Yachter...I'm sorry when I posted my reply to you.. I referred to you as OA..so that reply was for you. Lynn...I hope you let us know if you went today..and if you bought anything. Syble...I have to tell you that I think your DH would like CB for their meals. Their food is like 'Home Cooked' meals. Not at all like FF Chainstore..I like that they will add something new each time we go. We started going to them when we traveled South, and I really looked forward to them. My DH is very 'picky' and he was impressed..So I'd say, give it a try at least once. Kathleen..thanks I like the soft colors too. I'm trying to figure out something for St. Pat's day.. I really don't have anything green..but will try to 'shop' again around my house! lol Punk...Glad you thought they were pretty.. The dishes can add up when you start to put the set together. That's why I bought some last year and added some this year. Even though they are a little different in pattern, they will still work together. All the pieces, including the cups, were $3.99 ea..Except for the plates and the S&Ps which were $5.99 ea...and the Egg Cups - $.99 ea.. I think your DGdtr would love them... jane

It never occurred to me that there were people who had never heard of banana pudding. I'm shocked!!! LOL! I make mine from scratch. About 20 or so years ago someone brought some to a Christmas party at work and it was called Easy Banana Pudding. It was made with French Vanilla instant pudding and called for Eagle Brand milk. It was definitely different from the other pudding, but it was mighty tasty. I have made it a few times, but haven't done so in a long time. I still prefer the original recipe pudding. Here's my recipes: Banana Pudding ¾ c sugar 3Tbsp. all purpose flour dash of salt 4 eggs 2c milk ½ tsp. vanilla extract 5 to 6 ripe bananas, sliced Vanilla Wafers Combine ½ c sugar, flour and salt in top of a double boiler. Mix in 1 whole egg and 3 egg yolks; stir in milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat; add vanilla. Spread small amount on bottom of 1½ qt. casserole. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers. Top with a layer of sliced bananas. Pour about 1/3 of custard over bananas. Continue to layer wafers, bananas and custard to make three layers of each, ending with custard. Beat remaining 3 egg whites til stiff, but not dry. Gradually add remaining ¼c. sugar and beat til mixture forms stiff peaks. Pile on top of pudding covering entire surface. Bake in preheated 425°F oven for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or chilled. ** note** Sometimes I don't put the meringue on; I just crumble a few vanilla wafers to make crumbs and put across the top. **another note** I almost always double the recipe because it doesn't last long either around the house or any pot luck I take it to. Here's the recipe I have that uses sweetened condensed milk: 1 lg. box French Vanilla instant pudding 1 can Eagle Brand milk 1 (9oz) carton Cool Whip 1 box Nabisco vanilla wafers 6 large bananas, sliced Mix pudding according to pkg. directions and let stand for a few minutes to set. Add Eagle Brand milk and Cool Whip. Mix well and pour half of mixture over a layer of vanilla wafers and bananas. Make another layer of vanilla wafers and bananas and pour remaining pudding mixture over this. Crumble wafers on top or top with additional Cool Whip. **note** On this pudding I put both Cool Whip and crumbled vanilla wafers on top. **another note** I don't necessarily use the brands mentioned in the above recipes. They were just the ones mentioned when I got the recipes.

I went to No frills, one of the grocery chain's "seasonal" garden centres. I shouldn't have said "nursery" giving everyone a wrong impression. The deal was 2 bushes for $28. I just grabbed and never looked back..lol. I am debating at the moment to get westerland but the 2 pots they have are small plants. Then I saw About Face which I am also debating to get. Hmmm.....I need to check the other nurseries before I go back. Originally I was going to get 2 Julia Childs (after seeing Diane's beautiful photos) and 2 Strike it Rich. But then I realized I need to sacrifice other possible choices. I am hoping to check out other places before I make any final choices... I've always wanted Voodoo too since I seen her in a gardening book. The only thing is that she is supposed to be for warmer zones. I think I really need to protect this rose in the winter.

I have always had a Mac thanks to my sister and her husband. They would always give me their old one when they got a new. I decided this summer it was time to treat myself to a new one. Love my Mac's. I still have my iMac desktop that they gave but I wanted something a little more portable too.