Hi..I'm writing this on behalf of sumala..I wanted to let everyone know that he passed away this past Wednesday April 25 at the Veteran's Hospital in WPB. He thought he had the flu but just couldn't seem to shake it. We went to the VA on Monday thinking we'd get some meds and he'd be coming back home but that wasn't the case. I suppose our Creator in Heaven needed an avid gardener up there because he passed away Wednesday from heart failure. None of us, including him, had any idea that he might not be coming home..He rode his bike daily and was super active especially in his garden! I know he really enjoyed 'chatting' and sharing gardening tips with you all! My thanks to Minderella who helped me to get onto the site so that I could let everyone know-as you can guess, he's already been truly missed. When we would come home he was either on the computer chatting with different ones about his garden or out in it-so it's still hard walking into the house & he's not here..I will probably be signing on using his name so that I can read some of his posts-I was just reading all of his posts here along with everyone else's and the info will help the family to keep his garden going. He was also really getting into 'putting up' the different things he was growing so this will also help to preserve waht is grown. Thank YOU ALL for being such wonderful friends of his-I know he respected & enjoyed all of you. I'm not sure where all he would gon in GardenWeb but I would appreciate if you spread the word..Anyone may also email me at tirtle1@aol.com if you'd like. Thanks again,keep your green thumbs up (and hopefully ours will turn green as well) Take care & God bless

Wouldn't dream of switching to the Dark Side! Still finding my way around the new OS though. May 26?.....not too far away, you have obviously found a place to 'put your swag' then.... Patrina, nice thought with the saffron flower, I'm glad your Quince jelly turned out well, I'm not a big fan of jams and jellies, though I really like quince paste....yummy with some good cheese and crackers....when my tree has some more fruit I might attempt it, though by the description of the cooking process I've read about it sounds difficult, hasanyone out there tried to make it - I would be interested to hear how it went. Any Adelaide Tomato freaks might be interested in knowing that the ABC 891's gardening program on Saturday morning is going to have a feature on tomato growing...gettting ready for the next season etc. Kinda seems strange to be thinking about it already, but I notice there are a few lists appearing on the forum. I'm waiting for winter to really set in, so I can hunker down with the catolgues for a long, thoughtful purusal. Are Adam and Raymond still around? How are the plans to escape to Armidale going? And Sarah? - I've read a few threads with some expressions of despair over the dreaded fruit fly.....the cooler weather hopefully will bring a reprieve...if not come and join us next season in lovely fruit fly free SA, you won't even need to go to the trouble of growing any tomatoes - just wangle an invitation to Spatz's place! I notice that the VIctorians amongst us Pep and OZ and others seem to be planning for next year, does that mean the the summer has ended down there? As I write this, Adelaide has another fire ban day in the hills, but I think there is a promise of some genuinely Autumn weather for next week. Cheers to all, mudlark

Back to winter here in central Maine after a lovely lovely warm sunny day yesterday. I met a couple of high school friends for lunch. We went to what passes for a deli in Maine - not bad but I don't think any of my jewish ancestor's would recognize my sandwich. Lol. One friend is dealing with chemo and being the primary caregiver for a mom with Alzheimer's and a husband dealing with long term diabetes related health issues. Somehow she is her gentle upbeat self. Inspiring. And there I was in the neighborhood of Johnny's Selected Seed and Fedco seed. I spent a happy hour buying way too many veggie seeds while employees were scurrying around fulfilling ordered. I am most excited about trying some new varieties of peppers and tomatoes. Also bought pumpkin/squash, pea, bean, basil, cilantro, parsley, broccoli, turnip, carrot and other seeds. Fedco has a lot of people working on strains of various plants good for our cool moist climate... So fantasizing about a summer meal and preparing to start seeds...

So sorry Neely is having sign in issues. Maybe try a new tab link using this?, HERE Her sunset is 5.15pm..? Crazy we are into spring/summer months...8pm sunset here.... Look at that gorgeous crust. I keep forgetting to check my raspberries. I think you will love the smoker. I gave similar as a stocking stuffer for DH over the holidays, (we don't gift but often some surprizes)...it was last minute but came with everthing so we smoked that day in the snow on the back deck off the kitchen...cheese, salmon...45 minutes, the salmon from frozen! Kitchen sink bake with super crispy salmon last night. I left all my veg with my parents last day visit. So had a few things like leek and fennel they would not know what to do with. A package of bacon tips remnants, excellent, (just used a 1/4 of the package)...seared the salmon in the bacon fat. So crispy yet rare on the other side. Not pretty but delicious and good lunches today. Usually an egg dish the day before veg delivery. But want to make marinated eggs tonight. Leek, red pepper, edamame, corn off the cob, cherry toms, feta, lemon ... I like the new Misfits system. Tried the meat/fish trials. Rock solid frozen NYstrips, chicken thighs i will smoke tomorrow for a chicken salad...two atlantic cod fillets. Bacon. Small portions so no re-packing. (we prefer our local farm share but we suspended being out of town) and have to order a larger amount per delivery. First strip steak in months! looking forward but so solid deep frozen it may be a couple days. Good timing placing a minimal order, then added some greens and pantry items. Sent a box to mother she just opened. Adorable she is over the moon getting greens and baby watermelon and things she had when we visited...purple radish, persian cukes, golden beets, Braggs AC vinegar...they have never had lacinato kale. Misfits let me use my 20$ off code to send them a box and i'll get 20$ off my next box. I'll send them a box maybe once a month. I did not need much to meet my minimum. With the meat trial. Two leeks off camera are enormous. Sent the same grain blend to dad. He will love it. He makes a mixed grain every few days. Sadly she boilded to death the 2 pounds of garden sugar snaps i left in their fridge... served all week visiting in a mixed quick pickle they loved. Oh well, 😂 My baby seedless cukes and the small lemon cukes are a few months away...we have been so obsessed with the raw foods all winter...Dad said he was most digested normal in years the week we vistied providing all day meals....9.15 am, boom, lol. Snacking on raw veg quick pickles he plans to continue...boom.