Punk is really something special...and its such fun knowing she put a huge smile on your face (and I think a hug in your heart too.) Those bowls are beautiful! She must've done one fantastic packing job to get them there safely! This was a very heartwarming post. I love how caring folks here are, and things like this makes us ALL feel good I think. hugs, Karen

Thx gals-- Sorry to remind you Annie but when you have a family the size of mine you have to start Early ! OK Monique-- here's the recipe from "The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving" 2nd edition Ellie Todd & Margaret Howard Sweet Onion & Fennel Relish 1 lrg sweet onion, such as Spanish or Vidalia ( about 8 oz/250g) 1 fennel bulb ( about 10 oz/275g) 1 sweet red pepper, sliced into thin strips 2 1/2 tsp pickling salt , divided ( 12mL ) 1 1/2 c. white wine vinegar ( 375 mL ) 1/2 c water ( 125 mL ) 1/4 c granulated sugar ( 50 mL ) 2 bay leaves 8 black peppercorns Slice onion in half lengthwise, then in very thin slices crosswise to form half circles. Cut fennel bulb in half lengthwise & remove core; thinly slice crosswise to form half circles. Place fennel, onion & red pepper in a non-reactive bowl and sprinkle with 2 tsp salt. Toss & let stand for 4 hrs. Rinse twice and drain thoroughly. Combine vinegar, water, sugar and 1/2 tsp salt in lrg stainless or enamel saucepan Bring to a boil over high heat. Add vegetables & return just to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Remove vegetables from liquid with a slotted spoon & pack into hot jars. Pour liquid over vegetables, leaving 1/2 head space. Add bay leaves & peppercorns. Process ( WBC) 10 min for 1/2 pts, 15 min for pts. makes 4 c. ( 1 L )

It may be too late to do anything about the year old glasses, but before you give up, contact your state consumer affairs board AND the board in your state that licenses opticians (assuming your state does, not all states have that requirement) and see if you have any recourse. As to getting reliable cheap glasses? DD is an optician. She's worked in a dept. store, in a discount chain and now works in a dr's office. There's a WORLD of difference in the quality, according to her. You DO get what you pay for. Discount chains use very inexpensive (read easily broken) frames, many use lenses that are manufactured in 3rd world countries that are of questionable quality at best and often the workmanship is also sub-par. However, I do have a suggestion for you. IF your state licenses opticians, find out where they train (a community college, perhaps) and see if they have a dispensary. I always got to the college for my glasses. Where I go, they sell high end frames, brand name lenses--at cost! The point of the dispensary is to give the students practice writing up orders and fitting the glasses when they're done. The professor checks everything and makes the glasses up herself. Last go-round? I got a pair of progressive regular glasses with the highest priced glare coating, a pair of progressive sunglasses, my husband got a pair of progressives and our bill was $450. Oh, they all were designer frames (not that I care, but they were). DD said my 'regular' glasses, in her shop, with the family discount would have cost $800 alone! Often, too, colleges have the very latest in lab equipment, because the manufacturers donate those gizmos for free, so that the students will 'learn to love them' so to speak.

We are definitely into the countdown & I have started - my DH is in food sales and gives each of his customers gifts (about 40 of them!). I start right after Christmas & get gifts for the next year on clearance. Usually we give books, candles, and ornaments and I try and stay under $5 for each. I have started buying for family too - all the grands - kids & neices & nephews (all 20 of them) get books. I purchase from a catalog/website that has on sale & clearance - I try to find books under $5 (for the customers mentioned above also). If you want the name of the website please e-mail me. For our 4 kids we wait until we get a list from them. I have bought items off the list & then got their list and ended up spending too much! For brothers & sisters & immediate nieces & nephews - I make jam/jelly & they each get a jar of wonderful goodness - we grow the fruit & then I make jam & jelly for them. I am about 1/2 way done on that... I don't post all that often - but I enjoy lurking - what a wonderful group of people. Thanks.