Out of all of those tomatoes I only got about 1 quart of very dry pulp/skin (we ran it through a second time). Sauce is in the canner - I compromised and did 3/4" HS so it's wrong either way but hope it turns out OK. I got 5 3/4 quarts (had to scramble for pint and half jar, I'd prepped RM lid and band so used old Classico jar from tomatoes we used the other night, I don't remember if that was a PC batch or BWB but here's hoping it withstands 10 psi). Adapter still stuck on the metal base - try ice cubes in it to get plastic to contract? It's really jammed on. I'm not sure this was faster than blanching and peeling, cooking and then using Foley but it was neater and I didn't have to handle hot tomatoes. Of course I probably wouldn't have done so many at a time either if I'd had to peel them. The crank turned easily, but both kids ended up pulling it off a couple of times. It would help to have a set screw on that. I'm not sure which screen I like for tomato sauce, but if I want seedless it has to be the tomato (original) screen.

We are making fewer trips out in the car and try to do several errands in one trip to save gas. Haven't done much camping this year but are trying to stay closer to home when we do camp. We talked about joining a gym toward the end of last year but DH hurt his knee and we needed to wait. By the time his knee was well I fell and hurt mine so we had to wait again. By then the gas had started going up so we didn't join, knowing we wouldn't make the trip. Yesterday we bought a Bowflex machine. In the long run it will be cheaper, more convenient and more likely used. We got a great deal. Academy Sports had them advertised in the paper for $599 - regularly $1299 (I check the Bowflex website and the price was accurate). Sale was limited to the ones in-stock and we got the last one in a box. Someone called while we were there and was coming to get the one on the floor. Glad we went when we did. Now just got to learn to do those 65 exercises. I've also given DH instructions that we are eating the meats we have in the freezer before we buy any more. He does most of the grocery shopping and tends forget what we already have. He has been baking the 5 Minute Artisan Bread instead of buying the Publix Sourdough he is so fond of. I like his better and Publix used to sell theirs for about $1.98 and now it is over $3!!! We are buying most of our fruits veggies from the local produce stands. I don't really have a garden space but managed to plant some patio tomatoes and a couple of cucumber plants. I have fresh herbs growing as well. Linda

Regarding the cardboard for weed control, you can also use several layers (8 to 10) of newspaper instead. Just be sure to use the newsprint only, not the glossy ads. I actually prefer newspaper over cardboard as you can make holes and plant through it. Cardboard takes MUCH longer to decompose. To prepare a grassy area for gardening, just cut the grass very short then lay down the 8 to 10 layers of newspapers (hose it down so it doesn't blow away) then cover with mulch. If you do this in the fall, it will be wormy and ready by spring for planting. It sure saves digging and sore backs :-) You will be amazed at how much newspaper it will use up. Win-win

Roxanna, just so you know....there isn't any pesticide that takes care of only the ticks. As a matter of fact, the ticks are pretty darned tough. The person you spoke to was either lying or misinformed. I would suspect the latter, if he was just the applicator. The comment about using 'only ten ounces for a hundred gallons of water' is a smoke screen.....a meaningless response that sounds good to the customer. The dilution rate depends upon the concentration of the active ingredient. I promise you, the rate that you were quoted was exactly what is needed to get the job done. It may very well have been 10 oz./100 gal.....or half that! The only thing that counts is what comes out of the hose and that will always be just what it takes to kill ticks, the tough guys. The non-target animals....the butterflies, lightning bugs and their beneficial larvae, bees, any insect, as a matter of fact, frogs, toads, lizards, and salamanders are all very sensitive. They came at peak bee activity time, judging by the time of your post. Bees end up taking it back to the hive. Grrrr, that's a cardinal rule for pesticide application: avoid spraying when bees are active. Cats, because they clean themselves, are probably the mammal most likely to be affected....other than those individuals who are very old, ill, immune deficient, very young, taking medications that affect the liver, and more. Pyrethroids have been found in milk. Alisande, the unmarked vans are hilarious.