I give away alot of my apricot jalapeno jelly. I prefer it with 5 different types of peppers, jalapeno, habanero, tobasco, pequin and serano, or whatever I have growing. Wild plum jelly is another favorite, if I can find wild plums (which I couldn't this year.) I made sour cherry, apricot and peach! Cherry is DGS#1 favorite, apricot is DH favorite and peach is DGS#2 favorite. I also gift squash/zuchinni relish. The last couple of years I haven't canned salsa, which I did for years. I have been making it fresh, even with grocery store tomatoes, which IMOP is better than processed salsa. I just don't care for the vinegar taste.

Love it. Sure do like those Barenaked Ladies. Thanks, Jasdip!

Here are a couple of versions of Twas the night before Christmas. The first one isn't funny but I thought it was nice. The Night before Christmas for Moms It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode. The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds, while visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads. The dad was snoring in front of the TV, with a half-constructed bicycle on his knee. So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter, which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?" With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand, she descended the stairs, and saw the old man. He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug, "Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug." "Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake. Your gift was especially difficult to make." "Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone." "Exactly!", he chuckled, "I've made you a clone." "A clone?" she asked, "What good is that? Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat." The mother's twin; Same hair, same eyes, same double chin. "She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess. You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & the Restless." "Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true! I'll shop. I'll read. I'll sleep a whole night through!" From the room above, the youngest began to fret. "Mommy?! I scared...and wet." The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart." "Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part." The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune, as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon. "You the best mommy ever. I really love you." The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you too," The mom frowned and said, "Sorry Santa, no deal. That's my child's love, she's trying to steal." Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear," Only one loving mother, is needed here." The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed. "Thank you Santa, for clearing my head. I sometimes forget, it won't be very long, when they'll be too old, for my cradle-song." The clock on the mantle began to chime. Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time." With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, you'll be all right. A Parent's Night Before Christmas Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse Instructions were studied and we were inspired, in hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required." The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds, while Dad and I faced the evening with dread: a kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's townhouse to boot! And now, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot! We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat - let no parts be missing or parts incomplete! "Too late for last-minute returns or replacement; if we can't get it right, it goes...

hostatakeover, thank you for your kind words, The Queen's photo and the comment. It just made my evening )))))) L. Breaking News is a beauty. She really stands out, those leaves seem to be made of silk, piecrust enlightened with white, and pale greyish colour... I'm really excited about that hosta. That's my girl in a very good company: Clovelly on the left and Queen of the Seas on the right. It's my nursery for hosta babies, so they won't grow here for more than a year... But I really want to keep those three together. *sorry about weeds* Pat, thank you. There are a lot of enthusiastic garderners in our country. We grow roses, prumroses, daylies, peonies, hostas etc. Even though the climate can be challenging. And we love our land and our gardens. One of my favourite peonies is for you.