1. It is the father of the neighbor. 2. Mending Wall 3. As TM so correctly guessed, Robert Frost. I always find this such a Juxtaposition, as many people think Robert Frost said, "Good fences make good neighbours." However, as TM notes, Frost really says, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." He did not believe in them!! MENDING WALL Robert Frost Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun, And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. The work of hunters is another thing: I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: 'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!' We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'. Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: 'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him, But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it seems to me~ Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors." TM, this must make you nuts. Then again, I am but a feeble substitute!! Nancy.

Your potato soup sounds great there, JYG, and makes me want to start cooking more stuff. Today's soup is kitchen beef, ham and bacon. It is based on beef bones, ham and bacon along with homemade veggie stock and then I throw in whatever beggies are in the refrig and add herbs, spices and pasta at the end or leave the pasta out and eat it with garlic bread or cornbread. Let's start the thread on conversations - okay?

I had roasted red (small) potatoes with carmelized onions and parsley; filet minot and a great salad with homemade croutons - leftovers from last nights fondue bread. Tonight's dinner was supposed to happen Valentines Day but I had a kidney infection situation and ended up on the sofa most of the day, before mustering enough energy to make cheese fondue with bacon, sour french bread, celery and apple to dip. (Fondue is much easier than grilling and roasting here.) I have enough filet left over to have steak, an egg and a piece of toast tomorrow morning. Life is good.

I make turkey and dressing at least once a month. I'm making soup today with turkey thighs and a couple of wings. There is a pasta vendor at the Farmer's Market. His family has been making pasta up in Hibbing, MN for a hundred years. Last fall I brought some turkey soup to my friend I help at the market. I shared some with the pasta guy. This past Saturday he gave me a new product to try. It's thick like those thick egg noodles but it's small bits. He calls them soup noodles and wanted my opinion. Can't wait to try them!