OMG, now I'm going to be trying to find ways to use the word "snibbles". Did I spell it correctly??!!! I'm having a hard time typing because my laptop keeps shaking from the laughter! OMG, too funny!!!!! I would assume if you dry the Spanish Moss (you are talking about the stuff that hangs out of trees and not snibbles, right?) you could use it in place of peat moss. Peat moss is used so that when it deteriorates you're left with little nooks and crannies in the surface. If Spanish moss will react in the same way, go for it. Regarding imprinting leaves or embedding stone or glass: I fill the bottom of my mold and then start working up the sides of the mold. When I reach the height where I want the leaves (I usually put them from the center of the mold and up to the rim because if their lower you usually can't see them.), I place a leaf against the mold wall and slap a hypertufa patty on it to hold it in place. You can also put a little water on the front of the leaf, if you are using a plastic mold, and it will stick. Only a little water. I've only done a few embedded stone and marble pieces. I use a clear or frosted plastic mold so I can see thorough the sides if I'm doing a pattern. I fill the bottom and start up the sides. When I reach the height where I want the design I make sure the wall is packed tight. I roll out the hypertufa in hotdog lengths and place the stones or marbles behind the "dogs" and tamp to blend the hotdogs. Don't work too much or the stones will be pushed too far into the "dogs". If that happens you may have to use your snibbler to expose the stones. I don't have a snibbler yet so I use my wire brush and an old screw driver. OMG, long live SNIBBLES!!! I'm off to school, have a great night and a great weekend. Billie p.s. I'm still laughing!!!!!

Gosh, I hope she hasn't been playing with fertilizer! I've seen osmocote advertised but am not familiar with it in person. I'll have to pay a little more attention. These are soft when we find them as they are already in moist potting material. OK, I looked up osmocote on the net and I do believe you're correct. I guess I won't be buying her a bottle of osmocote for her birthday! LOL Thanks for the feedback.

Lars - Thanks for the link. I also found lots of copies on ebay. I wanted to get people's opinion as to which one was the best edition from their own personal experience. Kind of an opinion poll. Clare

Donna, good luck, it sounds like you have a lot going on. Life doesn't get boring, does it? I often freeze things and can them later, mostly fruit for jam because it's so much more pleasant to make jam in January than it is in July! As Dave said, though, sometimes texture suffers. If you're going to make mincemeat or relish, though, you could probably simmer it enough to thicken to a point where the watery textural difference wouldn't be noticed. Annie