Oh, I've been making jam (only 5 jars per batch, I don't use pectin so 1/2 lb of berries per jar) every other day. Winding down now - I just came in from picking (didn't pick yesterday) and haven't weighed them but probably less than a lb. Finished making that batch started yesterday (it needs to sit a while both before and after cooking). Made 3 batches this week so 15 jars, sold 2 at market Wednesday and hope to sell a lot more next week. I don't think DS watches TV at all - unless it's a rare time when I'm not watching The Voice so he may join DH for Antiques Roadshow. And my parents have satellite, will record nature shows, country music awards shows for the kids to watch when they visit but DS is too busy to visit them often. I watch The Voice and Revolution when they're not reruns, but our antenna broke about 2 weeks ago so I had to catch the season finales online. Wouldn't you know it was just that one channel affected (though we never were able to pick up ABC so now we're down to CBS, PBS, FOX and some Spanish channels). We went to my cousin's kids' birthday party (they live next door 1 mile down the road) yesterday, he was really bored the whole 4 hours (didn't take a book) since he and DD were the oldest ones there (she's 9, he's 14). He just went for the food. He didn't ask to go home though.

Wow, What a great story of how you discovered the Plumeria. Brought tears to my eyes. I have recently gotten quite hooked on them myself and have asked a number of questions on this forum. My most recent was about fertilizer, and I got a great response from someone. I'm going to put it here for you. Good luck with that Plumeria of yours. They do seem to be pretty hardy, and the fact that you have new leaves sounds pretty darn promising. Here is the response I got about fertilizer. Hope it helps Lauri A lot of people (including myself)use a "super bloom" fertilizer that has a ratio of somewhere around 10-50-10...A high middle number is key...Different people use different brands, and I've learned that fertilizer in liquid form is the best since it is completely dissolved (verses powder form or extended release) I feed my plumies once every two weeks, and I ALWAYS water my plants first, before feeding them the fertilizer. If you feed them with the soil dry, you can burn the plants/roots...A lot of people also spray their plants with the fertilizer, but I've found that feeding them at soil level works just as good for me... Once September/October rolls around, I'll stop feeding them the super bloom so they can prepare for dormancy. I also read on here that they shouldn't be watered through dormancy, maybe just a cup a month.

What is it about fishing that makes it so wonderful? I bet I could write a book (literally-- no pun intended) on this one question. When I'm on the water, every emotion comes into play-- The anticipation of the day when I'm leaving the boat ramp-- will it be a nice day? Will I be able to pattern the fish and catch "the big one"? Sitting there with a few dozen other boats, waiting for "blast off", the adrenaline building up, and then your number comes up, and the throttle stick gets jammed forward. In an instant, you're going across the lake at 60 miles an hour. It's the closest thing to flying that there is! At the same time, looking around at your surroundings, just enjoying the absolute beauty of it all, feeling the warmth of the morning sun, thanking God that you're alive to appreciate this!! Once you get to your "spot", (and this includes fishing from shore, as well) there's the aniticpation of the bite-- a complete paradox of feelings-- you're waiting for that first "tap tap tap" on the end of your line signaling that age old instinctive battle of life, but at the same time it's a very calm, peaceful time, when it's easy to get lost in yourself-- almost like a focused meditation. Then there's the hit, and the battle's on-- you've got a milliion things going thru your mind, all focused on that fish at the other end-- Is the knot on the lure going to hold? I hope the line isn't too chaffed? Will he measure? Is it a "PIG"? Then, depending on whether YOU win, or the FISH wins, it's either complete elation, or frustration, and either way, it's time to do it all over again. Also, either way, you feel a very special connection with nature that's indescribeable. There's also times when God sends you very special gifts, that have nothing to do with fishing. Things like a beautiful sunrise over the water, as the mist is rising in the new light. Or the time a couple of ducklings decided they wanted to follow me for a couple of hours. Or the best one-- as I was silently going along the edge of the lake one morning on the trolling motor, I came around a point, and there was a doe and her fawn taking a morning drink, and as I came around the point, the doe picked her head up completely startled and I'm sure, wondering how the heck I could have snuck up on them so quietly! but the best part was that once she realised there was nothing to fear from me, she and her fawn went back to their "breakfast", as though I wasn't even there. An absolutely beautiful sight. This is only beginning to touch on what I love about fishing, and why it's very literally what I live for.

Yes, my G-kids love Guitar Hero and so do their parents~~what about that Wii game it looks really fun. Here they like skate boards and those scooters with motors. Girls love Coach and DB purses, makeup, clothing oh don't forget shoes. So that would mean gift cards. All from pricey stores. Music always music. Maybe concert tickets. iPhones???? These are just things I hear my g-kids talk about??