Oh I got a rise from you folks. Wonderful! I have no idea how much of this is true or not. Just passing time I guess. Here's something from Google Answers: The Somatic Cell Count and Milk Quality "The somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used as a measure of milk quality. Somatic cells are simply animal body cells present at low levels in normal milk. High levels of these cells in milk indicate abnormal, reduced-quality milk that is caused by an intramammary bacterial infection (mastitis). The majority of the cells in a somatic cell count are leukocytes (white blood cells), and some are cells from the udder secretory tissue (epithelial cells). The epithelial cells are part of the normal body function and are shed and renewed in normal body processes. The white blood cells serve as a defense mechanism to fight disease (infection), and assist in repairing damaged tissue. Milk markets routinely rely on somatic cell counts to help ensure a quality product. SCC levels are monitored to assure compliance with state and federal milk quality standards. Today, most markets pay a premium for low SCC, good-quality milk." http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/dairy/g1151.htm As far as trusting the FDA to monitor what is safe or not, I canÂt say I entirely do trust them. After all they are a Washington bureaucracy. Don't you think there just might be a bit of influence going on there? I've also never trusted the guidelines they set for various preservatives, additives and whatnot. Have they ever figured out the cumulative affect of eating that crap over a lifetime or do take into account that a significant portion of the population only consumes processed foods loaded with that stuff? I don't know. I once worked with a woman who was a total germaphobic. She washed her hands constantly. As I remember they were always red and swollen. People in that office often brought in goodies from home to eat. She wouldn't touch them unless they came from a grocery store or restaurant and she was the first one to open the box or pkg. If someone else beat her to it, she wouldn't touch the food. Oh yes, she ate every single meal in a restaurant. She was also sick a lot. I guess I've never had a thing for germs or critters in food as long as I wasn't aware of them. I just doesn't bother me that much. With that said, until last year I could not eat watermelon. Whenever I looked at those seeds I thought of woodticks. I hate woodticks; especially the big bloated ones. As a kid, I picked enough of them off myself. Then I discovered seedless watermelon. Love it.

Right on the button about the M&P restaurant - I've been in a similar establishment in the past. Who will come when they annoy all the locals? Here's another thought: just because "Mom" is cooking, doesn't mean it will taste good! ;-) Glad to hear FFF is on the mend. A good cat is worth its weight in gold. (BTW, is that the cat which kept trying to bring its own meal to the lunch you served back in spring of 'O5 for us GW folk? I remember Larry said it was your best mouser and he kept trying to shoo it back outside but it was determined to contribute to the menu, LOL! Cute kitty!) Loved the Calendar Girls movie, too. Hope I can catch it Thurs. night for a refresher and thanks for the heads up. I remember it was funny and very touching.

I got dizzy looking at the pictures that were taken from directly above. The cranberry sauce looks better because it is shown in perspective, as one might really see it. The main problem with the pictures is the camera angle - not sophisticated at all! Even the turkey, which is somewhat better, is shown straight on instead of from an angle. She obviously didn't take very many shots, or else she would have had something better to choose. Many of the photographers were are much better, including Ann and Diana. I've done professional product photography myself (for furniture), but Ann's food photos are better than mine. Lars

I post info. on bad-food combo that make you sick, plus food and medicine cross reaction, see below thread in Organic Rose forum. If you have any personal experience with bad food-combo, or food poisoning .. would love to hear from you, either in the below link, or this health forum. THANKS. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3576388/12-27-15-bad-food-combo-things-that-dont-mix-for-garden-and-health?n=4