Well, no soap operas because I cancelled satellite TV months ago, so now I have no TV to watch soap operas, and I seem to have run right out of bonbons. Darn it, I just didn't think ahead. (grin) Cooper doesn't sleep in Woodie, although I wish he did. My alarm normally goes off at 6:30 am. Cooper didn't get me up until 6:45, so I guess that was kind of sleeping in. I had coffee made and took Cooper out to play fetch before 8 am. I spent the morning surrounded by stepmother's financial paperwork that her federally subsidized housing center needs for "rent control". Nancy (wizardnm) called about 11 a.m. Elery called right after that and then I spent about an hour on the phone with his insurance company and my doctor's office getting added to his insurance. I went back to stepmother's stuff and got a phone call from the county, they'd "forgotten" to do my exit interview. Could I come in tomorrow at 11 am? Yeah sure, but only because I want a big check for vacation payout. After that I'll go to stepmother's to count out her meds, shovel her snow, take her grocery shopping and get her dog's nails trimmed. Wednesday Ashley wants to go to the craft shops, she's been making and selling little girls' tutus and hair ribbons and beanie hats and such. She needs supplies. so, what am I cooking? Just coffee, so far, but I did get a call asking me to bake 100 dinner rolls for a funeral dinner on Saturday and Elery wants me to come down there and I want to get this cabinet in my dining room cleaned out so I can get rid of the huge, dark, ugly monstrosity and paint. So, I think I'll have leftover paella for supper and I haven't cooked a darned thing today, except coffee. Annie

Annie, I have about 3 serving trays of tomatoes but production has been low. We have had way too much rain, over 6 inches in the last 24 hours, so anything with a blush has been pulled. All 3 tomatoes. And other stuff is starting to rot again as we are soaked. One tray became salsa this morning, so I only have 2 more to deal with. And the 7 long cukes in the fridge. If I can keep them firm until Tuesday, they may just go to the little food bank a few blocks away. They got my 5 monster zucchini yesterday. Hoping that yours come in soon. PS: Katie, if they would just get rid of the beetle photo...it creeps me out.

I want to pass this on without sounding like a know it all--but it'll save you all time and money-- there's very little difference between white and black pepper. White pepper is slightly milder but its main appeal is that it doesn't stand out in cream sauces/soups or other white or light colored dishes like black pepper does. So go ahead and skip it in your sticky chicken!

have been out of town/and away from internet for a couple of weeks.... I hope you had a glorious birthday Glenda! You add so much to this forum.. what a special lady!