Lyra, I'm glad you had good results, but I agree, get it checked out and make sure you're really clear, it can't hurt. Sorry about the pizza, though... Sharon, she's been gone for 16 months and will only be home a few days before she leaves for grad school. Sigh. It won't be enough.....good luck with the "in laws". You're a great hostess, so lucky them! Snow, Al? It's sunny and 80 here, and we have had nearly no rain the entire month of April. It's supposed to rain this weekend, and I'm sure hoping, we have forest fire warnings and all kinds of stuff, and I was hoping to reseed part of the hayfield, but with no rain, that's kind of pointless. And my garden isn't even plowed yet, I've just been hoping for rain and I don't care plant anything for a couple of weeks yet, we're still getting hard freezes at night. ruthanna, you've sure been busy, but at leat you have lots of good food! Linda, happy birthday to Zoe. I suggest you buy her a pony. (grin) Mom2, scratch up those doxies for me... Alexa, I suppose it's going to be Lookin' At Lucky, although he has a crappy pole position. I like the filly, Devil May Care, or Smarty Jones' son, Backtalk, gotta love a 50-1 shot, LOL. The Derby just isn't the same with Dad gone, we spent the weeks before checking odds and bloodlines and jockeys, picked our favorites and place our "bet". Every year we bet $5 on the winner, and most years I beat him. (grin) Ah well, here it's housecleaning, I have to get the garden plowed, I have more fence to put up, and I'm in serious mode putting appetizers for that wedding in the freezer. I've only got a month left... Annie

Thank you all! I didn't mean to offend anybody here! There is a distinct flavor and texture difference between plum and prune. Plums are more juicy and Clingstone, [the stone is usually attached to the fruit] and not used for drying. Prune need longer season to ripen and are free stone. Also, shape of Plum is round, Prunes are longer to a point both sides. In German Prune is called Zwetschge, Plum is called Pflaume Eric The grower from whom I got the scion wood from called it Empire. Konrad

Hi Gamecock, I agree with the posters that would hold off until you are closer to actually getting to your destination city and a purchase. What is available now, won't be in several months so it's really a waste of your time to get hooked emotionally to a home now. What you should be doing(IMHO) is to connect with a good agent in your destination area. Building a relationship now will put you in good stead down the road. One thing that you MUST find out is what type of "Agency" they practice within that state. Some states still practice what's called "sub-agency" which is where agents' fiduciary duty is to the seller. Here in Arkansas, we are buyer agents unless the buyer is looking at a company listing. That puts both the buyer's agent and the listing agent in a "dual agency" position which basically means that your agent can not help you negotiate. In Illinois, we practice "Designated Agency" which puts buyers in a much better position when it comes to negotiating. In case you're confused, I'm licensed in both states. Next time you talk with an agent, find out what their state laws are regarding agency. Good luck.

Wow! Well, thank you! How exciting to know how Brody's doing - and that he's talking up a storm! Very much like my nephew, who didn't say a word, just grunts, until he was two years old. Then, after that, watch out! YAY, BRODY! And 4 weeks to go until we "meet" Campbell. Thanks, Liz.