 8 1/4" strips for hind legs. Cut four 1/2" x 8 1/4" strips for forelegs. Crimp all the legs with crimper. Freehand draw a pattern for feet. Trace eight feet onto remaining pieces of cans and cut out. Spray prime everything including bottle caps, then spray paint green. Paint inside of opening red for mouth. Glue marbles to inside of bottle caps for eyes. Glue feet to legs, then legs and eyes to bodies. Paint your sign anyway you want, then add wire as hanger. Glue frogs to back of sign. If your sign and frogs will be outside use GE Silicone II for Windows and Doors as the glue. Also use wood for the sign instead of cardboard. Use exterior paints to paint frogs and sign. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2549626060101406066VbZJbl These cute little carolers are great for decorating or just keeping the kids busy for a few hours. I did them when I was in fourth grade and it is still my favorite craft. Here is how we made them. Materials: 1 soda can per caroler, rinsed and dried Paint- red, blue, or green Fabric (This is to wrap around the caroler to look like a coat so make sure it is cute. You will need about a 7X7 piece per caroler.) 2 bead eyes 1 nose- get creative, we always used something different. The little colorful pompom balls were my favorite. Instructions: 1. Paint your caroler. If you are letting your younger children do this, than spread newspaper everywhere. Make sure you only paint around the can, do not paint the top or bottom. You might need two coats depending on what color you used. Wait for paint to dry. 2. Fold the fabric diagonally so it looks like a bandana. Wrap the long end of the fabric around the circumference of the can right where the can meets the top. The fabric end should meet in the front of the can so that on the top the hole is closer to you than the other side. It is suppose to look like a little shawl for the caroler. Get the fabric situated then hot glue it to the soda can. DO NOT let your children do this. Once you glue it on, trim off some of the extra fabric (if applicable) so that it looks pleasing to you. 3. Take off the little tap so that the top is completely flat. You are going to now arrange the carolers face. Keep in mind always that the opening is going to be the mouth. Place the eyes and then clue them down one by one. Then place then nose directly above the hole in the can. 4. Hold the can with two hands, with the caroler facing towards you. This means that the pointed end of the fabric should not be facing you. With the can in two hands, bend it slightly towards you, just enough so that you can see the top. This will be about at a 30 degree angle. Your caroler is now complete. If you really want to get into it, start adding personal touches of your own. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8506189

Reporting back: Turns out I had small red potatoes which allowed me to do a comparison between the Yukon golds and reds. I sliced the YG in half so they would be the same size as the reds then proceeded according to the recipe. There wasn't an appreciable difference between the two. Personally I like the taste of the YG a tad better. Obviously the reds would be better because of the size. But for me, either would create a successful side dish.