A-Hem. Well...since you asked.... *grin*.... A VERY long time ago- about, oh, 18 years or so - I was at a slumber party with a couple of friends. We were roasting marshmallows on a bonfire, out in the front yard. And, since this was out in the sticks (and I mean...WAY out in the sticks, the closest neighbor was 5 miles away, and the closest neighbor to THEM was 5 miles away......ANYHOO....pardon, too many brownies, My mind tends to wander....) SOOOO....this was out in the sticks, and there were chickens running around in the yard. Poor, helpless, defenseless chickens. Lots and lots of chickens. So there we were, using old wire coat hangers (unfolded, of course) to roast marshmallows. Then, the unthinkable, un-avoidable, and totally a waste of good marshmallow happens. My marshmallow caught fire. And I don't mean *fire*. I mean....FLAMING, INCINERATING, little-ball-of-DEATH type fire. Yay. Naturally, I'm calm and collected....while the other girls are screaming their fool heads off. "YOUR MARSHMALLOW'S ON FIRE! YOUR MARSHMALLOW'S ON FIRE!!!!" Yeah, duh..... So, I react in an appropriate manner, of course. I start waving the coat hanger/marshmallow fire ball in the air, hoping to fan out the fire. Next thing I know, the marshmallow goes flying off the end of the wire, whizzing through the air.....ZOOOOMMMM!!!!...... And smacks a poor chicken RIGHT ON THE NOGGIN. Still flaming, with marshmallow-ey goo going everywhere, the poor chicken runs around bock-bocking all over the place. We all run for the water hose, and put the chicken out... But she didn't make it. :O( Guess what we had for supper the next night? Yep, roasted chicken!

Iris, you're coming in under the wire, but you made it! And what a cool theme! E-mail your address to Wendy, okay? Here's an update on who is playing, and what their theme is... Dan/dan_the_mailman.......... ALL THINGS YELLOW Becky/proudgm_03............. CELEBRATE FALL Carmen/gardencraze........... CURIOUS CONTENT BY ME Linda/lindaruzicka........... ON A MISTY MORN Leah/dancingrabbit........... ALL THINGS WILD Melissa/hazelnutbunny........ I DON'T WANNA GROW UP! Joan/ejmoore510.............. JACK-O-LANTERN JAMBOREE Wendy/sassybutterfly_2008.... MOONLIGHT SERENADE Kamil/kamiljablo............. A LITTLE BIT OF THIS N' A LITTLE BIT OF THAT... Amelia/amelia_pepper_lady..... BAYOU BLUES Heidi/bhnash ................. CHOCOLATE & VANILLA (yum!) Annie/canyonwind.............. GIRLS (AND BOYS) JUST WANNA HAVE FUN Laura/lilangel1181............ ALL THINGS BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Daisy/Margarita10............. MARGARITAVILLE Margo/smitties................ AROMATHERAPY Alana/poisondartfrog.......... VAMPIRE SLUMBER PARTY Deb/debbya.................... FOR THE BIRDS Tery?/tergrov................. WOODSTOCK Jess/jessied.................. WARM COLORS, COOL TREATS Iris/rane_grow................ SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW And I believe that makes 20 players, if everyone has stayed current. Cool!

I just picked our first zucchinis...they were about 4" long, but I couldn't wait. I'll have to let a few grow to try some of these recipes. I've been a zucchini fairy. When I started gardening I thought you planted the whole seed packet, no matter what it was. My friends avoided me, I left them on doorsteps. We made zucchini in every way, shape and form. Gallons of relish, b&b pickles, dried chips, 'apple' pie and mock pineapple (which feels like crushed pineapple in your mouth if you grind it using a meat grinder with a coarse blade....not too bad in quick breads). A friend of ours made this thrown together dish and it was always delicious. These are her (non)measurements: * Exported from MasterCook * Mexican Zucchini Recipe By : Katie, from Lynn L Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- chopped onions minced garlic sliced zucchini chopped green chiles canned tomatoes -- drained -OR- fresh tomatoes and salsa corn shredded cheddar cheese This is a "to taste" recipe - the proportions aren't important. Cook vegies until the zucchini is crisp-tender. Top with cheese and heat until cheese melts. ------------------- Another one from an old friend, I've been making this one for [mumblemumble] years. It's a nice light chocolate cake and it freezes well. * Exported from MasterCook * Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe By : Katie, from Christie R Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/2 c soft margarine -- (I use butter) 1 c oil 1 3/4 c sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 c sour milk or buttermilk -- OR use 1/2 c milk + 1/2 tsp. lemon juice 5 tbsp cocoa powder 2 1/2 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 2 c grated zucchini 1/2 c chopped nuts 1/2 c chocolate chips Blend all together (except nuts and chocolate chips)and pour into two 9" square ungreased pans. Sprinkle with 1/2 c. chopped nuts and 1/2 c. chocolate chips. Bake 40-45 minutes at 325F. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTES : Good served warm. Freezes well.

There is a product called epoxy putty. It is a two part clay like substance that you knead together to activate and then use it to fashion a knob shaped like the old one on the spot where the part is broken. You can shape, sand and scrape it and when fashioned to your satisfaction paint it a tasteful color. It isn't very expensive. I suppose around five dollars for a tube that would easily do your job. It is strong. I have used it for all sorts of things.