Edie, it is hard for many. Our society doesn't tend to give us enough contact with the complete process of animal husbandry. But if one is going to raise chickens, eventually, practicality will call for killing one; that is, unless they are pets. If one has to kill, it is better not to waste. That's the how and why I learned to produce my own meat. This is a bit off topic, but for anyone who butchers an older bird: remember to cook it LOW and SLOW. Even the oldest bird can be tender and succulent if cooked right. I just finished reading this book straight through, which is the last thing I usually do when "reading" a book like this. The last chapter, on corn, is worth the price of the entire book. Actually, the recipes in this book are worth the price of the entire book. Carol Deppe has the most unique recipes, things like how to make a sandwich bread using only corn flour, or what corns make the best polenta and how to use polenta in place of rice or noodles, in various dishes. Carol discusses strategies for maintaining pure corn seed, even if there are other corn growers around you. And, she discusses how to know that your seed is not contaminated with GMO germplasm. She has the most in depth, yet practical discussion of corn genetics which I've seed, even telling how one can grow sister varieties in an environment with some cross pollination and yet still keep them practically pure. Carol has experimented widely with the flavors of corns and how they flavors are affected by the pigmentation of the different parts of the kernel. For instance, I never knew that different colors of corn make for distinct flavors of meal or flour. Finally (for me, at the moment, anyway) Carol discusses the production and consumption of true parched corn. I didn't realize that true parched corn is made from only flour corn. What I've learned, just about parched corn, will probably have a major impact on our lives, as I'm sure my wife and I will want to produce and consume the stuff. It is supposed to be delicious and usable as a staple food item. Now for me, the problem is, how am I going to raise any more corn? Happy reading/gardening George Here is a link that might be useful: Corn for Meal & Grits 2

Dawn - I am sure you are right about the fall being better for the broc and other cole crops. My problem is that I just don't remember to start them. In 2005 I had wonderful spring broccoli. This year the plants look fantastic, and when it started to head, it looked very good, but then I noticed the head was starting to spread rather than grow bigger. Maybe we will just have to enjoy the side shots. Remind we when it is time to start seeds and maybe I will get it done. To all of you who have had nice things to say about my container garden, I appreciate the compliments, but must tell you that this is my first success. I tried one tomato and one pepper in a pot a few years back and wasn't happy with the results. I knew there had to be things I didn't know about growing in pots. Since we tend to have very wet spring weather, and frequently have cold weather following several weeks of warm weather, I felt I needed to learn to do it. I spent this winter reading the container forum (mostly from Mr. Tapla) then asked Dawn several questions to make sure it would be applicable to our climate. Last year a nursery went out of business here and they auctioned off the buildings and supplies. I forgot about it and just happened to drive by. When I stopped, they had already auction off the greenhouse plastics and pots and such. Most of the pots were still on pallets and marked sold. I started asking around and found the man who had bought them. He agreed to sell me some. Eventually he offered to give them to me, which of course, I couldn't let him do. At any rate, I gave him what he had paid, which was next to nothing, and I got the pots. They are just cheap nursery pots, but they are containers and will grow plants. Many of them are small like the peppers are in, but there were probably 50 or 60 larger ones. Since then I have also acquired 4 VERY large pots also. Then came the potting mix. I have been mixing my own and although it makes a large batch, a pot the size a tomato needs takes a lot of mix. That is why you see a lot of different sized plants in my collection. I just plant them as I get things mixed up and can pot them up. Because it is mid-May, I keep thinking I should almost have tomatoes. I must keep reminding myself that I live in northern Oklahoma now. I am only about 40 miles from Joplin MO. I am happy with my container results so far, but my in-ground garden is "the pits". I have learned a lot about container gardening, and continue to learn. We will see just how successful I am when it is time to harvest. It has been a lot of work, but has been fun. I tease George (macmex) a lot about growing everything but I really think he is on the right track. I think we are approaching a time when home production will take on new importance. As I watched the wheat problem last year, I tried to warn people that wheat, flour, and baked goods were going to be very expensive this year. I will issue another warning now. Much of the rice crop in Arkansas didn't go in at the normal time because of all rain and flooding. My husband (whose father was a rice farmer) told me that they will likely plant a faster maturing rice than normal this year. So while cereal may not suffer, table rice is likely to. Grains keep for a long time if stored properly. I will probably never grow all of my own food, but I want to know HOW to grow all of it. It is just my personality. I have a lot of allergies and one of them involves red dye. I like natural foods and especially the ones I can grow myself. I have diabetes, so it is important for we to watch what I eat. Over 20 years ago, I was involved in an automobile accident and sustained a broken back. The doctor told my husband that I might never walk again. They did some bone grafting on my spine and put me together with two pencil size steel rods down my spine that are 9 and 1/2 inches long. I not only can walk, but I can do a lot of other things as well. I may have to do them differently, but so be it. My lifting limit is about 40 pounds which just happens to be the weight of all of the components in the potting mix I make. My husband helps me mix, because I find that a little difficult. We make a garbage can of mix at a time and I fill my pots as I need them. He just retired so he is now home to help me. I will never be the kind of gardener that Dawn and George are, and probably some others of you are, but I do know a few things, and I am still learning. If the pictures stop, then you will know I proved the Peter Principle, and something did go wrong. At some point it will probably exceed my ability or my energy. First thing this morning, I picked fresh lettuce to use for my lunch salad, so maybe I can help to feed us and still enjoy my gardening. I hope I never stop learning. I find that life is a lot like gardening, and we "reap what we sew". There are just so many things to learn and do. Being an Air Force wife, and a government employee for many years, I have traveled a lot and lived a number of places. I have watched how people live in this country and others. Regardless of the problems in our country, I am proud to be an American. People will probably not stop being wasteful as long as they have plenty to waste. It is too bad that we don't make better use of our resources. All of you who grow your own food and help to take care of nature, are a good example for people to follow. I don't know any of you personnaly, but I feel like I do, because we share the love of gardening and taking care of the earth.

the last time i baked a chocolate something, it was sol's version of MLCs. OMG is close to the right description... if that chocolate budino is anything close, i'd suggest you make a batch specifically for your poor mother in law, SS. not a doubt in my mind she'd be feeling much better, very quickly! best wishes to you both! (and did you change addies? i sent a note a few weeks ago but i'm not at all sure it got through to you...)

I have a lot of copycats in my family, they do everything we do, we purchased a new car like 4-5 years ago and a lot of people in my family went and purchased new cars, we have a projector/movie theater/family room and a 100in screen, they want to copy our movie theater idea, my neighbors as soon as they saw we purchased brand new stainless steel appliances, they went and purchased brand new appliances, they are lucky my husband and i love them and see them like family hahaha! Now this one is on another level, i really got mad over the following events: When i got engaged 6 years ago (I have been married for 5 years already) they all went and purchased similar rings to mine, and a girl that DH and i know COPIED my ring, YES, MY RING, SAME EXACT RING!!!! I was so upset!!!!