Sherry: You inspired me to hunt for acorns today. I went to a place where there are condos and lots of trees. In less than an hour, I collected several ziploc bags of acorns and a bag of hickory nuts. I took a camera so I could do what you did (take photos of the oaks) but this place hires people to blow leaves (and acorns) off the roads so you don't really know which acorns came from which tree. I've gone through my tree ID books but still have questions. Alabama: Thanks for the advice about soaking acorns. I need to figure out which are red oaks v. white oaks so I can get the white oaks planted ASAP. One group look like the acorns Sherry posted above. * Longleaf Pines Alabama: Our county forester is coming to do a site visit on Wednesday re: longleaf pines. (yeah!!!) Although the VA state nursery didn't offer longleaf seedlings this year as planned, he said he can get seedlings - I need to decide how many I need. After I learn more, I may post on the Conifers forum - this is such an important issue in the Southeast. Last month, Virginia had a two day conference about re-establishing longleaf pines. I'll bet the same thing is going on all over this region. I'll always be grateful to you for telling me (and showing me) longleaf pines. I'm hooked. Take care, Pam

All I know is that if the Government didn't take my money, from me and spend it on things they invent, I would spend it on me, and maybe put my neighbor to work. If the problem is all the stuff we buy comes from overseas, then look at the why the Government allows unbalanced trade, and also why any American company would have an advantage to move production overseas. It just seems that no matter what the problem, the government can't fix it, because at some level, they created it. OK, the FBI is knocking at my door, gotta go! lol George

Annie - I also was going to suggest New Mexico, as it didn't appear on your list. That looks to me like a very good tour by Taucks - it covers exactly the places i would suggest, Taos, Bandelier, Georgia O'Keeffe's homestead, the pueblos... It would also be nice to have the lectures and special visits that come with the trip. However, NM is a state very oriented towards visitors, and is easy to navigate by yourselves, especially if you explore it on the internet and do some reading in advance. Santa Fe, e.g., has some gorgeous inns and hotels, and excellent restaurants with varied cuisines, not to mention a stunning collection of art galleries (do not go to this city without a credit card). Several years ago DH and I made a special trip to NM to spend a week in Los Alamos, as DH is beyond fascinated by the story of Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project. We had a great time, searched out his house, visited the fascinating museum, explored the unique bookstores, drove along the perimeter of the National Laboratories - a huge area, and drove to various pueblos and Bandelier while there. That could be a good overnight for someone interested in the story of the Project. But the tour also looks fine. I also second the suggestion of Israel (where I lived for several years), a tiny country, the size of New Jersey, with an incredibly diverse population, and an excellent sense of preservation of historic sites, ranging from 5,000+ years ago up to the present, and very friendly people who like Americans.

Phyllo I can handle, but rarely use it because it ends up with such a high fat content. It is good, though. I shold have taken a photo of my misshsapen rolls so all could have a good belly laugh. Like Annie, I have taken to layering instead of rolling for those kinds of things. I dont even make stuffed pasta anymore. My husbands Italian grandmother took to making her ravioli as big squares. The family called it her "sidewalk ravioli". I know why she did that. What a lot of work! Poor old grandma was cooking for the entire big family and I dont know how she managed in her tiny kitchen in her tiny apartment acorss the water from New York City. I dont know how she found the energy to do all of that. And, even though I saw it happen, I dont know how we got more that a dozen people around that small table . I do know that grandma never got to sit down and enjoy because she was too busy making sure all we eating. How did she do that? There are so many good things to eat that I am going to stick with those that are less labor intensive. I cant get that feel of rubbery nothingness out of my mind from those rice wrappers. No thanks. Now, if you fry them, that may be a different story. Just about everything tastes better fried. But, I dont do that, at all. Again, way too messy and not a very healthy option. I am not above ordering them at the restaurant.