Shelley, I won't comment much on soil temperature since you already noted some information about it. I doubt if any corn will germinate with temperatures down around 40F and it will take up to 3 weeks (if it doesn't rot :o( with temps at 50°F. In my area, the soil doesn't warm up above that until we are well into the growing season. Regarding cross-pollination: I often grow a little ornamental corn. It is always as isolated from the sweet corn as I can get it but they are in the same garden. Maturing at different times, cross-pollination isn't much of a problem but it does occur. The result is a few brightly colored seeds in a few ears of the sweet corn. Think of it this way, if we crossed a white-faced Hereford with a Black Angus - we'd expect white-faced black calves. There'd be a subtle difference in the taste of the beef from the meat of the 2 parent breeds. With corn, one parent plant grows the ear the other parent plant is growing the pollen laden tassel. And, we are -gasp- eating their babies!! Steve

It really helps if you put a damp paper towel or two over the grill just after turning it off, and then close the lid. Then clean off the gunk within an hour and it will be damp and soft and easy to remove. If you try to scrape off the residue that is hard, you will damage the teflon. They have newer models now with removable grids you can soak and wash. I've had mine for years and it's still fine.

The gc didn't finish his job, so the teacher was on the roof trying to get it finished. It is just a bad situation. I know we will have to pay the gc, but at least I will feel better about it AFTER he cleans up his mess. As far as ideal situation goes, no....we are not in an ideal situation, but we knew that going into the deal. The experience the students get from building this house is priceless, and I am proud to be a part of it. I am disappointed that when we called in a local contractor to help out...........he was the one who didn't do what he said. He was doing the underlayment so the students could proceed with the shingles. Time is an issue since the students will be on Christmas Break after this week. The students only work a few hours a day, so by hiring a contractor to work 8 hours a day we were hoping to have the roof ready for the students to put on shingles. I don't expect most of you to understand, it is a learning project and we benefit by only buying the materials for the most part. I just expect when someone tells me they will finish something by a certain date.....for that to be true. Had the contractor finished what he said he could do on time, the teacher wouldn't have been on the roof in the first place. It will all work out. I just wanted a sympathetic ear, I guess.

I will find out tomorrow what mom's prospects are as far as life expectancy. So far she has been the miracle cancer beater. I have a social worker's card saying they can get her in home care. Right now mom is lucid and bossy and is starting to take more of a role in her own care. Meanwhile, I put up a dry erase board listing the things I did today. I am telling my sister to do the same. I think brother basically thinks since mom is mentally fine - there is not much to do. I have brother written down to take her to her radiation treatment on Friday. I agree being sick and very tired isn't helping the situation any. Thankfully, I am feeling a little better. Tomorrow she goes for rad treatments and a pet scan so I will go shopping for 2 hours. Her cancer doc will see us at 2:15 and we will know the results of the scan. Thanks all. Your caring posts made me cry. I'll let you know how we make out tomorrow. Kathy