Here is a better angle picture that makes this mystery plant look more tree-ish than vine-ish. I am thinking maybe it is a young red mulberry (?).

Y'all remenber....the huge threat with this cold front is the very intense wind chill. Earlier, the NWS said the wind chills would be so low that any exposed skin could develop frostbite in 30 minutes or less. So, based on that, I understand all the closings. When Tim left for work this afternoon, he did everything the NWS recommended....extra clothing, a heavy blanket in the car in case you become stranded, a full tank of gas, drinks and snacks, etc.....and he was headed south! Of course, by he time his shift ends and he's headed north, the cold front will have come through here already. They told us this would be a moderate El Nino and we'd see modest changes in our weather...basically slightly colder weather and a little more precip than usual. Based on what we've seen since....well, let's say mid-December, I think they are wrong and this may end up being a severe El Nino. Who needs El Nino anyway? LOL Paula, You be careful tomorrow. I think you'll be out in weather so cold it will hurt. What's wrong with those folks at the FAA anyway---putting y'all at risk in one of the worst cold spells we've had in years? Quailhunter, Woo hoo! A day off. Too bad the weather won't be nice enough to let you work in the garden. I'm pretty sure nothing will close this far south unless the forecast freezing drizzle actually falls and coats roadways or power lines or something. Or, since Marietta's old water lines in town break at the drop of a hat, I guess if a water line that carries water to a school broke, then they might cancel classes. I also expect a lot of marginally hardy plants won't make it through this cold. What can you do though? You choose plants that are supposed to be able to handle the average lowest temps in zone 7 or zone 6, and then your plants get hit by below-average temperatures and wind chills and they may not survive it. Dawn

Heehee! I know about the "tomato lists". But, we all have good intentions. It's just hard not to make them "gooder"..... Today, I noticed the currants are starting to really turn, so not much longer for them. Also, the Burpee Super Beefsteak and Rutgers are turning as well. The cherries are a bit behind (Black and Supersweet 100), so I don't know what's gonna happen with them. Whatever, I have decided to just harvest what I can when we get a freeze warning, which, as you say, could be any day now. The fall tomatos were just so gorgeous, and much nicer than the spring ones. But, I only started out with the Rutgers and Jet Star (it bit the dust in August), and a later planting in May of the Supersweet 100. By that time, it was too late for the Supersweet 100 to really set many tomatos - the heat was on. The fall planting I did in July did great and those are the ones that look soooo good right now. I'm happy with the container soil I've mixed, the fertilizer I used - I will increase how often I fertilizer next year. Happy with the watering I did - not overwatering cuz I do have a heavy hand in general. Happy with the containers I use, but do intend to purchase some grow bags in 20 gallon size, but will still keep to 8 (okay, okay, maybe 9 or 10) plants. I've really enjoyed growing tomatos much more than I thought I ever would, with an eye toward growing them for me, anyways, and not the hornworms. Altho the hornworms still have their place in the garden, it's just on the Datura now and not the tomatoes, so we're all happy. I did grow pots of basil around the plants, and it did seem to help with some of the pests. The grasshoppers did not touch the tomatoes, no white flies, no flying anything except for the happy little honeybees, bumble bees and skippers, that loved the Basil blooms. Did have some problems with the beet armyworms and the tomato fruitworms, but they remained manageable by handpicking and damaged only very few fruits. All in all, container growing worked out very well for me and I look forward to next year's growing season. Susan

I think that Ellendi likes to make her own dressings...I know that I do. The flavor is worth it for the five or ten minutes it takes to whip up a favorite dressing. We're leaving town today for a few days so I didn't want to do much cooking last night. Or eating. I always eat light before and during a long drive. Anyway, we had kabobs with chicken, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, with some brown rice.