Just did a nice google search...yes they appear to be behaving like aphids. Thanks for the tip. The only aphids I've ever had been familiar with were white, or pale green, which is why I didn't necessarily associate them to my hosta. The one's on my hosta are much darker, but nonetheless are matching the google research. thanks again.

Cathy, this is SO easy, but it's time consuming. I love it because it candies the rind and it's not bitter at all. Also, you can change up this recipe with different kinds of citrus. I made a lemon and Key lime version this past weekend! Anna's Orange Marmalade Recipe source: Ina Garten "At Home" (I think) 4 large oranges 2 lemons 8 cups water 8 cups sugar Wash citrus and cut in half from "pole to pole". Cut citrus in very thin slices, being sure to remove the seeds. Place citrus slices and any juice in a heavy-bottomed sauce pot. Add 8 cups of water and bring citrus & water to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar; stir till dissolved. Place lid on sauce pot and leave citrus mixture to sit over night. The next day, bring citrus mixture back to a boil; reduce temperature and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stirring regularly. After 2 hours, bring back up to a steady boil, stirring continually, for *30 minutes or until reaching gel stage. Ladle mixture into prepared jars and process in a BWB for 10 minutes. * Sometimes it doesn't take the exact 30 minutes at the end to come to gel stage. I guess it just depends on the water content of the fruit, moisture in the air, etc. I've had mine gel at 20 minutes or less, so just use good judgement.

Whew! I’ve finally recuperated from the onslaught. We had a blast! The pig came out perfect, the weather was great and everything went smoothly. Here are a few pictures I took: Dawn Saturday morning. Pig went in the smoker at 4 PM Friday. We all stayed up until midnight then DH & I went to bed and slept until 4 AM. We got up and relieved the midnight to 4 AM smoker crew and started our day. Almost Done Done Inhaling & Decorated RedNeck Style. Go Patriots! Last year it was Hawaiian Style complete with lei. My cousin carving the Pig. Saturday midnight...end of a long day

I am going to sound like a real dullard here, but though there are many things I can't do....I have no interest in them, so I don't care. I can't sing, dance, play a musical instrument, speak a foreign language....altho I did get pretty good with my self taught Spanish...always got the verbs wrong, but I was communicating via a Spanish dictionary. I tried the same thing with Portuguese, but gave it up. I can't skate, hate swimming...love the water....to look at it, and the beach in winter to look for driftwood. Can't sew. Took 3 years of Home Ec in high school, hated sewing. Since then I have hemmed one skirt, and sewed on maybe 3 or 4 buttons. I can do buttons....if absolutely necessary. I can cook....plain, regular every day southern stuff. If I like to eat it, I can cook it. That goes for some Asian and Mexican dishes. Funny people should mention fried chicken or dressing. Dressing for example. My mother made the best dressing. I didn't pay a lot of attention to how, because I was really young and not that into cooking. However, my dad died in 1968 and she quit cooking. No longer had holiday dinners at her house...she went to my brother's. Cornbread dressing is as individual as potato salad, and I didn't become obsessed with making it like my mother's until fairly recent years. I bet I watched 20 YouTube videos on it....fascinating how some people make it. I really didn't learn much. I kept on until I got it right....or how I remembered hers to be. Texture was as important as taste, in my opinion. And what I like, would not be what someone else might like. And I make it like hers....to taste and to "feel". No recipe. I did the same with fried chicken. My mother just dipped it in flour and fried it in a cast iron skillet and I did that for years, and then I switched to an electric skillet and buttermilk....then umpteen YouTube videos and I actually learned something from them that I could use. I use an egg and milk wash...or egg and water. Self rising flour with extra baking powder. Electric skillet. As for other interests....when I become interested in something, I become obscessive compulsive about it. I read and collect every book I can find on the subject, join organizations and local clubs, and meet people who have information they will share. There wasn't one on waterlilies, so I helped found the International Waterlily Society, now changed from waterlily to watergardening. So I can grow plants. If I am intersted in them...antique roses and aquatic plants and a few others, and don't know about some things....probably could if I had an interest. It is always research and find people who know and can help you. I guess there is one thing I wish I could do....cross a hardy and a tropical waterlily. For eons it was deemed impossible. Then a man in Thailand and a hippie looking dude in West Virginia found out how. I need to research that. I would like to try, but I need to know how. I would also like to cross some roses....just for my own pleasure. I am currently growing some rose seeds, but it is very slow compared to waterlilies, but I will keep trying. And the last thing I am learning...the names of all the plants, trees and different bird species here in east Texas. Birds are easy...only a couple I didn't know. Lots more diversity in trees here. My mother would say, "why don't you work on cleaning house?" Not much interest there.