I've pointed out, fatherly-like, to my kids that windfall apples, if they're not bruised but have that single, black hole of a bug going in, but not going out, that if they bite on the other side of the apple, they get to eat most of a ripe apple a lot sooner than they normally would, since the under-ripe ones are still on the tree, and the bug thats in the apple causes the apple to ripen up. And, they're organic. The bugs, and the apples. There is a lot to be said for leaving a thick lawn under an apple tree.

Yes, there is alot of estrogen in my house. To top that, I am a teacher. Most of the teachers at my school are female. We also have 45 female chickens. At least the cat is male! In my High Tunnel I am growing these varieties, Big Beef, Estiva, Celebrity (3), Rutgers (1), Florida 91, BHN 640, Lemon Boy, Mountain Gold, Orange Blossom, Pineapple and Cherokee Purple. The Celebrity and Rutgers were to replace a few that froze. I ran out of replacements and I didn't want to waste any space. I have had lots of comments at my markets from people who read the article. Lots of opportunities have also came up. Someone who offered the use of a commercial kitchen for my Jellies, Someone who wants to buy tomatoes from the University, Someone who wants to sell my Jellies in their store, Someone who wants to come out and visit. Thanks for all the kind words, it is just want I needed to hear to go out and finish digging my last 80 foot row of potatoes, and pick 250 feet of green beans.

Ohh, I wish I could return to Newfoundland. We circumnavigated it in a leisurely, stop and go way ten years or so ago. Our trip was typical of my planning. I like to go to the ends of things. I only regret that I didn't insist we take the ferry to Labrador. Our only planned stay was several days at Tickle Inn, which a woman on the ferry to the island had told us about. As did others who have commented here, we absolutely loved the island. My most vivid memories of life on "the rock" was the garden art--whirligigs, gnomes, other critters--that replaced perennial borders and rose gardens. And the memory of the sight and sound of them makes me smile. OH, and the little vegetable gardens along the road where the fill from road-making made fertile soil deep enough for gardens one after another, set off by string and twigs, maintained by people who lived miles away. And the cottages clad in beautiful pastel pinks, blues, and greens that lined the coast. As does the gentleman at Tickle Inn who proudly showed us his wood shop, and, in answer to my question about his favorite season said, "Winter." I must have gaped. He explained that spring was sodden muck, summer was hot and mosquito ridden, fall was also inhospitable, but in winter, with his snowmobile, he could go anywhere. He also told us about a polar bear, having crossed the frozen sea from Labrador in midwinter, that stood up, peered through, and pushed in the high windows in the dining room, then wandered off while he crouched down inside, gun ready if the beast came into the house, but hoping desperately that it wouldn't. And the several locals who invited us into their homes for tea and dessert, for conversation and sharing. I hope you can return soon. Thank you for evoking memories I treasure.

bossyvossy is on to something. Maybe it is time to change out the carpet & padding. I would take that suggestion. Honestly, when I've lived in apartments, people walking around didn't bother me. It was actually a bit comforting when I was a new momma & my husband was out of town or at work nights. It was nice to know someone was upstairs. I have a two story house now, and sometimes I hear the kids upstairs walking around. Of course that doesn't bother me. The ONLY thing that bothered me with someone living above me in an apt. was a guy that used to play his guitar really loud. Just any loud music. Not even the tv bothered me if I ever heard it. Just the boom, boom, boom of music. Luckily this younger generation would rather listen to music, watch tv/laptops/tablets/phones with earphones. Maybe your neighbors just need to rent/buy a house or something if they can't get used to hearing someone walking above them. You never know what bothers people. You could cook hamburgers and they might complain about the smell.....hang in there :)