Here's what I'm doing on the 33 acres that I inherited in North Carolina. First, I checked with a forestry consultant, whom I happen to go to church with. He walked the land and gave me an estimate of the worth of the timber on the property. Then, he took bids from logging companies. The high bidder won the contract, the consultant handles all the negotiations and supervises the cutting. After the cut, I was left with cleared land, but brush and laps from the trees that were harvested remained on the property. These pieces are currently being "harvested" for firewood. What's left will be burned off early this winter. The area that I want to keep cleared (7 acres) has been marked off. The remaining acreage will be replanted, using part of the proceeds from the timber sale and a grant from the state Forestry Service for replanting. The area that's left will have stumps, but they have been cut close to the ground. I have scored the top of these stumps with a chainsaw and applied nitrogen, in different forms, which will hasten the decomposition of the stumps. I don't plan to use a bulldozer for anything. Total out of pocket expenses: $0.00. The timber brought a good bit of cash that I will have available for farm use and to pay other expenses. The consultant gets his money from a percentage of the price that the timber bought, plus he remains as my consultant, working to get the replanted areas back into shape for the next sale, in about 18 years. The timber company built a good road into the property (I failed to mention that the entire area was 95 acres, split betwen myself and my siblings). The consultant made sure that the road was kept in good condition, plus he marked off a 50-foot corridor to protect the small streams on the property. I am more than satisfied. My recommendation would be to find a good forestry consultant. Since you have several years before your move, I would think that you can do the same. Check with the State Forestry Service. Ours keeps a list of licensed consultants. Good luck!!

"you can buy great bananas in any market cheaply. You KNOW the whole idea is the fantastic foliage.Who wouldn't want to grow one?" I think that is highly debateable. People grow different plants for different reasons and one of the big attractors IMO for many people to grow bananas is not only the joy of producing their own bananas but the belief that not only may this allow them access to cultivars which are not in your average grocery store but also that the same bananas home-grown would taste better. I don't know about you but the only bananas at my grocery store are Cavendish unless I want to visit an Asian market. I personally have never seen Ice Cream or any of the other popular fruiting varieties for sale at VONS where I live. Laurence

Wonderful!! Got some action going.... Milosmom, my ears stay up for Christmas. I just LOVE Christmas..You be careful, sounds like you have a good man. I didn't see the pic. Always make room for more Christmas. LOL Make the best of two worlds, Lots more to decorate, the more the merrier. LOL An hour is not far if you "need" Christmas. HA HA Seasonaldecorating, I have two new, to me, 15ft trees, that I plan to put up this year. One will be all white like I had last year. And the other one is going to be old traditional, like when I was growing up. Kath, I understand, not everyone is ready. Punk, I too buy all though the year for what ever occasion I may see cheap. Just bought an Easter rabbit and grass. Karen, you are always so sweet. Thank you for the permission, however I know I don't need another baby. Daddy and the ones I already have are a full time job. The twins are 15 months, and weigh 13 lbs. a piece. Big boys. Have some cute pics when I get time and can update my program to post. Jeanne, I guess I kind of skip over Halloween and go straight to fall. We don't have any little one to enjoy the fun. Luvs and Nana, I am so sorry you don't have a hobble lobby. Do you have the Christmas tree stores?? I don't. POUT POUT.. I sure hope I didn't leave anyone out, it was not intentional. Thank you all for your reply's.. Take Care everyone and happy decorating and shopping and looking!!! Try to stay cool, We are under a HEAT WARNING today, again. Take Care, Creek

Christmas movies and shopping ads started last week of July, as usual. Christmas is six months long, starting in late July, and lasting till mid-January. Usually by the time the actual calendar date rolls around, I've been tired of Christmas for a couple months. The movies and ads start even before the craft stores start putting out stuff. I've grown rather beyond not fond of the holiday. Back to school starts in July, and is really kicking now- all the kids are back in school this month. I feel a bit of pity for them, used to be summer lasted till Labor day, now summer ends the first week or two of August. Halloween starts around the end of August, and is heavily sold on by mid-September, and pretty much gone except for costumes by Halloween. And candy sales the day after. Autumn gets a shelf or few in there, sometimes with some non-food Thanksgiving in later October into November. Food Thanksgiving is a big deal, and most of the stores will have food displays and sales up for most of the month. Some places that do case sales usually have them between late Sept into mid Nov to pick up the back to school dinner folks and stock up for Thanksgiving and holiday eating folks.