Adding to the list of perennial vegetables: ASPARAGUS RHUBARB (though the rhubarb leaves are toxic) stems are delicious  cooked with sugar to make compote - to go with roasted meat dishes, - or served with cream as desert, - or on bisquits as rhubarb shortcake, - or over pancakes, or pound cake, or other cakes,  or prepared w/strawberries for pie fillings. My parents grew rhubarb in heavy, moist soil in shade. Their rhubarb grew huge. Slender, red stems were considered superior; thick stems were avoided (being too watery). Green-stemmed rhubarb was considered inferior and was never grown. To prep rhubarb: cut off leaves and discard. Wash, dry, & cut stems into 1-inch slices across. Don't peel.

I am always amazed at the strong reactions of people who say they don't like Martha. I have to agree with previous posts, that I don't think these people have actually seen her show or read her magazine, because many of the reasons they give for disliking her are simply not true. For those of you, I'll tell you a little about her show. On her show she features guests as well as her own experts (employees), who show HER and her audience how to. That is what she is about - if you WANT to, you can do it yourself. You don't need to eat at a 5 star restaurant, you can have the 5 star chef show you how to do it at home. That is why she has guests do something they have never done before, or are not necessarily comfortable doing. To show that you can do it, and do not need to feel intimidated. Her show/magazine also features EXPERTS in their field give advice on health, gardening, taking care of your pets. Great tips, practical tips, inexpensive and expensive tips. Why is this so offensive, I'll never know. Obviously, if you aren't interested, then don't watch it/read it! I don't need to think she is the most personable woman in the world to like what she does. And who cares what she does with her money? Calling her materialistic is ridiculous. What about the billionaires who spend their money on solid gold faucets and million dollar parties? She is frugal by comparison and created a center devoted to geriatrics. If you ask me, she can spend her money as frivolously as she wants, she made it, what she does with it is none of my business, besides, I don't care, I have better things to get angry about. I'll save my anger for violent criminals, animal abusers, child abusers. As for her being a poor example for our daughters, I can think of worse, namely the Paris Hiltons and Lindsey Lohans of the world. I believe those who dislike her are INSECURE. They somehow believe that others feel they should "be like Martha". I don't feel I should to be like Martha, but I sure have gotten some amazing recipes from her website. I have a blackberry mint julep recipe that is out of this world. And shame on you for your rude remarks about her hair, my 6 year old knows better.

I am very much in favor of the wind farm. I understand that a lot of the opponents are worried about the wildlife of the area (and if something like zebra-striping would prevent needless bird fatalities, then I think that route should be explored). Unfortunately, I think the majority of people are afraid of what the end product will look like. It's turning into something of a "not in my backyard" issue. There wouldn't be as much opposition to the project if it were planned for New Bedford. A lot of the opponents still want their power to be eco-friendly and clean but they don't want to look at it. This stuff can't magically appear - we need to change our minds about what beauty is. Wind farms, solar energy and (yes, I'll say it) hydrogen power needs to proliferate regardless of appearance, and someone has to set precedent. I think this project should be the first of many. Let's face it: having a wind farm on a coastline is better than not having a coastline at all.

We're looking to buy a lovely home built in 1914. It's original kitchen is the only room that has been changed, but fortunately we have the plans for the house, so we know the original layout. We're actually going to go ahead and recreate it. This was a very expensive home, with electricity, gas, running water :) etc. The kitchen had a free standing cabinet, a sink area and a gas stove, quite a large one actually. It's been replaced with wall to wall counters and the sink has been moved to the window area (this was a house with servants so the kitchen was originaly planned around work zones verses being "pretty"). The original design made more sense. The sink, while on a wall, was located between the cold room and the butlers pantry. This way dishes were dispensed where they would most likely to be cleaned and efficiently put away. Moving them across the kitchen to the window might be nice for today, but it's still not efficient. The only change I'll make to the plan is to hide a fridge in a custom amoire most likely. The original plan had a work table in the center, which will house a sink now, but really, it was a great plan and made perfect sense then and now, except I'll have the hot and cold water coming out of the same tap :oP (ok and there will be a dishwasher who won't be on the payroll!)