I agree that one needs to be very careful about what one brings to a potluck or contributes to the church supper but I've found that even the non-adventurous will accept certain new recipes. They might not ask you for the recipe but you will get a few honest compliments. My husband would be willing to eat the same thing every day but I just seem to crave new tastes. Here are some examples that people have liked: - parsnip cookies - garlic scape hummus - zucchini and raisin pancakes (almost like carrot bread) There's always the chance that a new flavor will hit the big time. First the recipe gets shared and then some regional manufacturer will put it into production. I'm thinking something like red pepper jelly. I think I first tasted it in the 80s but now it's in every "country" shop. For years, I've been buying corn rather than growing it (the racoons won) at a local dairy farm. One of the young relatives grows it to earn money but the relatives have changed over the years. At first, there was a variety of corn, usually 2 different varieties each week, sometimes a third as a new one was ready for picking. Signs would be posted so you knew what kind. I loved that although I didn't always love all the varieties. About two years ago, they switched to a supersweet variety probably succession planted. At the beginning of the season, the corn is a little on the too young side and by the end of the season, well, it's almost not worth buying except it's going to be the last corn until next year. I'm going to start trying other farmstands. I don't think I've had any silver queen corn in two years and I miss it. The price of berries is a good example. I've been making blueberry muffins from berries we picked last summer and next year we better pick more. I used the last ones last weekend and it's only February. I don't buy fresh blueberries at the supermarket. The berries are available but the price is too high for my pocketbook.

Saturday morning is best of the two days and Thursday evening got to where it was okay, I admitt first year I did not know what the heck I was really doing. This year I have better idea how to do things and I bought a canopy in Nov so this year I should look more professional. Maybe one can have too many types of items on the tables.??? I have only veggies and that is what they stop for if looking for them. I put my prices right out there where they can see than in big numbers. I think Tanglejohn is right too price has a lot of it. My prices were okay . Bad stuff is not good at any price. DIL thinks I should go for upper income people. She says people do have money. But I think like the rest of us they want reasonable prices. If you give them good produce and reasonable prices. You bet they will go to store or Wal-mart. Good variety on table of veggies helps. I think I only had one guy try to get me to give him extra. I did get few tips too. Really. This year I have been working on a garden plan to try and have stuff come on from first week of market to last. This in its self will increase the income some. Last Sat in June is first market day. No rain got us from the time I started going. I lucked out there. It would come on afterwards. A bad wind did hit after closing time once and guy got his canopy broke. He never did come back. It is on lawn and one can stick in the stakes. I got told after 25th of Sept if I came I would be only one there. I asked few others and some did come. The craft people quit and I had it paid for till last of Oct as they say that is the season. I quit mid-Oct to go hunting. Yeah, put a deer in the freezer. It was frosting by then and tomatoes were getting it. June 25th first market day this year. I need to have something to start selling then. ???? There is nothing wrong with gardening in Colorado. You irrigate here or don't grow anything. I know it is shorter season here. Last frost should be over by May l5th. Market assn ran ads, but I think I will sure budget some ad money of my own . Try it once or twice to see and if doesn't help. My son says just grow less and sell that. I do not think be worth it. One told me she thought I had done real good for the first year. I know I will not get rich at this. I don't have a way to grow tomatoes real early, but I will try to have as early as I can. I have a list made out when to plant as early on somethings as can and other stuff to be ready say June 25th. Trying to spread the work out so all will get done. I kind of think lot don't come to the market as think the prices will be too high. I have had several in the past years that said the market was too high.

Cape Murdering is a pun. Crapes only flower on new growth, so it is common to prune them back SEVERELY on an annual basis each late winter before they start growing. They usually are cut back to just four or five primary trunks with out and branches, often resembling bare bamboo sticks, until they sprout out. They do look harsh, but in a milder climate they grow out quickly and thickly. Each new branch then flowers, but usually a few weeks later. This beauty started blooming about two weeks ago, while my Crapes murder victims are just just starting to bloom. Which is fine by me as it gives me color in the garden after all the perennial day lilies and hydrangea are finished. I murder mine in alternate years because it is labor intensive since I have five and it creates a lot of yard waste. I hate doing that, but if I let mine get full sized like this, I'd have ZERO sun in my garden, which is already shadier than I'd like.

We need to go backwards! I talked to my friend and the inspector deemed the house 'un-inhabited' by the bugs, as it was old damamge, but the lady was insisting on having it unnecesssarily treated anyway. She(friend) was told by her agent it's normally the obligation of the buyer to have the treatment, and told her it's 'your call'. She told the agent it's either the furniture OR the treatment, but not both. Apparently the lady didn't take too kindly to that, and recinded her offer. In hindsight, I told her they should have split the cost of the treatment, and let her have the dang furniture. My friend thinks it was the best thing to happen, even though the house is still on the market. The lady accused them of removing/exchanging a light fixture, and taking out a newer dryer and bringing in an older one. She brought her brother, who happpens to be a lawyer with a 'shady' reputation, along every time, and friend thought he was the one trying to force various issues, and get something for nothing. She IS eager to sell, and may have to 'lose' the agent so she can lower the price. Yes, she needs to bank $185K, or take on a small mortgage with the new house~those are her options. ;o) patty_cakes