I can't imagine being sick of seafood. It's always my favorite treat. And nothing better than fresh. But I guess one could get a bit limited if that's what is always available. Keep remembering that Julia Roberts movie Mystic Pizza and when she comes home, opens the fridge to see row upon row of lobsters. Her working class poor mother works in a lobster joint. As for a recipe? I like Linda's idea. What about a chowder? Funny enough, Linda asked a similar question and here's the answer, for next time. Now I'm singing Molly Malone, again. Crying cockles and mussels, alive alive-o!

Yes John, I require a quiet environment to work in especially in the formative stages. Where I used to work at Lockheed it was maddening to have an assignment to create a Tool Design and not have enough time to myself or enough quiet to even begin. That is not writing but it is the same concept. I, like you, don't need too austere an environment but relish the stimulation of nature and a beautiful garden. I must add that if I was reading a gardening book that contained just what you have said in your post, I would be satisfied and entertained. It's interesting stuff about what's growing where and how it might change. I like the part about the clams and oysters and foraging for your own food, and the part about the wine in the hot tub - wish I was that lucky. I think that is what readers want: for you to tell them how good life is and can be so they can hope and dream to be in that same situation. You have inspired me to write a new post.

Hi, i was lay in bed about a week ago and heard a rustling underneath me, having a small dog that likes to roam the house at night i thought nothing of it. When i heard the rustling again and the dog was downstairs i panicked,(scared to death of creepy crawlies..lol.) I called for my husband who was watching television downstairs and we stood and listened for more rustling and there it was again. So my husband armed with the kitchen sweeping brush lifted the bed and a frantically ducked my head underneath and saw a small mouse scurry under the skirting board. So after sleeping on the sofa (lol) the next morning i went and bought some poison and poured it through the hole under the carpet (huge hole, cant believe ive never noticed it)and obviously blocked up the hole. Since then i have noticed dropping in my kitchen near the backdoor, i saw a mouse scurry from behind my fireplace in the living room and can still hear the rustling under the bed but everytime we try and inspect the mouse dissapears. I have phoned my local council (pest control) and they have arranged for someone to come out on monday afternoon. I'm such a puff and am frightened to stay in my home (My husband is worse than me) but we also have a 2 year old daughter and it is hard to stay with friendsand family but i cannot sleep knowing there their. Any idea how long it will take for all the mice to be gone with a exterminator coming in? in the mean time i have put poison down but am restricted to where i can put it due to having a child and a dog. HELP!?!?! im so frustrated by it all.

This is a very easy and quick soup. I make it often & freeze it , although I would not freeze if using precooked frozen shrimp. It came from Southern Living magazine about 10 years ago. I keep the clam juice in the pantry for this recipe. Often I double it and I don't really measure the ingredients. SHRIMP-CHEESE SOUP 1 lb unpeeled jumbo fresh shrimp *I use leftover steamed shrimp most of the time- or frozen -adjust the time 1T butter 2T olive oil 1-2 garlic cloves minced 1 med onion minced *I large dice 1 Cup dry white wine 1 8oz bottle clam juice 4 tomatoes peeled & chopped * out of season or in a hurry I use Delmonte petite diced tomotes w/ the juice-love w/ jalepeno 1 tsp salt 3/4 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp freshly gound pepper 1 4 oz pkg feta cheese crumbled 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley * dried is okay Peel shrimp & devein. Melt butter & oil in a Dutch oven over med heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 5 mins,stirring constantly (Here I add a diced carrot for color and crunch sometimes) Add wine & next 5 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 mins or until thickened. Stir in cheese & simmer 10 mins. (You can cover & let this sit for awhile until you are just ready to sit down to dinner - tastes better if allowed to rest and meld flavors) Add shrimp and cook 3-5 mins or just until shrimp turns pick. (If already cooked - just cook until heated thru) Stir in parsley. Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 30 mins I garnish each bowl with more crumbled cheese and fresh ground pepper. I actually serve this soup to company for a casual meal - Serve with fresh bread.