I agree that HGTV is getting pretty boring. Way too many shows about interior spaces, and not near enough outdoor shows. I believe this has been discussed a few times in this forum, and there have been several letters written to HGTV in the past. I don't know what is takes to get them to change their programming. I have to admit, I get a real kick out of the comments about Paul James. In the past people have commented on how much they like him. He might be a very nice guy, but I have always thought his show was pretty bad television. I couldn't stand that every show was Paul rolling on the ground, making goofy faces, playing with his dog, etc. How boring! They ought to call the show, The Paul James playing in his backyard show! I ask you, how many interesting shows can you make about one nutty guy getting silly in his yard? I would watch reruns of a Gardeners Diary any day. Now that is an interesting show. You get to visit a new garden every week, and meet and talk about gardening with people that are passionate about their gardens. I miss is sooo much.

Hello Susan; You should have said something during your birthday month. I know some lobstermen and I also know some people who have FedEx accounts. I probably could have taken care of your lobster fix. They have become expensive now and will be until the middle of July because they are molting now and do not move around much so the catch dries up. End of July, beginning of August, remind me, I will check it out and let you know. They can be sent live and will live 24 hours or can be cooked and sent and will last much longer. We can talk about it. On a much more exciting note, I recieved a wonderful box from Nancy (cedarnest) today. It had lots of bulbs and a beautiful decorative plate. I did not have a chance to disect it because we were rushing out the door to get on our new boat. That nearly turned disasterous as the engine died out in the Atlantic and Bush arrived today so the Coast Guard first told us they were too busy to come and help. The company we have contracted with to assist us in just such an emergency refused to come because of an approaching storm. The story goes on and on sounding worse by the minute but then some friends we called said they would come tow us in, the coast guard called back and said they were sending a 47 foot boat out and a third boat showed up with a backyard mechanic on board who fixed out engine as our friends arrived to tow us in. We did not see the Coast Guard, they did not make it in time and we did make it home under our own power with our friends following in case we had trouble. Needless to say it was almost dark by the time we arrived home and the storm never materialized (thank God) but I made myself a drink and dinner and came to visit. I think I am getting too old for this. The only good news is that was the third life threatening situation for DH. He tipped his kayak about six weeks ago and I had to drag his butt and kayak to shore, then he crashed in an airplane but no injuries and finally we bobbed along in a dead boat in the Atlantic for two hours this evening. He keeps trying to say we were never in any danger but I think he is nuts. I am on drink number two so please pardon grammer and spelling. I will end this now. I am well but very tired. Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks again Nancy. diene

>Heavy black was worn for so many months, followed by 'half-mourning' for another length of time. Letters and envelopes and hankies had black borders round them, widows wore special 'mob-caps' and 'widows weeds'. Young people couldn't attend parties, weddings were held-over. I've heard many stories about these rules, and always thought they were hard hearted. People all grieve differently at different times. Setting up a set of rules and keeping people from enjoying life for a year just seems cruel. Tho perhaps the routine of the rules helped, much in the same way that people in mourning often return to work sooner than later, for it gives them some structure and reason to get up for the day. That being said, We follow rules of mourning in Judaism, and I am so used to them that I almost dont think of them as rules. You sit shiva for 7 days - you don't leave the house, you don't work, you let others serve you and feed you, take care of the kids, deal with relatives and such. Then each Friday for a year, you attend service to say Kaddish (mourners prayer). There is also a service at the end of the first month (and I can't for the life of me remember the reason for it...)At the end of a year you have a service at the graveside. I like the pattern of knowing what comes next, what to expect, and the slow way that you are encouraged to re-enter the world. Doesn't mean grieving is over in a year of course. Just a way of structuring the mourning a little. > He never understood how people could talk casually and even laugh at them I was 19 when dad died. After the funeral, we all were at our home to sit shiva. I remember running to my room in tears, because all of the family and friends were standing around talking and laughing. I couldn't stand it. It took me awhile to realize that such talk is what is done to share memories and bring comfort. But I don't think I left my room till most people left. I cry at movies and books, but otherwise am pretty unsentimental in real life. So I was sure I would be fine at my wedding. Everything was going fine, no major stress, I was happy and excited, and then my sis put a kleenex in with my bouquet. Told her, I don't need it. She only smiled. Well, as soon as I kissed my mom (who walked me down the aisle) and took my grooms hand, that was all she wrote. I was sniffling most of the service....

Haha, Larry! That sounds like me. . . not sure what I'm growing, but looks like plenty. The red mustard cracks me up. Just popped up here and there--in the original bed and out of the bed. I've been brining some pork lately. We're having a hard time finding loin and even tenderloin that's not tough. I've about decided to stick with pork shoulder roasts. Frankly, I think the taste is superior to the others. Happy second Thanksgiving. I was a bit worried about counter space, Amy. I measured carefully. But then I thought, "What can I get off these counters that doesn't need to be on them. Actually was room where the toaster and coffee pot are. The toaster will be gone anyway because of the toaster oven, . . And that's a corner of the counter space that had plenty of room where the toaster was. PLUS I moved some other stuff off the other counter space next to the fridge and then on either side of the stove. I'm excited about the electricity we'll save--really, used the stove almost every day. And for two people--awfully big stove for just two people. I guess you know now I'll NEVER make it to a Vitamix. Or to a nice Kitchenaid mixer. Besides, those things would take up serious counter space, too. Do you like the piricicaba? How does the taste compare to heading types? I think I might like to try it, depending on your opinion. I'm a little jealous about all your greens, Larry and Amy, which I think is nuts, considering I'm not that crazy about greens. But with the new scare with romaine, I can definitely see the appeal of growing one's own greens. And since I don't have any big plans for the garden, I guess I'll plant a bunch of greens. HJ. . . I would think Dispelling Wetiko would be perfect for Oregon! My kids in Mpls have talked about how much they love that area--and how beautiful much of Oregon is. I've only been on the coast, not inland. I got a chuckle about kolaches/klobasnek/sausage rolls this morning. I was all excited about trying them out, Danny, so was looking at recipes specifically with the crescent roll dough. It seemed to me they might be a little crispier fixed that way? Are they? One of the bakeries in town sells sausage rolls. We get the jalapeno sausage ones. BUT. I have kind of a love/hate relationship with them. I can't love the soft roll-like quality. I start out liking them (with mustard), and by the time I finish one, I decide I don't like them. I tried crisping one up in the skillet, and liked it much better. But found a really good-looking recipe--they used ground sausage and mixed it with cream cheese. I might experiment a bit. Why I chuckled was that when I got up this morning (slept in until 8:30), Garry had left me a note that he was on a trip to town for sausage rolls. He must have felt the vibe. Okay. . . to work!