Steffie, Good heavens--I am SO sorry to hear that your neighbor killed your plants. I don't suppose she has offered to replace the plants that she killed? I think I would have to have a talk with her and explain that she is obligated to replace the plants that died. It is incomprehensible to me that a person would spray so carelessly. Of course, the kind of people who kills your plants with their careless use of herbicides are usually the kind of people who don't feel obligated to replace what they killed. Do you have a wooden privacy fence between their yard and yours? It would help block the weedkiller, although you probably would still get some drift. It worked fairly well for us in Fort Worth, although the swimming pool maintenance company THEN killed my plants by letting the chlorine gas drift over them after they had assured me that my poolside plants would be fine. One thing I like about living in the country is that your neighbors generally are not right next to your property line spraying stuff that kills your plants. I LOVE our neighbors....they are all truly wonderful people, but a little physical distance can be a good thing. Our nearest neighbor's house is at least 100 yards from ours, and we have such a heavily wooded area between us that we cannot see one another's houses. However, since we live in a rural area, there is still quite a lot of agricultural spraying of herbicides that does occur. I think I have had damage from herbicide drift 2 or 3 times since we moved here, but only enough to damage the plants and not enough to totally kill them. Are you going to replant the area? Give the neighbor a good talking-to? Have an attorney write a letter? Sorry, but I simply couldn't 'be nice' and let the killing of my plants pass without attempting to do something to get them to make it right. Landscape plants are a major investment! I don't know what you do with a neighbor like that. (Make a voodoo doll? Start praying that they will move?) Dawn

Sorry to butt in here because I really don't know what has happened but I have to say that you are very right about your view on life. It is only when we lose a loved one or one of our children grow and move out that we actually reflect on how short life truly is....20 years slips by in the blink of an eye and honestly I know there were many many spats in that 20 years that ended friendships but I cant say as I truly remember the reasons for the spats, etc. I have come to realize that I want people to remember me for my loyalty, honesty, caring nature, and overall love of life and people and not for my ability to win an argument that doesn't amount to a hill of beans anyway. I hate to see adults acting as though life is promised to them or anyone else for that matter. When I am angry or upset about something that isn't actually worth my time or even things that do warrant my anger I think of the people in the world that are all alone with nobody or nothing. Or worse yet, I think of the children raising siblings in Africa, etc. because they have lost both parents to AIDS. Then I remember how truly blessed I am and watch my children play, stare lovingly at the man I have loved for nearly 20 years, or look at the wonderful gardens I would not have if it weren't for so many people on GW. It is so easy to get caught up in the bickering and backstabbing but in the end the only person you cheat is yourself and you could have had a friend or two instead. So I try to live knowing; Things are rarely ever as they appear; Everything in life is a choice that grants you a reward or a consequence; Life hands you back what you are willing to put into it; A friend is someone you can have a knock down drag out fight with and talk with an hour later as if nothing ever happened...we are all human and we all have emotion resulting in anger now and again; And most importantly in the end it only matters what God sees in my heart. Live life with no regrets, lots of laughter, tons of love, and waste no time on the bad stuff because nobody is promised another minute, they are but a gift from God. Sorry again to butt in but that is my 2 cents... I hate to see people lose sight of the great things in life because there is certainly enough bad in the world all on its own without us adding to it. God bless!

Okay - its obvious none of you have ever been to Bremen where it a celebrated dish. Pinkel is really only known the vicinity of Bremen - go to Hannover or Hamburg and there is another type of sausage that mixes with the green kohl I don't know about the loaf thingy - none of that came out of my Bremen ancesters' kitchens unless you are thinking of "knippe". Kale and pinkel are easy. First order some good pinkle. To make it is really daunting. Karl Ehmers makes a delicious one - just spicy enough. You can order online. I suggest for a family of four - order at least 3 lbs. Think of a sort of peppery Scrapple in a casing. But you don't fry it - it is boiled. Grun Kohl 6 lbs kale washed and stripped 2 large yellow onion cut up 1 cup steel cut or Irish oats - not instant or reg oatmeal 1 2-4 lb smoked tenderloin 8 oz. salt pork salt/pepper Layer 1st three ingredients in large pot. Lay tenderloin in middle and layer in 1st three ingredients again. Put in salt pork and layer with what ever is left over. Put in 1/2 cup water, cover and put over slow simmer for 1 hour - check occassionally to make sure there is some water at bottom. Kale will shrink in 1/2. As all the meats and other ingredients start to meld together - take a wooden spoon and stir once in awhile. Don't worry if your meats start to fall apart - kale is a great "mooshing" meal. Kale is best eaten after it has rested for a day in a cold place. Reheat it slowly. For the pinkle - keep frozen. Pierce them LIGHLTY in two spots with a fork and place into boiling water. Turn down the water to a rolling boil for 10 - 15 minutes. Serve with boiled potatoes, spicy mustard and beer. Sehr gut!

Hi, just an FYI...I found a nursery online which I visited today that has an amazing selection of plants! And the even better part is that ALL plants are $6 for 1 gallon sized pits, all the time, all season!! It's called Northland Nursery (www.northlandnursery.com) and is located in Waterdown. I know it's not exactly close to London (about halfway between Milton and London) but in case you are ever in that area, it's definitely a place I would recommend! I bought some clematis's today and some hostas....I had to walk away at that point or I would have been there all afternoon and brought home a carload!