That's the way I understand it, irish rose grower. And that's why there will be converter boxes so that our old TVs will work with the new signals. The boxes will cost about thirty dollars, so the coupons will make them almost free. Right now we've got one of the new TVs and three of the old. And most of the local TV stations broadcast in old signal AND new signal, only the new signals seem to have a problem with rainfall (which we only saw once we got rain again this winter.) This is also going to mean a change out for satellite TV. We don't have to pay an annual levy per television like some countries. But the new TVs are pricey compared to the prices the old ones have been for the past five years. Lots of decisions to be made as to what to do and when to do it/them.

Oxmyx - What can't I do? I can't cook worth a dam* - and I'm having thanksgiving! LOL. . . . I make a mean meatloaf though. . .it's mom's recipe. But otherwise - I have a hard time selling "cajun" french toast. . ."blackened" pancakes. . .doesn't fly well. . .no one believes me. I got caught on the biscuits and gravy using the Cambell's soup Sausage Gravy when they found the cans in the garbage. . . .(BUSTED!) I complained. .HEY. . you all COMPLIMENTED it. . .thought it was GOOD. . .just didn't tell you Mrs. Cambell was the one that worked her butt off on it. . .gimme a break here! (grin) I mean. . comon people. . . .pumpkin pie. . isnt' that was Mrs. Smith works her a** off for? Or what about Sara Lee. . . .shouldn't she be commended? (very sarcastic grin) Don't these women do this so we don't have to? (Can't you tell Thanksgiving is gonna be a bomb at my house? ) LOL. . . .

>grow and eat a lot of "pumpkins" --- it seems to be the vegetable of choice, in fact. I am dying to know what a Botswana pumpkin is --- Pumpkins are eaten throughout Africa, Zabby. In the southern part of the continent, the pumpkins are most often what are locally called "calabaza", which is a small, white, sweet pumpkin. Butternut squash actually substitutes for it better than any of our "pumpkins." As in: South African Pumpkin Fritters 5 cups cooked calabaza (or butternut) 2 cups grated raw calabaza (or butternut) 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup flour 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 1 egg, lightly beaten Oil for deep frying Cinnamon sugar, for dusting Put the cooked pumpkin in a mixing bowl, mash it with a fork, and set aside. Blanch the grated pumpkin by briefly dipping in boiling water. Drain it and add to the mashed pumpkin. Add the baking powder, flour, ground cinnamon, salt and egg to the mixture and beat until it is smooth. Heat oil for deep frying (375F). When hot, drop the batter, a tablespoonful at at time. Be careful not to place too many in the oil at once. ook the fritters until golden brown on each side, turning once. Drain on absorbent paper. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve warm. Variation: Add a pinch of lemon zest, a grating of nutmeg, and a tbls sugar to the batter before frying. >I once heard that the cans of pumpkin in the grocery store was actually winter squash - butternut, in fact. Most cans merely say "pumpkin" nowadays. But the most often used squash for canning actually are Hubbards, with Cushaws running a close second. Butternuts are considered by most canners to be too small to fuss with.

We're just weeks from moving into our new house, but we built in 2001 and I've reproduced the things I loved most about that house in the new one. I'm one who loves deep drawers -- I kept my daily dishes -- heavy stoneware -- in one and my shoulders appreciated not having to lift them into a wall cupboard. I hated the two "door" cabinets I had because I had to sit on the floor to dig things out. The new kitchen is almost all drawers -- and the two door cupboards have pullouts this time. Full extension drawers -- wouldn't be without them. Under cabinet lighting -- ditto. The best quality cabinets you can afford. It's easy to fall in love with a look and sacrifice quality. Resist the temptation. For me, a fridge with a freezer on the bottom. The apartment we're in while building has a top freezer and I curse it every time I have to stand on my head to get something out. My old fridge was a single door, bottom freezer -- I loved it. The new one is a FD bottom freezer. I hope I like the FD as much as my DS and DDIL do. I know I'm WAY in the minority here, but I've had a ceiling fan in every kitchen since 1977, and I can't imagine not having it. I thought long and hard before sacrificing snazzy over-the-island pendants for a pedestrian fan and light -- but I love having cooling breezes while I'm cooking. The snazzy pendants are going over the sink. We loved our island in the last house, but found it a bit too small when entertaining. The one in the new house is more of a continent. I'm almost embarrassed . . . but we'll never find it too small!! Have fun planning! The link below has a lot of great ideas . . . Here is a link that might be useful: Maybe more than you wanted to know!