Carol, They are ready. I've already picked twice, but I used the first two rounds (small numbers like 4 to 6 peppers each time) to make some hotter-than-usual Annie's Salsa. My plants have been heavily loaded with green habs forever and ever. When we came back from the fires yesterday and I saw the pepper plants had wilted, I noticed a lot of the green habs had turned orange. Prior to that, I had to crouch down and look underneath the foliage to check them, but with the wilt, they were right there in the open for easy viewing. The habs wilted more than the jalapenos. Their foliage was limp, limp, limp, and a lot of it revived in late evening after heavy watering, but some did not. One reason I picked as many orange ones as I did is that I was worried about sunscald on the wilted plants, and even though it was 105 degrees, the humidity was 21% so it didn't feel that bad out there. I have enough ingredients cut up and prepared in advance, and frozen, for six batches of Habanero Gold---except for the habs, which I'll be cutting up this morning after I make some food for the firefighters. I've been stockpiling dried apricots for a while. I have 3 bags from CostCo in addition to the 6 batches already diced and ready. I did the prep on a day when I was canning something else because that's when I had the red sweet bell peppers (they were purchased). The only Habanero pepper I plant now is 'Chichen Itza' because it is much earlier--maybe by three weeks--than the O-P habaneros, and the peppers usually are about twice as big as those on OP habanero plants. I believe I harvested the first ripe habs righ around July 4th. I am sure the habs will wilt today, so likely will run out there in a few minutes after I get a batch of something in the oven, and put up the shade cloth over the peppers. We are starting to have fires, so I need to get busy making the Habanero Gold as soon as I can. The sooner I start, the sooner I'll have enough jars done that I won't worry and fret if this summer's fire season is like last summer's. Since it is starting later, maybe it won't be as bad. Chris' department fought a very difficult brush fire (50 acres of burning trees, including tons of cedar) last night in Grapevine and he is driving home totally exhausted. I think the fire trouble down here is just beginning. Now that the habs are turning orange, I notice some of the sweet bells also are coloring up orange and red and gold, so maybe I won't have to buy any red sweet bells from this point forward. I did get a good deal on them. CostCo had bags of six very large red sweet bells for under $6.00 a couple of weeks ago, so I bought them and cut them up and froze some for Hab Gold and used the others in the Habanero Annie's Salsa. At the time I bought the 2 bags of red sweet bells for roughly $12.00 for 12 peppers, our Wal-Mart was charging $1.78 each for red sweet bells. This week I think they were $1.48 each, so CostCo is still beating them on the price. I haven't looked in Sam's Club for red sweet bells. We usually go to CostCo because our animals like their store brand of dog food, which is a high-quality pet food similar to Science Diet, and they have a few other things that Sam's doesn't have. I love CostCo. Dawn

Sorry to hear about your cold temperatures! I have a fairly small greenhouse here in Indiana and I heat with natural gas. I got my 'furnaces' from Southern Burner and wouldn't trade them for anything. They can run on either natural gas or on a propane tank and require NO electricity. They do have a pilot light, but the thermostat kicks them on without electricity. There have been times when our electricity was out (we are rural) and I would have lost all my plants with any other heater. I have had two furnaces for 9 years and have had no maintenance issues. They resist rusting well. You can buy vented (requires a chiimney) or unvented, which might be fine since you wouldn't use it all the time. Be careful, though, with unvented...some plants like orchids can drop buds badly if you let them breathe too much exhaust! As far as plant damage, my prediction is you won't have any. I regularly leave all kinds of tropical plants outside until ALMOST the first frost date. A few, like bananas, will show yellowing of the leaves, but only after a week of low temps. Most of my bromeliads will take right down to 32. I can't think of any tropical plants of mine that have ever been hurt with a single drop to 40 degrees. Hope your plants are all fine...why don't you post in a week or two and let us know? Good luck with your choice of heaters. I would consider propane before I'd have a wood burner in my greenhouse, but that' s a personal choice. Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Burner Greenhouses

QOD: Youngest DD went to a friend's house to spend the night. 2nd youngest DD had a summer slumber party here-I don't know why they call it that; no one sleeps and she has a party to go to today! 15 y.o DD was out last night with 18 y.o. BF - he now has his own apartment whcih she likes to visit. She starts pilot ground school today 8-6 for the next few Saturdays and Sundays. Oldest DD got a job running projectors at the local movie house, so she was working the last couple nights till 3 a.m. w/ the "Pirates" openings? I haven't yet. Me, I'm walking dogs, watering lawns, studying philosophy, ethics, and moral obligations, topped off with a load of meteorology and LOTS of laundry and weeding! I am going to spend an hour in my office as well--cleaning! DH is taking the bar study course 24/7, so things are running smoothly around here, really. GOOD LUCK, ERICA!!! Pictures, please! You are our "SS Daily Queen" mascot EVERY DAY! Zig~ Hope the funeral was okay for you. Those things are tough, but bring people together---and that's a good thing. Dee- Good to hear you're continuing the walking, but sorry about the pain of all. Syill thinking of your co-worker and her DH... Donna~ Did you get to go out to dinner? Raeanne: The questions on the body shape quiz didn't give many options for answers. I was an hourglass too, but have never thought of myself this way---I really think I have a boy's shape, sort of squarish w/ large shoulders. I was wondering how much stock to put in that quiz. Work-outs with enough weight to cause a fair amount of resistance is a great way to prevent bone disease and just plain be healthier---so I'm foregoing the femmy looks for that. Besides, as I get older, I sort of want to look like I can kick some @ss---lol!!! As well, I have really enjoyed increasing the weight at the gym from time to time--POWER! John-cats yet? Besh-CONGRATS on the 2.6 at WW Friday!!!!!!!!! I read about you unpacking your canvas bags and had to laugh---I have the same deal after an outting! Sounds like your weekend is FULLLLLLLLL! Be good! Milkdud~ What kind of swimming do you do? I've been hitting the pool for low key water walking twice a week. It's just a nice way for me to mellow out really. Maddie! Let us know how the Tedster's concert is. We are going to see Kenny Loggins in August at Saint Michelle Winery--1/2 hour from our house--so beautiful out there. Good luck on Monday's interview---I didn't catch what kind of business you're interviewing for... NHSuzanne~ You are so lucky to live where you do. Haven't heard you talking about DH and his sons lately...how's that going? Marci~ Cookie Lady! Good luck--taste and walk, taste and walk! It's sunny here---RARE, so I better finish my indoor stuff so I can get outdoors! Make this weekend a good one! Has anyone seen "The Inconvenient Truth?" (The Al Gore movie) and Has anyone seen "Pirates of the Carribean?" I haven't seen either but want to.

Thank you, Phoggie! I'm in southern Ohio. It's a matter of conservation--of natural resources, and my financial resources. ;) My bedroom is in an addition that can easily be closed off, and since I don't spend much time in it during the day, I don't bother to keep it warm. Also, I've read that one sleeps better in cooler rooms. I really don't notice the cold before I drop off to sleep. If I happen to wake up cold during the night, I can push the button on the mattress warmer, for a little shot of summertime. If I, or someone else in my family, needed warmer temps because of illness, I'd crank up the thermostats. My parents kept the house we grew up in on the cooler side, --that's where I learned to dress in layers. We didn't have air conditioning, either. jemdandy's story sounds very familiar. When my kids were younger we used to camp out in cold weather, often when snowflakes were flying. Those days are definitely over for me!