Sorry about the delay - tried to get one last camping trip out before 'w'-word decides to settle in for 6 months. Here's what I've done so far (that didn't cost me money) :) - replaced oil (it was all dark, so now it's got fresh oil in there) - cleaned out the jets on the brass bolt. They looked clean, but I used the wire from a wire-tie and poked it through all of the holes (x3). - I checked the spark plug - before, the spark is nice and defined. - I went to the local 'hospital' here in town, and they suggested reseating the coil, so I removed it - cleaned off whatever gunk I could find (grass, bugs, etc) on the coil, and put it back on. Ensured that the rotor was able to rotate w/o hitting the coil, and let her run for a few minutes until manually stopping it. It seemed to be burning a lot of oil Tried to start it up immediately after, and it won't start. I checked for a spark again, and nothing this time around. So...should I try to do the above (I should have reread what was noted by lbgold94 re:cleaning the frame, etc, not just the coil)? Or should I go ahead and get a replacement? (it's 53$ here in Canada - I'm sure I could find it online cheaper, but with shipping probably comes to the same). Once it "cools" down again (45 minutes) I'll go back out and try cleaning the frame where the coil mounts and see if that helps any. Also, how dry should the plug be? I noticed that it had some oil near the gap side, but not enough to short the gap out, at least, I don't think it was shorted - I guess I could test that with an ohmmeter. Thanks again for all the help thus far - I'm definitely learning a lot :)

"compost nut"??? Please, address us as "compost enthusiasts" if you don't mind. :) As to your query, bale of straw weighs what, 50 pounds give or take? Pretty high in C. Trying to figure out how much manure based on how much you have fed them could be tough, especially if they are eating bugs, seeds etc. I would suspect that it would be nigh onto impossible to get an accurate read. If it were I, I wouldn't sweat it too much. Do you clean the pen or whatever to "harvest" the bedding/manure to put into a pile? If so, add water and experiment. If it doesn't get hot pretty quick, you needed more N. If it really stinks then you needed more C. I think this what Sue was saying upthread as well. As for balance, I would adjust C/N (if I had to) using leaves and UCGs adding an inexpensive source of varied nutrients. In any case, if it becomes too problematic, I would be willing to take it off your hands if you want to ship it up here. Just trying to be helpful. :) For those that can't recognize the "tongue in cheek" humor, I was trying to be funny 'bout the "composting enthusiast" comment. Lloyd

Good Saturday afternoon from not-so-warm SE Texas. It's only 30 F. right now and the sun is shining brightly. It got down in the low 20's during the night. BRRR! I know it's nothing compared to what most of y'all are experiencing, but I admit it - I'm a weather wimp! ;) Maddie, congrats, girl, on being your skinniest! Now to modify your food to healthy! I know that you can do it because you've conquereed so many other things. Jan, that's quite a daily walk, and I'm so impressed. I'd also love that soup recipe. It's actually one I DON'T have. lol Suzanne, bless your heart - having walking pneumonia is no fun at all. I'm happy that your dh was home to take over though. What a blessing that was! Hope you're feeling much improved by now. Tikanis, about this time last year, my dh was told to give up caffeine because he was suffering from neuropathy. Well, he had us go cold turkey without telling me about it, and I had sick headaches for 3 days in a row and didn't know why. He had switched out our regular coffee for decaf which he makes every morning. On the 4th day, we had an early lunch where I ordered a Diet Coke, and after the first sip, I felt almost human again, and by the 2nd refill, I felt like a million bucks. Once I understood what was going on, I adjusted my coffee intake with half & half caf/decaf, and my headaches disappeared. I gradually cut out the caffeine slowly, and now I'm fine with decaf. I wish you well in weaning yourself from the cokes! Donna, I'm excited for you about your renovations. I'd love to see the photos, too. Congrats! Dee, how did the reviews go? It must be a nerve-wracking thing. Helen, I like it cooler than the temps we usually get around here - especially in the summer. And I agree that the Michelin man comment was hilarious! Raeanne, once long ago, my preacher gave an entire sermon on saying "NO". I only remember what I want to about it, but it stuck with me that the kindest thing you can do for yourself and for others sometimes is to turn things down if it can't be done with your whole heart involved. Now, when I try new things around here, I preface it to myself, and to the ones involved if it's necessary, that I want to make sure I'm the right person for the job or if I'd be good at whatever it is. I'm much improved now. I think it's been the huge change in the weather lately giving my sinuses fits. I don't have a headache today, TG! I'm going over to my friend's house this afternoon for a 'girls' day out' of movie-watching/knoshing/solving world problems. Susanne is hosting us and wants to fill her empty home with laughter and human warmth. It's a beautiful day to get together with all these great women friends I've been blessed with in the past 2 years. Wishing everyone a wonderful Saturday!

When I get buy-one-get-one-free bags of potatoes I make at least one 5# bag into freezer potatoes. When I have more than that I dehydrate them. Freezer Mashed Potatoes 5# potatoes (peeled or washed and unpeeled - your choice) Cook as you usually would for mashing. Avoid adding onion or garlic because the flavors can intensify during freezing. Drain. Add 6-oz. cream cheese, 1-c. sour cream, 1/4 c. butter and mash. I portion them into dollops using an ice cream scoop, on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Quick-freeze them then package them in a vacuum-sealed FoodSaver bag. I can take out however many servings I need and then vacuum-seal the bag shut again. You could also portion the potatoes into user-friendly amounts in plastic freezer containers. -Grainlady