Here's a little update on my pumpkin growing adventure. After a few days of non-growth the boys are back on track. Spike has taken over the lead in the growth department. Stats: Circ. 44' OTT 30' & 30.5' 104.5 OTT= 32# weight. Not earth shattering, but for a twenty-day old pumpkin, not too shabby. The others, Pancho and Lefty are a little behind. The image shows Spike with some of the foliage pruned away. In the foreground are giant sunflowers, about 9' tall now with no heads yet. I have switched to foliar feeding every other day using 'Monty's Joy Juice' (yep that's the name.) I couldn't find the Neptunes Harvest. Monty's seems to be working pretty good as well. It is a late season feed that comes in at 2-2-15. I also blend in a little molasses for added calcium and micronutrients. Here is a link that might be useful: Monty's Joy Juice

I'm glad your husband is doing better, and I've still got you in my prayers for that kidney. Change is always hard, but I grew up in a rural area in a farming family. We never ate out. Now I'm the world's pickiest eater and very seldom eat out. I haven't found a single thing I like at Olive Garden and I feed the dog at McDonald's, LOL. You are right, you have to read labels, there is salt and fat and high fructose corn syrup hidden in everything. I was amazed at the salt level in cottage cheese, I expected it in canned soup and soup base/bouillion but cottage cheese? I don't really find that it's more expensive to eat healthy, but it takes a lot more time and a lot more thought. 4 ounces is a serving, so I can get a pound of cod for $6 and get two meals for Elery and I from that, that's $1.50 a meal for protein and that's the expensive stuff. Pork loin is closer to $3 a pound, so 4 ounces will cost 75 cents. Oatmeal is inexpensive but that fruit is going to get you, it's always pricey. Even at $3 a pound, though, vegetables are a lot cheaper than beef and cheaper than a Big Mac too, and more filling. Beans are a good option too, although they are now up to about $1.50 a pound for dried beans. A pound makes a LOT, though..... Funny, I don't care for pasta or pizza or ice cream but I love beans. Something I like that's actually good for me, it's a miracle! Annie

Weather was beautiful here this morning. We went to a fantastic in-door farmer's market where I bought a loaf of cranberry/walnut/whole wheat bread, local honey, mixed baby greens, and a pound of locally made pasta.

84. “"Build a house!" they said. "It'll be fun!" they said. Ha!” That was me. I may also have been the terrified one (21) AND the one driven to sleeplessness, migraines and an upset stomach (83.) They sure sound like me. It's still not fun. We still haven't started. I'm beginning to think I don't even want a lake house. For this amount of money, we could stay in hotels for weeks at a time, all over the world, for YEARS.