How about some Spiced Pear Butter to go with that bread? I made this batch a couple days ago. A 4-5 lb. bag of pears doesn't make very much, maybe 3 small jars or tubs like this. I never bother to process in a water bath, just refrigerate them because they don't last long enough to worry about anything going bad. This batch wasn't the best I've ever made because I forgot the step that calls for you to puree the mixture. It's fairly important because pears have a gritty texture and putting them through a puree cycle in the food processor makes it very smooth. Also, if I made this recipe again I would cut down on the sugar a bit, it seems a little sweet to me. Spiced Pear Buttter 4 lb. Barlett pears, unpelled, cored and cut in 1 inch chunks 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 TBSP. fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 cup sugar 4 orange slices 1 lemon slice 1 vanilla bean, split length 1 cinnamon stick 1/2 tsp. ground cardamon pinch salt Combine pears, wine and lemon juice in heavy large saucepan. Cover and simmer until pears are soft, pusching unsubmerged pears into liquid occassionally, about 25 min. Force through food mill or coarse sieve to remove pear peel. Transfer to food processor and puree. Return puree to heavy saucepan. Add remaining ingredients. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium and boil gently until mixture thickens and mounds in spoon, stirring often, about 50-60 min. Discard fruit slices, cloves, vanilla and cinnamon stick. Spoon butter into hot canning jar, filling only to 1/4 inch from top. Immediately wipe rim, using towel dipped into hot water. Place lid on jar, seal tightly. Arrange jars in large pot. Add boiling water to pot so that at least 1 inch of water covers tops of jars. Cover pot and boil rapidly 15 minutes. Remove jars from pot. Cool to room temperature. Press center of each lid. If stays down, jar is sealed. If lid pops up, store in refrigerator. Store in cool dry place up to 1 year. Refrigerate after opening. Enjoy!

RAT ZAPPER CONTINUES TO WORK Like many on this thread I too felt guilty about eliminating chipmunks ... but have become increasingly frustrated and desperate when the population exploded and over ran our property and garden areas. Destructive, brazen and invasive is ALL an understatement when I see what these cute little critters have become. Granted the "pool of death" (the bucket) does work, but I found, at least for me, a cleaner, more convenient way to eliminate the munks ... the RatZapper ... no bucket to maintain/seed to replenish. I bought my first "zapper" back in May and eliminated 21 munks in approximately 10 days. Since then I bought 2 more and now there are almost 50 critters that no longer make their home in the area around my foundation, sidewalks and retaining walls. I place a little pile of sunflower seed at the back of the chamber and flip the switch. And location seems to be important. Under shrubs and near visible, active holes seems to be most effective. While I feel I need to eliminate them I want to do it as humanely as possible, and since it is illegal to relocate them in the state of CT, the Hav-A-Heart trap presents the dilemma of having to "off them" yourself and watch them die. An animal control professional I spoke to (off the record) indicated that "electrocution" is the fastest, most humane and cleanest way to do what has to be done. Interestingly, an Ohio State University critter/pest management site I visited indicated that 10 chipmunks or more per acre is considered an infestation population. I have caught almost five times that number in two areas, so I assume I am dealing with nature being way out of balance, at least as far as the chipmunk population. If you're getting more and more desperate, try the Zapper, it has worked for me.

Holiday Eating Tips - For The Sane I hate aspects of this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but because it's the season when the food police come out with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the holidays without gaining 10 pounds. 1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college? 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can't leave them behind. You're not going to see them again. 8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, after all, have some standards. 10. And one final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.

AnneCecilia, so sorry to hear of your loss, as well. I'm glad your were at least able to move some of your original roses to have that physical reminder. I'm really interested in your knee replacement, but don't want to hijack this thread. I have a friend that REALLY "kneeds" that, but is afraid he won't have range of motion and will be in worse shape, although he's bone-on-bone at the moment. He's barely able to walk and looks at a jaunt to the garage or up stairs as a journey. I only have about 20, many new this year and in pots still. 5 New Dawn, 2 Munstead Wood, 2 Viking Queen, 2 Summer Romance, 1 Tooth Fairy, three old polys, 2 Cecile Brunners and 2 Fire Opal and 1 Dr Huey. I need more to fill out my beds, although the polys are for two small beds. I'm still in the expansion phase, but am such a researcher, it takes me forever to decide. I envy those who just see a flower and buy it!