I was amazed that out of all of the 4 grafted plum, peach and apricots on the single tree I have, that the red plums were so good. The tree is still quite small and now has about 10 peaches almost ripe. About two weeks ago, I noticed the 6 or so small red plums had been slashed open, probably by birds. I picked them all and was amazed at their taste. The pluots are usually always good, but these few plums were also very sweet, even though the seed/stone inside was fuzed to the meat. I don't own a plout tree and have been considering planting one, but they barely can handle a Z6 climate. They must be bought through Dave Wilson nurseries as they are 'patented'. I was not happy with a nectarine tree I planted about 4 years ago, so that one was destroyed. Its fruits would turn dark brown and fall off very early. The woodchuck also used to climb that tree and chew limbs off. Because of my physical age and aches and pains, I am reducing my vegetable garden to about half its size in future years, in favor of growing a few more fruit trees and other permenent things like asparagus, and berry buses. Right now, asian pears are planted, as well as a hopeful replacement for the dead quince I planted this past spring. Gotta get out there today and pick all the apples off one of my trees. They look really good, with no insect damages or any nasty diseases. Again, thanks to all for your birthday wishes. Its people like the ones here, who are truly friends in the home canning world.

RR, I got a ladder last year and a wheel barrow the year before that. I could ask for kitchen stuff but because Elery likes to cook, he already has all that stuff and he brings it to my house. (grin) Our latest "acquisition" is a Cuisinart rotisserie, he just finished 35 years with his employer and they let employees pick gift/bonuses from a catalog based on their years of employment. It was one of the bonuses, so it'll be coming here pretty soon, LOL. So I can ask for fence and still play with the cooking stuff, double bonus! Annie

Thank you for all the birthday wishes! Sorry it's taken so long to post. My mom (and best buddy) came down on Friday. We visited a U-pick flower place, farm stand, lunch a the Fisherman's market, etc. Just a fun "girls" day. Saturday we lounged around in the sun (yes, we ENJOY it here, there's been darned little of it this year) all morning. We went and painted pottery in the afternoon and did a little shopping. Sunday after church, we went to a BBQ & pool party at my son-in-law's mom's house. Two birthdays on either side of mine in the their house and it's fun to see "the kids" at the same time. Mom headed home in the evening. It was a wonderful weekend. We had our FIRST 90 degree day on Saturday. While most of the nation is trapped in the heat wave, we've been extraordinarily cool. Yesterday's high: 75, this morning's low: 48. Feels like fall already and we haven't had summer. I'm still eating snow peas for pete's sake! On the bad news side, we got a phone call at 2am Monday from my SIL to tell us that MIL was taken to the hospital. MIL is 85 and suffered a head injury from a fall about 1 1/2 years ago. She's been in a nursing home since. They have now diagnosed a (likely) cancerous, large tumor in her cervix, uterus. The options are somewhat limited due to the location, size and her age. We're still waiting for the biopsy reports, but the technician is saying Stage 3 cervical cancer. Still lots of unknowns about how we proceed from here, but I probably won't be around much for a bit. Any prayers are appreciated, but no need to keep this thread alive on an off-topic issue. Deanna

Gosh, I must seem like an ungrateful B!_ _ _. Wait, I can't say that on here... I was on vacation during my birthday week and by the time I returned, the post had scrolled back a few pages. I just thought to respond TODAY!! How's that for timely?? Anyway, yeah, vacation....NOT!!! We dug post holes, set fence posts, stretched fence. I did manage to make 18 qts. of Chase's Dill Pickles, grocery shopped and picked up more fence supplies. By the time we got home that night, I ate something from the fridge and fell into bed. I guess you could call that special.......... hee hee. Hey, some years ya just gotta do what ya gotta do. This was one of them. Annie, I would have been THRILLED to be in the garden! Terri, The weather was PLENTY warm enough for what we were doing!! Ann, It was SPECIAL alright........LOL. Now, if you look above at all the words I capitalized, it really does sound OK. :+) Thank you all for the birthday wishes! Maybe one day we'll have a forum birthday party!! That would be fun. Deanna