Jan, I think I may have misled you. They do have 350 acres, but not all of it is greenhouses. I don't know the full extent of greenhouses, buildings where they do potting and propagation (where visitors are not allowed) much of it is actual farmland, but it is a huge wholesale operation with landscapers constantly loading all sizes of trucks up to flatbeds for the big trees. . Phil, my house lot is just slightly over 1/2 acre and I do have a separate lot that I spill out onto which is over 1/2 acre. Most of that is empty, but I have been planting along the road, with the only hosta there being seedlings. Mostly there are plants I get tired of, grow too big or that I can propagate easily. Kind of rough; a lot of day lilies, ivy, euonymus, vinca, some rhodies...things that need zero care. Moc, evidently you have not driven to Northern Maine or New Hampshire...it is a hike. Westport is really nice. You have the River, coves, still a lot of farms gentle slopes down to the water, harbors filled with boats, artist colony at Westport Point. Westport Town beach which used to be the old Horseneck Beach before the '53 and '54 hurricanes wiped out most of the summer places people had and the state took over those that were still standing and made Horseneck Beach Reservation. There are still remnants of the old cottages (some foundations, light columns, etc. on the reservation access roads. There is still a lot of undeveloped land around there. A lot of old memories for me and new ones as my grandson loves to go there with his 'Bumpa' and dive in the surf (can't drag him out of the water). The water is relatively warm being on the bay side. Beautiful day and there is no pollen there and my eyes stopped itching and I could even breath easier. No crowds yet, as it is just getting real warm. ...now, if only I could win Powerball and stay there.

Now that the holidays are over I am continuing counseling. I am going to do some work on trying to repress memories and experiences. We have also made the decision to have Rhiannon go to counseling, with the family changes and brother stresses it is affecting her behavivor.I am not sure if there has been abuse but that will also be addressed. Since my brother is still drinking *Friday drunken fight* but now is no longer drinking. I don't feel that I can trust his decision making ability and take that chance with my kids or family. The sad thing is my family is blaming me for his drinking and bringing up all the issues, they would prefer to keep them dirty little secrets which isn't okay with me. So keep your thouhts on me and I will keep my knockers up:) Stacie

Annie, I am fairly familiar with the case. British law on such things is different than American law, and I won't enter into all that except to say that under the British system, the burden of truth regarding public accusations against another is on the accuser. Like it or not, that is their law. I also am not even going to try and defend the actions of a howmanybillion dollar company, or pretend to know the truth behind the allegations of both sides. However, it was enlightening to me to know that the defendants were members of a fringe environmentalist organization that didn't want to affiliate itself with Greenpeace because it was "too mainstream" (Jeepers!) Also, that the fliers they were distributing made the claims that: McDonald's: * is complicit in Third World starvation; * buys from greedy rulers and elites and practices economic imperialism; * wastes vast quantities of grain and water; * destroys rainforests with poisons and colonial invasions; * sells unhealthy, addictive junk food; * alters its food with artificial chemistry; * exploits children with its advertising; * is responsible for torture and murder of animals; * poisons customers with contaminated meat; * exploits its workers and bans unions; * destroys rainforests; * hides its malfeasance.* Now. Did McDonalds overreact? React too harshly? Was McDonalds mean? I don't know. But here we are, 20 years after the fact, hearing from people who were influenced against the company by the case to the point of boycotting their products. I've never owned or had any significant financial interest in a company as big as McDonalds. But if I found out that someone here in town was distributing fliers that accused me of committing horrendous and possibly criminal practices in the course of my daily business, I would fight it. That someone not particularly educated in either law or experienced in any field related to the case made a film, apparently portraying the defendants as puny, helpless victims bullied by an Evil Mega Corp does not impress me. Biased, slanted "documentaries" are produced every day. As for being partially correct in the allegations, I suppose I could be accused of some of those things with equal accuracy. I could well be accused of being, "complicit in Third World starvation" because I eat beef on a regular basis...if I ate lentils instead, I could feed any number of starving people by sending them the money I would save. I expect that I buy from what some would consider "greedy rulers and elites" as well. I would have no defense to the charge that I waste grain and water, depending on the accuser's perspective. I water my roses...frivolous things, and shower far more often than absolutely needed. I don't know how poisons, "colonial invasions" and rainforests could be attributed to me, but then, I don't know how they could be attributed to McDonald's either. Are my contributions to church bake sales selling "unhealthy, addictive junk food?" Okay, okay, I'll quit...but you get my point, right? Likely, I'm far too sensitive on these subjects. I get itchy over attacks on "Big Evil Corporate America" because so often, we jump on the band wagon before we look into it, and so very often, the attacks have less to do with actual facts and more to do with the agendas of the attackers. This is funny, really. Here I am, speaking up for a restaurant I don't even frequent! Once every couple of years or so I drive through to grab something because I'm in a huge rush, on a road trip, whatever...and I ALWAYS regret it! The first two bites taste good because I'm hungry and after that I'm increasingly grossed out. Inevitably, I end up throwing out half my food and wonder what the heck I was thinking!

Thanks everyone - It really was amazing!!! I walked into Jolane and there was Peppi exactly as she said she would be. She's pretty much told you everything but I want to add a bit. Peppi is the first cooking forum friend I've met in real life and she was raving about some of the other friends she's met through here. If y'all are half as nice as she claims, I can't wait to meet more of you. Next time anyone is in Chicago or passing through, drop me an email and we can get together for more of this addictive kind of fun. We talked so much and had such a great time they had to kick us out - very politely of course - but then we had already been there for THREE hours!! Where did that time go? Good thing Peppi wasn't working that day - that was a very long lunch hour. I had the best girlfriend lunch ever. Most of my girlfiends are salad nibblers and forget about dessert. Peppi and I shared a delicious lunch and between the two of us we finished most of it. When we were emailing back and forth to set it all up she said something to me that just struck a chord..."Never trust a skinny cook". I'm framing it for my kitchen - it just made me feel so warm and good. Of course I can't let that be an excuse not to get to a healthier weight but it is a lovely thought :) Next time, and i know there wil definitely be one, we will take pictures and maybe I'll get brave enough to put a picture of myself on the internet. I had to run, barely made it home before the bus, but I did. Peppi did you run into the Viking shop? Just wondering if that's where you picked up that cool (hot) pepper de-seeder?