Oh, I've been making jam (only 5 jars per batch, I don't use pectin so 1/2 lb of berries per jar) every other day. Winding down now - I just came in from picking (didn't pick yesterday) and haven't weighed them but probably less than a lb. Finished making that batch started yesterday (it needs to sit a while both before and after cooking). Made 3 batches this week so 15 jars, sold 2 at market Wednesday and hope to sell a lot more next week. I don't think DS watches TV at all - unless it's a rare time when I'm not watching The Voice so he may join DH for Antiques Roadshow. And my parents have satellite, will record nature shows, country music awards shows for the kids to watch when they visit but DS is too busy to visit them often. I watch The Voice and Revolution when they're not reruns, but our antenna broke about 2 weeks ago so I had to catch the season finales online. Wouldn't you know it was just that one channel affected (though we never were able to pick up ABC so now we're down to CBS, PBS, FOX and some Spanish channels). We went to my cousin's kids' birthday party (they live next door 1 mile down the road) yesterday, he was really bored the whole 4 hours (didn't take a book) since he and DD were the oldest ones there (she's 9, he's 14). He just went for the food. He didn't ask to go home though.

OmG....Bihai...you have morel mushoom in your garden...last picture..mid to lower right corner...a golf ball looking thing... that's a morel mushroom...they are very tasty...fried them with butter....real tasty.. have a good flavor..hard to find in the wild...up here in MN.... the harvesting season is in April and only for 2 weeks.....ooohh you lucky....and chance of newbie to find it is like finding a deer in the middle of city....hard...to find....oh and btw beautifull garden......

To apriljs30: I understand that people and children will make noise, but what I live under is beyond excessive. I have used my digital recorder to prove that it is bad. I don't think anyone could keep their sanity. What you are doing is being a responsible parent. You are courteous since your children are put to bed on time and you don't have any late night parties and you are even doing your housework during the day. The people that live above me, never let their children out to play even when all of the other children are out playing. I believe that is cruel to have 4 small children prisoned in a 2-bedroom apartment. You always hear banging and a child is always crying. Without seeing anything, you cannot call DCFS on them. These children are running around and jumping on an off the furniture, to the point that I can hear all of their furniture rattling. (I have it on my recorder, numerous times) This doesn't just happen during the day, but all through the night as well. I had to go up there once at 12:30 am and again at 2am and the oldest child (about 4-5) was wide-eyed standing right next to the mother. I have numerous medications for me to be able to go to sleep and once I am asleep, it takes a bomb to go off for me to wake up or, like the 2am incident, her 4-5 son jumping on and off of her bed directly over my head. Once I am awake that is it for me, it doesn't matter what medicines are in my system and I have to work. She is on Section 8. (Sorry, I'm not trying to say that all section 8 people are like this) I have lost all of my patience and they are suppose to be moving into another apartment, at least that is what management told me. After this weekend, if they are not gone, then Building and Zoning will not only get another email from me, but also copies of my recordings. I'm done playing games with the ignorant family, the nonexistent management and going straight to the top. If they do not fix this, then Building and Zoning can fine the owners and then management has to explain why their complex isn't running as well as they thought. What you are doing is fine. Document everything just to cover your butt. Maybe they'll do what they want me to do is to move into another apartment. As for me, I was there long before she was. Why do I have to move when I've had no complaint against myself, my unit or my dog. No police has ever been called on me. She's had a few run-ins with the police in the 5 months that she has lived here. The witch has go!

I highly recommend trundle beds or a daybed with trundle for children. That way you have room to accomodate both sleepovers and out of town guests. Unfortunately you will not be able to accomodate a married couple with a double/queen bed unless you let them use your room, but I feel that separate bedrooms for opposite sex siblings are much more important as they get older.