I vote for the weekend before, one can never tell how warm it is going to be, and it hasn't been a cold or wet winter, so spring may just be here waaayyyy early. Suggestion- put your name on a tag on each plant you bring to swap. Then everyone knows where their new plant is from and can contact that person for growing info. Plus, people like me who just cannot remember where/who I got something from will not have any excuses! :) We also need to determine what to do with plants that are not traded. People came and went at various times during the fall swap and the last people ended up taking all the odds and ends that didn't get new homes and didn't get to go back home. Some kind of plan is needed for this area too. Any suggestions? Susie

Cream of Broccoli/Cheddar Soup Large head of broccoli, chopped; or 2 boxed frozen-cook till tender crisp, drain Meanwhile, make the roux Saute in soup pot: 1 stick butter, 1 small to medium onion, chopped fine Cook till onion is clear Sprinkle 1/2 C flour over mix, stir constantly till flour smell is gone. Abt. 3-5 mins. Add: 2 C milk a little at a time, stirring constantly. I use a whisk to get it lump free Blend in: 2 C shredded sharp cheddar till melted Add: 1 Qt. chicken stock a little at a time Add: broccoli Season with salt and pepper to taste (I use white pepper) Cook on low heat for abt. 15 mins, stir frequently to keep from sticking. Do not cover. Serve with a sprinkling of cheese and/or bacon bits Goes really well with Pumpernickle rye or Hawaiian bread and a glass or two of wine. We want comfort, right? I use 2% milk which I warm in the microwave, reduced fat cheddar when I can find it, Brummel & Brown spread instead of butter. I also add Julienne cut carrots (1 large). Sometimes I saute them with the onions. Sometimes I cook them with the broccoli. I've also added cut up cooked chicken. Use a flat bottom pot for best results...keeps the roux from burning/sticking

Thanks for all the tips and the links, I'll look at them in detail. We called the management office today, and, not surprisingly, they acted, as always, as if this will never happen again. Apparently he has been told that if this happens again he will loose his job. We are very worried that he will have another party on New Year's though, and thus asked for a phone number from someone in the office that we could call who could call the super in turn if he is having another party. Of course they said they couldn't so that. We have drafted a letter to the office addressed to the landlord of (address). We will send that out before New year's probably. I also have a lawyer contact now, and have yet to call the housing court. I will keep you all up to date on what is happening. I am afraid of approaching other tenants in the building. Perhaps lots of the tenants go to these parties, and if I speak to the wrong person, I may get myself into something I might not get out of. The refreshing thing though is that when we called this morning they said that yesterday they already had many calls about the party. I am only worried that their "consoling" seems to be an emerging pattern. Oh, I have also found another contact: The NYC Central Complaint Bureau. I'll look into all of this.

If you are looking for a field...and dirt, all you have to do is look across our back yard! LOL =) You will see LOTS of fields, lots of corn and LOTS of dirt!! You can even get your picture taken in a corn field!!! lol We are on the Very edge of town (if you couldn't guess), so, you can sit in the city and look at the countryside...which is usually a cornfield and by about this time of year, I can't wait for it to get harvested so I can SEE something again! I sure hope you can make it, it would be WONDERFUL!!!