I just had 100% germination by Mar. 24 from last years seed sown Mar. 17th: Thai Hot, Habenero and Fairy Tale Eggplant (completely germinated by Mar. 21). I used one of those large strawberry plastic containers that is complete with air vents and is 11x8" 4" deep. I taped all the vents up, closed the lid and let it go at room temp. Since it is deep enough and seeds are well spaced I can let them grow on until too crowded. By that time it should be nice enough to pot up and start hardening them off. I should also mention that as soon as the eggplant popped up I removed the tape from the vents in the lid to allow air flow...the Hab's and Thai's begin to germ by Mar. 22 and were done in 2 days. Now the lid is completely open and in my South facing window. Vera

This is not a 'melted cheese-y' tart; the goat cheese softens but stays intact. It's very good, quite simple and can be toted along to potlucks without a problem. One guest told me months afterwards she 'still dreams about this tart' - LOL! Persimmon & Goat Cheese Tart This wonderful tart of firm, sweet persimmons and salty, savory cheese makes a just-sweet-enough combination, perfect for a dessert or as part of a brunch buffet. The herbs, an integral part of this dish, enliven it and make it sparkle. 1 pound ripe Fuyu persimmons 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 (8- to 9-inch) partially baked pate sucre tart shell 2 teaspoons brown sugar (optional) 3 to 4 ounces soft goat cheese 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon 2 teaspoons minced fresh basil 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut each persimmon horizontally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Toss with the lemon juice. Arrange in the tart shell in overlapping circles. If the fruit is not very sweet, sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 15 minutes, until the fruit starts to cook but is still firm. Baking time will vary depending on the ripeness and thickness of the fruit. Remove the tart from the oven and sprinkle with the chopped herb mixture. Then scatter the cheese over the top, breaking it up evenly across the surface. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese softens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes longer. If desired, put the tart under the broiler to get more color. Remove the tart and serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers. Serves 6

"tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM The list missed my biggest one right now which is deferred maintenance. We have been in our home 10 years now and there are a bunch of little things that bother me. I am hoping to make 2017 the year to deal with things like patching the stucco, touching up paint, caulking certain areas, etc. They are all little things that are easy to overlook but are now piling up." I am dealing with all of this here now. Hubby was sick for almost 4 years with cancer then passed in August. PHEW did a lot of things get put on hold. I could only do so much and taking care of him was priority. So far the biggest worst issue was calking the seams on the house. It is the cement board and the seams needed the calk desperately. I also painted over the calked areas and yes it is very noticeable. I plan on painting the house next year if I can afford it. Second was getting the whole yard finally fenced in. We put up a nice dog yard as we were moving in and later I fenced in a side yard. Finally getting the lower yard done. One more gate to get the wire on. And some small fill in areas where the ground is not level. I did paint a little more than half the inside of half the house in the last year. The three rooms not freshly painted were painted three years ago and in good shape. I will have my hands full of painting doing the house.And YES I am doing it myself I can not afford to hire a painter. Also doing the fence myself. I am 67 so things take me longer than some one younger. Clutter. UGH I forced myself this morning while waiting for the fog to lift before going out side to clean inside. Vacuum and pick up everything.Fold the laundry. I am not a paper keeper but do have one file folder I do keep out of the current bills. I am still working on figuring out my financial situation with hubby gone. He always did the bills. I was putting the folder away then spending too much time dragging it back out so I made a place for it in my side table. Hopefully I will be able to tuck it further away soon. I have been purging for years and feel pretty good about my progress. My biggest thought now is about the kitchen stuff. I cook very little for myself now. There will never be another man in my life to cook for. I rarely have company and I am wondering why I keep all the cooking stuff I used to use? I do not need the storage space in the pantry or kitchen cupboards. But it kind of bugs me to keep stuff I will never use. I do not remember who said they had a laundry room issue of no space. I got rid of my dryer after hubby died. I am a total clothes line gal and when the weather is not good enough to dry clothes I just hang them on rods over the guest bath. I hardly ever used the dryer and it was taking up valuable real estate in my laundry room. I have not missed it. We chose our house and had it built for us to age in place. So I do not have much to not love about this house. Maybe the hall way closet could be larger. but do I really need 6 jackets? Well in winter shoveling snow I can easily get one or two jackets wet.

Same as Amy....I don't deny myself anything if I want it and have the money. I do give consideration to whether or not I really need it, and sometimes I talk myself out of things....like another horse. I like going to thrift shops, auctions, yard sales, etc. My waterlilies and contemplating new ones that I want, and crosses that I want to make. Antique rose cuttings and planning for new ones and getting together with the Rose Rustlers to share cuttings. I eat what I want, when I want it. I don't diet or worry about gaining weight. I like sleeping with three or four of my cats. Walking with three of my dogs...the ones that mind the best and will stay right with me or immediately come back when I call them. I have wanted to walk in the Nati'l. Forest, and now that hunting season is over, I plan to do that...just hope I don't get lost like I did a couple of weeks ago, when I thought I was taking a short cut home, and ended up deep in the forest and stuck in the mud...at 9:30 at night with a dying phone and no flashlight. I enjoy my old horses and seeing them thrive, because almost all of them came from situations of severe neglect. I love when nothing is planned, no one is coming around, and I can spend the whole day by myself and just drift around the place, looking at the waterlilies, roses, fish, going to the old barn and seeing the bats in the hay loft. Fixing nice meals for my wild possums. Listening to my radio guy, who comes on twice a day.