Here are my kitties, One Eyed Pete and Misty Pete is one of three kitties I inherited when my brother died 8 years ago. Strawberry, a sweet little calico, and Whisper, the oldest and all white, died the year before last. We brought them 900 miles from Cape Cod. We lined three cat carriers up on the back seats of our van, put seat belts around the carriers to keep the kitties safe, put a blanket over them so they wouldn't be afraid and drove straight though during the night to their new home. We were pulling a big trailer full of my brother's things, so the trip took 22 hours, but we hardly heard a peep out of those sweet kitties. We kept them at one end of our house, separate from Misty for awhile, until they could get used to their new surroundings. Misty hung out by the door separating them...trying to figure out what was going on! I sure do miss having all four of them! Pete lost his eye when he was hit by a car when he was just a kitten. My brother rescued him. All of our cats and dogs have been rescued animals. Misty was a very, very tiny kitten when she was found in a box, along with her brothers and sisters, in an alley...in the dead of winter. I can not understand such cruelty!! When the time comes to get another kitty, it will be a rescued one! They're the best! ~Sandy~

Thank you, Kirk and Carol, for all your hard work that added so much fun and giggles to our holidays!! It was fun to feel like a kid for a little while, and you really pulled together a great group of people! Hope your Christmas was fabulous, even with the tree mishap, and may the coming New Year bring you both happiness, good health and many more Garden Junk treasures!!! 2008?...it's gonna be great!! Thanks to you both! *elaine*

You didn't do anything wrong. The raspberries will be in bigger pieces and will be discernable in the preserve (the degree depending upon ripeness) but I didn't succeed in keeping them entirely intact either. Believe me, I was sad about that, but that preserve is so very good, I'm willing to live with it. I tried cooking the raspberries a shorter time but then they didn't absorb the sugar syrup the way they should have and came out more like stewed raspberries in currant jelly, so that was a failure. I hope you're not too disappointed. I have thought about trying this preserve with peach chunks in raspberry syrup (the gold and red should be pretty) or reversing the original recipe and trying currants in raspberry syrup. In the latter case that would produce similar flavors, but the currants will stay whole and the raspberries won't. It's just one of many ideas I haven't gotten around to. Carol

Happy Fourth of July to my dear, old and new friends! I cannot begin to tell you how happy it has made me to read through this thread. I really needed the smiles. I'm not sure how many threads I've missed and I'm terribly sorry for being absent. Debbie, I am so sad to hear of your daughters dx. HUGS I'd like to talk to you via email and will send a note along soon. I had been hoping to get back here many times since the birth of my sweet boy 2 years ago, but life keeps getting in the way. My family is now in crisis once again and I ask for your thoughts and prayers. We really, really need them. I will send out a group email soon - hope I have all the correct addresses. Marea, 'Snazzy Memories' is in it's full glory - magnificent! We never got around to dividing it yet and the fans have grown into a nice clump at the entrance to my Sis' home. My little one is doing so well. How amazing to watch him grow and learn! He is a wonderful garden helper too! Loves to put the weeds in the wheelbarrow, and digging is his middle name. :) I lost my dear dog to old age - he was over 15 years old! He was laid to rest up on our Bluebird Hill. I sure do miss him. Our birds are doing well, but I know they miss us because we are always working. I can't wait until we get the house done and can spend more time with them again. We still haven't moved, but the house is coming along. I do have water now so that is wonderful. But only a hose- no luxuries such as a sink yet. Working on stoning our fireplace now. Electric is done. We have our insulation ready to put in after an inspection next week and then we can finally sheetrock. Still have to put in septic system as well as our furnace, but all ductwork is done. Kind of running out of money so things are slowing down. I did manage to put in a beautiful organic veggie garden w/ DH's help. It was supposed to be a temporary one but it turned out so nice I have to keep it. Daylilies are in full bloom here in Western PA and I think of you all when I step out the door and see all the color you have shared with me. HUGS, Dawn (mamabirrd)