I didn't know much at all about Brown Recluse spiders until I read a thread here on this forum last summer. In June we started seeing a whole lot of spiders inside our house, and because of that GW thread, I started looking at the spiders I killed with a magnifying glass. I was horrified to find they were Brown Recluse spiders. We finally hired a pest control company because I was literally obsessing about the spiders, dreaming about them, scared to put my hand anyplace I couldn't see into, really scared to death. And that was very unusual for me, as I've always "lived" outside and had more than my share of spiders crawl across me, and they'd never fazed me before. But the Brown Recluse are a whole 'nother ball game... I've too found that the best thing for killing them are glue boards. We have glue boards hidden behind all our furniture and along the baseboards, trying to catch as many BR spiders as possible. We've never had a problem with any other bug in our house except brown recluse spiders. :( I don't know why we have so many here. The county extension agent told me he thought it was because we have so many thousands of acres of agricultural crops grown in this area. And also maybe because our house is log and cedar. But we also have them in our shop, and it's a steel building. So who knows?? Y'all are scaring me about the black widows hiding on the tomato plants. At least I will now be aware they might hide amongst the tomatoes, and pay attention. Once as I was feeding my horses, I glanced in my colt's feed bucket before I poured in his oats. To my horror, there was a black widow spider sitting on a tumble weed inside the bucket. I tried to shake it out to kill it, but it hung on tightly with me bouncing the bucket off the ground many times. So I took the bucket up to the house for DH to kill the spider for me, as I was totally creeped out. Lo and behold, when he bounced the bucket on the concrete driveway, a second black widow came from underneath the lip of the bucket. That nearly scared me to death! Two black widows on one bucket at the same time! I felt so lucky it hadn't bitten me as I bounced that bucket on the ground over and over, trying to knock the first spider loose. Or bitten my horse if I hadn't looked in the bucket before pouring his feed inside. I have to say, if I didn't love my new home so much I think I would pack my bags and move back to Murray county! These poisonous spiders scare me so bad it's unreal. I know I sound like a big sissy but they're probably about the only things in life that does scare me.

Sorry but where ever or who ever you received your information has done no searching for the chicken or they/you would have found the breed is alive and well in this country. They are not a popular breed but at least at the Minnesota State Fair 3 years ago when I visited they there were several on display. Perhaps a more open thought process should be reviewed to expand the information data basis is in order. There are millions of things in the universe that people will not accept except on personal experience and study. Just because they are not accepted does not mean that they do not exist. Each day science adds more and more to our information on things that were thought to have vanished or never existed but are just now be rediscovered. I hope you have a good time learning about things in the future.

oakley: thank you it is a nice and cozy place to linger. Great ambience for a very small place. we are really happy for them. deedee: it is yummy, he seems to have a gift for pairing flavors and textures. Thank You ! maire cate: they lived with us at one time for 4 months and cooked like that every night. I lost weight. It is the thing I mentioned on the " 17 day diet" thread...when it tastes so rich and good and is made with quality products you don't eat so much and are more satisfied. In moderation of course :) We sure do miss them , they were here in this area for 5 years. Thank You !! c

I have been enjoying everyones gorgeous gardens and fabulous flower pictures. We finally have warm weather here in Wisconsin. Tulips, daffodills and other early spring flowers have come and gone. Roses,peonies and others are not blooming yet.My flowering trees were a week to 10 days later than normal but as you can see by this one. It was worth the wait.