King syrup on oatmeal pancake (already made up, so just popped the frozen disk into the microwave); apple cider. The syrup made it sorta high calorie, but the rest is healthy enough. Glass of skim milk. I think the size of the breakfast is directly related to the usual physical activity of the consumer. Back when I got up at 0430 to bike-deliver papers over a 5 mile route, I probably tucked in a couple thousand calories via pancakes, eggs, bacon and several pieces of jelly-topped toast. But that was followed by a full school day, a couple hours doing yard and garden work, an hour to fix dinner and make breads and desserts, cleaning house the old fashioned way - no vacuum or steamer; then babysitting and homework. No car, so transportation was shank's mare or bike. Oh yes, and I played baseball with the neighbor kids a couple times a week and eventually took up other sports at school which involved biking 8 miles to/from the school.

I HATE my school computer! Chuck has left for his meeting, so I have taken over his office and the Mac! Okay, here we go. # 1 Annette, you were so close! The soil of the famed Clos de Vougeot (A vineyard in the Burgundy district of France) is considered so precious that vineyard workers are required to scrape it from their shoes before they leave for home each night. #2 * for Nancy and Bobbie The term 'Blanc de Noir' refers to white wine made from red/black grapes. #3 * for Bobbie and Annette Robert Louis Stevenson referred to wine as "bottled poetry" #4 * for Bobbie, Annette, and Nancy Yes, champagne is the answer. I always used to have at least one bottle in the fridge. I imagine Lilly Bollinger had quite a few more since that was the family business. It was Dom Perignon who referred to drinking his first taste of champagne as tasting stars. "The 17th century Benedictine monk, Dom Perignon, is credited with discovering the cork as a means to seal wine and champagne bottles. He is also credited with discovering the process of making champagne. It is said that upon his first taste of champagne he cried, 'Come quickly, I am tasting stars'." One more interesting tidbit I had never heard before: During prohibition, an interesting product called the 'Grape Brick' was sold to thousands of wine-parched households across America. Attached to the 'brick' of dried and pressed winegrape concentrate was a packet of yeast, and the stern warning, "Do not add yeast or fermentation will result." Off to see Nancy's trivia. Have a wonderful, sparkling, champagne-y day all. Cynthia

I read this thread with interest, as fall/winter gardening is one of the great joys of my life, and it is about that time of the year when we get started on the winter garden. I live on the South Texas coast, and we garden year round. I noticed that there was a discussion of growing from seed vs. transplanting plants. Many people shy away from growing from seeds because the outcome is less certain than plopping in a transplant. However, I have found that the greatest satisfaction FOR ME, comes from plants that I have grown from seeds. More seeds die from being planted too deeply than from any other cause. A seed is an encapsulated embryo, with everything it needs to survive stored in the covering of that seed. When you plant a seed, and it germinates, it has X amount of food to live on until it breaks ground and opens the first little leaves, and is able to manufacture food for itself. If you plant it too deep, it will use all it's food supply before it can make more on it's own, and it will die. As a rule, plant seeds 2 to 2 1/2 times the thinnest dimension of the seed. So, if your seed is 1/4" thick, plant it about 1/2" deep. If your seeds are fine little seeds, sprinkle them on the ground and just press them into the soil. I usually will cover my seeds with vermiculite, as it offers many advantages. One is that I know where I have already planted seeds. It will protect little seeds from our hot sun, and preserve precious moisture. And if your seeds need light to germinate, it will allow light to get to your seed, as well as allowing air and water to percolate through easily. I am lucky to have a source for vermiculite in great big bags for not much money. I use a 1"x 4" board to cover my seed rows sometimes, as it will keep the soil moist, and prevent a crust from forming. This is particularly good when growing crops like carrots, which has a hard time breaking through the crust on the ground. Just check every day or so to be sure you know to take the board away! Spacing can be conquered by using a piece of peg board. Just determine the spacing you need, and count out the holes on the pegboard laid out on the ground. This is great for blocks of corn! Tiny little seeds, like onions, can be sprinkled from a salt shaker, with a bit of sand mixed with the seeds. This way, you won't get your seeds all clumped together, rather, they should be better spaced apart. Press them onto the soil with a piece of plywood, covered with waxed paper or freezer paper, waxed side out. The wet paper towel method of germinating seeds is wonderful, especially if your seeds are older, and you are not sure of their viability. When they germinate, you can just plop them into the ground or in 6-packs, and you know every seed you planted is good. You can still grow from seed and have the dependability of transplants. Just start your seeds in 6-packs, to insure you get the varieties you want and the numbers of plants you need when it comes time to plant in the garden. I love to try varieties that are new to me, so this is a real GOOD THING for me. Also, by doing this, you will have plants to trade with friends, plants to sell (maybe?). And you won't have to thin and throw away good little seedlings just because you don't need that many plants. Also, I never met the person who needed 6 eggplant plants for a family of 4! My Dad planted a pack of seeds once, and I think every seed grew and excelled in producing! He was just covered up in eggplants! And you KNOW you can't just throw them away! So, starting from seeds, plant 3 or 4 seeds, give 2 away, or trade for 2 nice pepper or tomato plants, or 6 cabbages, and everyone will be happy. And start the seeds in the 6-packs the same way.....Not too deep, cover with vermiculite, water with a soft spray. I use a turkey baster, or a dish detergent bottle to water seedlings in 6-packs or pots. Fertilize with half strength water soluable fertilizer when they have true leaves. Mostly, HAVE FUN! Janie

OK, looks like everyone is as busy as I am. Hate to let my sister down, as I said I would check this board every day, but alas, Tomorrow starts two (2) weeks of the state high stakes testing. The pressure and stress is sooooo heartbreaking. I teach 5th grade, I had 2 boys crying on Friday over something really insignificant, but you know it's the pressure of these D**** tests. They are so worried they wont be able to go to middle school with their friends. I've been in meetings all week signing my life away that I wont look at the test, etc. Now I have to turn in a seating chart of my testing environment, signing that they were 3 feet apart and not able to cheat. Sorry for rambling, but I really get angry, our politicians have forgotten these are children and not all children are college material. I'm going to give the next two (2) names, because this will really be a busy week.... first....triciae then... hostabuff thanks for letting me vent, hope everyone has a great week. It is starting to look like spring here, so the next couple of weeks should be great. Patty