I made these this morning, and it's a keeper! I didn't make the walnuts, and used Ida reds, as they are what I have on hand. French Toast and Apples (closetcooking blog) 2 granny smith apples (peeled,cored and sliced) 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup water 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 4 slices bread butter 1/4 cup candied walnuts 1. Simmer the apples, butter, sugar, flour cinnamon and water until the apples are tender, about 10-15 minutes and set aside. 2. Mix the eggs, milk and vanilla in a wide dish. 3. Dip the bread into the egg mixture to coat on both sides. 4. Melt some butter in a pan and fry the slices of bread until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. 5. Serve the french toast covered in the caramelized apples along with some candied walnuts. Candied Walnuts 1 1/2 cups walnut halves 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt (optional) 1. Spread the walnuts out in a single layer on a baking sheet. 2. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until nice and toasted, about 5 minutes, and set aside. (Watch them carefully.) 3. Melt the sugar in a sauce pan and wait for it to turn a nice shade of amber. 4. Add the walnuts and mix to coat. 5. Pour the walnuts onto a sheet of parchment paper, quickly separate them, sprinkle them with the salt and let them cool.

Roarah, I haven't read all of the comments that show distaste for the wedding, but yours caught my eye. I have been fascinated by the Travellers and Roma cultures and want to have a better understanding of their lives vs. what is presented on TV. I have had this book on my shelf for a long time and have only read some of it: I need to finish it. When I've watched the TLC shows, I try to see (even though we all know that reality TV is pure fantasy) what they like about their culture through their eyes. In other words, what works? Why do they have certain traditions? When I first saw the enormous dresses and such, they floored me-- but I figured that everyone has different opinions of beauty. I am certain they would find my wedding dress with nary a sequin to be dull and uninspired. As for the girls who are married at the age of 14-- it is hard to think about that, for sure. I think it is wrong and hope there are activists who are helping them see this and end it. I wonder if it is a case of a culture that has remained very isolated and therefore a throwback to a time where people just didn't live as long . . .so things like marriage and family were done at a much younger age. We see rape and they see tradition. I think it is hard, in general, too, when we are introduced to only certain aspects of a culture or religion that greatly conflict with our own values and traditions. It is difficult to find a balance of respecting others while finding some of what they do to be immoral. What I do is to remind myself of how much I don't know . . .to understand that I am only seeing one tiny piece (and it's from an ethnocentric perspective anyway). But it can still be a challenge!

Hi, Donna! In my zone, if I transplant in spring I do so as soon as I can work in the soil. It all depends on how wet the ground is...I try to avoid compacting the soil around the hostas but if I get too enthusiastic and can't wait, I end up with more work...needing to fluff up all the soil I tramped on! :( the cultivation around the hostas is beneficial any time as it disturbs and exposes any eggs laid by slugs, etc. If it's too wet, then I wait until I see some pip activity (by that time the ground has warmed and dried somewhat) and get digging before they hostas are fully emerged. It's gratifying to see them in their new location, continuing to push out pips as if they've been there all along! :) In the fall I place markers in front of all hostas - they serve as a gauge for me where to start digging if I haven't left old flower scapes as markers (usually remove all old vegetation to avoid harbouring slug eggs). I love dividing and replanting in the fall but with the heatwave expected, spring it is! I used to divide, or relocate on a whim, all season long but the summers have been hotter each year and regardless of the after-care, I found it stresses most hostas. Those that hate to be moved put on a sulk and some years it set the plant back 2 years size-wise (GE as an example). Everybody has their own preferences (based on their experience, depending on their zone and length of growing season) for when it's best to move or divide their plants. The ultimate goal is to minimize stress on the hosta. Your zone allows you a longer growing season than mine. If your hostas have time to set roots before going into dormancy, go for it. If you are even slightly doubtful, wait until spring - it's much easier moving a leafless hosta! :-) Thanks, Donna for asking for my two cents. I got a wee bit chatty but enjoyed it! Lol :-)

I'll start by saying I don't have definite zaps - yet - but there are a bunch on my 'watch list.' They may get a second chance either this year or next, but right now they are not my faves and if they don't shape up they will ship out! A few important notes: 2015 was kind of a strange year of highs and lows with our tomatoes. It was my first year starting seed, which worked out really well. I had some lovely, lovely transplants. We started out with a very warm May, but June was a rainy mess - it literally rained 28 out of 30 days. And this wasn't the kind of rain where it sprinkles and then the sun comes out. We are talking constant wet weather, which brought on septoria (and I think also early blight) since I didn't know about preventative spraying (not that I really could have done it with all the constant rain). Finally, we had a new garden bed, which never is the best for production the first year. That said, here are my comments: The two positive standouts were Jersey Devil (indeterminate, red, paste-type) and Vorlon (indeterminate, PL, black beefsteak). These two plants were monsters. Vorlon pumped out a massive amount of massive tomatoes in July, and both - while affected by the septoria and early blight just kept going, and going and going. My biggest problems were keeping them supported (I finally gave up) and beating the birds/animals to my ripe tomatoes. The Vorlon had a few fruit with BER but not many and I think it was later in the season. These are definite keepers and are on my 2016 list. I was also impressed with Isis Candy and Black Cherry (indeterminate cherries). They were a little rough in the beginning (rain, new bed, leaf diseases, etc) but really rallied in July and started putting out fruit. I can only imagine what they would have been without setbacks. Will definitely plant again, probably only one in 2016 but that is just a space issue. Cherokee Purple and Persimmon (indeterminate, orange) get shout outs for really, really TRYING to produce even with the new bed and foliage issues. They both rallied once the rain stopped and I could spray with Daconil. I would regrow, and in fact Persimmon is on my list for 2016 because we really like the taste. Our first year we bought a plant and it made gorgeous big, tasty fruit even in a bad garden bed. Last year the fruit were much smaller, but still delicious and it gets points for trying. Arbuznyi was pretty much a bust. Again, new bed + foliage issues. It tried to rally but unsuccessfully. It is close to zapping but will probably give it another chance, maybe next year. My three worst ones were Pineapple, Sweet Adelaide, and Malachite Box. I had high hopes for Pineapple but it was SUPER SLOW to produce any flowers or fruit even when it was healthy. We literally got one fruit. Honestly, other plants worse affected by the septoria and early blight pumped out more fruit. Sad because we really liked the bi-color we grew the year before (Virginia Sweets) but I couldn't find seeds for it. I may give this one another chance this year. I'm not bothering with the other two again - maybe in a few years when the memories fade. Sweet Adelaide is a dwarf, and it was pretty useless. I did grow in a container - but a big one. I think all the rain really killed it. Lots of trouble with BER. Both of my Malachite Box plants didn't do much, and I had to pull one because it had some crazy thing happening that I suspected was more than just septoria or early blight. That's my list! Starting to plan for 2016 and really love reading everyone's feedback.