Great pumpkin ideas! I'm like some though, not ready to let go of summer just yet. As the days are a tish bit darker when I get up, it'll be here fast enough for me. There was another idea for pumpkins I saw recently which could be done with the funkins pumpkins. Cut off the top just a bit, a little bit bigger than a 50 cent piece. Stuff some spanish moss inside so it is overflowing a bit. Put a battery operated flickering tea light on top of the moss and cover the white base of it with the moss. You could also paint the white base orange or brownish to match the moss. Trust me, when Fall does come, I certainly plan on having some fun when it comes to decorating. Sal

Alison, that was a VERY creative and clever theme! My favorite is also 'Why? Because you wanted one and 2 are okay." I personally have (ahem) 5 wood and 2 plastic. And yes, the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem. Just make sure you're not cutting alone too often or people will start talking. I too love The Tassajara Bread Book! What a great box!! Enjoy, Marcia p.s. I have yet to get around to writing you a Thank You note. I can't seem to find the time when I'm home. I still have a White Elephant gift I have to send someone too. Shame on me. Please don't hate me. p.p.s. All four cats are CRAZY about those catnip treats. I sure wish I could find them here! Yum-MEE! You are a Godess to my kitties.

Thanks, all! I suspect we're just asking too much due to the constant heat over the last two weeks. We've had a bit of a break this weekend, and last night the system in question did reach 68F by early morning. I'll also revisit having the blower on 24/7, lest the coil be thwarted from draining, veesubotee. I should put the fans on 'auto' overnight? (Prefer to avoid the "on", "off", "on", "off" overnight, but if that's how the room gets and stay cool at night, we'll do it.) Do y'all really think this is an vast waste of energy? When the temp in the house is 68-70F in the morning, the A/C doesn't kick in until about 5 p.m. It then maintains at 77F until it's set to start back down to 68F at 6:30 p.m. Only the blower fans are running during the day to circulate the air in a sealed house. I'm asthmatic and sleep better in a cool, dry room. I *could* just install a casement unit in the MBR. Would that save a lot of electricity? Our furnaces are two-stage, but that's moot when the A/C isn't running and just the fans are on constantly. Does that even apply outside of the heating season?

Oh, GAWD. Rats. I live in the country, so unless you have animal feed around, there are seldom rats. Thank GAWD. I laugh at the reno TV shows who scream, "RATS" at a little (lot) of mouse poop. I moved my DW out yesterday and my floor-laying-friend and I plugged up more holes from the garage to the kitchen. I have GOT to get that garage mouse proofed. I think a problem is that when ex-POC-DH built the den, the outside plywood of the walls isn't sealed where it comes to the ground. They can get in under there and pretty much cruise wherever they want. I have hopes, though, that I'm crazy. mush creek, the only thing I don't have is the pop cans. I don't drink it, but might start because I want to make a passive solar heater for my FREE.EE.EEzing master bath. Bucket? CHECK String? Check Peanut Butter? Check Ramp? Check Windows for solar thing? Check Black paint for solar thing? Check. I got it for 2 projects at once. :) I have to decide if I'm up to a bunch of liquefied dead mice. "Dead" being the incentive.