You don't need to catch it, just ask it to pose for a picture. I have lots of bug references, and there is lots more on line. Your local county extension service will also be happy to look at the picture and give your bug a name, even telling you if it is good or bad for your plants. Al

I'm happy to report that CSA is alive and thriving here in New England for several years. If I didn't grow my own, there are a half-dozen choices I'm aware of without research. I even flirted with the idea of doing my own small-scale version until I realized gardening might become an obligation instead of a joy. Suggestion for city folks in the US: if interested, contact your County Extension Service. They'll be able to give you leads. A blessing of rural life: road-side honor boxes are still common here for everything from extra transplants in spring, to summer harvest, to bundles of kindling in autumn. Sometimes there's even a scale so you can pay by the pound. As Annette mentioned, local-vore is big here, too. I'm not ready to give up chocolate or coffee. But, as the cost of transportation becomes more evident, local products are competitive in price as well as outstanding freshness. Side-benefit: keeps our landscapes in farm vistas. Ana who's so far out in the sticks that she indulges in the really good stuff for Halloween treats in case any one shows up

Did all the major cleaning today, I'll just do a quick touch up that morning on the baths and floors. Rolls and apple pie are in the freezer, ham, polish sausage, and 9 dozen pierogi (that took all day yesterday) in the fridge. Eggs are decorated and the decorations are up. Serving dishes are out as are plates, etc. I made 5 dozen cutout cookies today and 8 dozen assorted chip cookies. Tomarrow I'll prep the fruits and vegis, make the dips, and make a cherry pie. We do our family dinner on Sat. not Sun. So on Sat I'll just have to do touch ups on the house, prep the ham, make the baked beans... most of the "cooking " at that point will just be heating things up. That way I can enjoy a glass of wine with the ladies. Hope you are feeling better soon Terri. Sorry to hear your furnace isn't working Sharon.

Jan - I grew up with an applehead Siamese, named Sultan, and he was a great cat. He loved to play; even as he got older he was always ready for the game of "peek around the corner and I will come jumping sideways at you". He was very friendly with anyone who came to visit; he was very talkative, and he loved to be petted, although I wouldn't call him cuddly. One day my mother called my father and me to come into the back bathroom; she was slightly annoyed. We went and found her looking into the toilet, which had been left uncovered, and in it were two small poops. "Did either of you forget to flush?" she asked, and we both pointed out that our poops were certainly larger than what was floating in the bowl. "Can it be?" Surely not!" But yes, this was the work of Sultan. We left the toilet open and some days later another discreet poop appeared in it. I was henceforth assigned the task of toilet inspection along with cleaning the seat if the bowl had been used. When the toilet lid was down, Sultan always used his litterbox - he was such a gentleman, and very smart. And for the rest of his days he pooped in the toilet whenever possible. Just saying - Siamese cats deserve their reputation for intelligence! I have had many cats and kittens throughout my life and I totally agree with you that you should get TWO kittens. Few things compare to the absolute delight of watching two young ones grow and play and bond together. Furthermore, two will take out their need to play-fight on each other; all that clawing and nipping and hind-leg raking that they need to do to learn how to hunt and catch prey will occur between them and not with their human family. They wlll save their cuddliness and purring for their people - in this case, for your son! Ten years ago we adopted two ten-week old kittens from our SPCA; it was the first time I'd ever adopted two at a time. And we had a decade of joy with them, from their hilarious kittenhood to the pleasure of their purry cuddling with us (and with each other). Sadly, we had to have the male put to sleep two weeks ago, and it was a terrible grief. So I know what you are facing. I wonder if you would consider getting the kittens before your granny cat passes. We adopted our two kittens about six weeks before our then 17-year old granny cat passed away. We mostly kept them separate from her and it worked out well. From long experience I can tell you that it really does help to have another animal in the house, if the older cat can tolerate it (ours did). But I guess it would also depend on your son and his personality and how he would handle losing a cat he loves, plus the excitement of new kittens. Only you know him and whether or not he needs a complete experience with one animal before going on to others. BTW, the male kitty that we just lost was BY FAR the most cuddly and purry cat that I have ever had, and he was a DSH black and white tuxedo, of dubious parentage and born in the SPCA. I don't think that we can predict just how physically loving a cat will be. Some of that is in the individual nature of the animal. But there's no doubt that Siamese/Burmese/Birmans/etc. are beautiful, intelligent and special creatures! Could you please keep us posted? I would love to see your story have a happy ending, especially for your son. And forgive me for the length of this post!