Be careful you guys. You could get like me and keep adding roses whether you have the room, time or money to deal with them. (I think HMF counts my roses at well over 1700 now) I have 1/3 acre and 2/3 of it is covered in rose beds, with each one crammed heavier than the previously planted one. I have potted ones all over the place waiting to see where they can be planted, and like an idiot, I keep adding more. The only reason the other 1/3 of the yard isn't planted with roses, is because it's just too shady, and besides, the dog has to have some area to run in. I used to be out in the yard all the time that I could spare. But now that I work 2 jobs and only have one day a week off, it's hard to get out and spend the time out there. And I'm so tired I just don't feel like it some times. But this winter/spring has been a major inhibitor on my outdoor activities. The rain barely goes away long enough to get out and look at the yard, let alone enjoy it! But once it does warm up and dry up, I'll be like all you out there looking, checking, gawking, re-checking, taking pictures, doing the weird rose gardener stuff we ALL do! It's just the nature of we who have a passion for the most beautiful flower on the planet! And if that's eccentric, that's ok!

Yes it is normal, for just about all rugosas once they get established. That is why I came to the conclusion that rugosas (unless grafted) don't belong in a "garden", they belong as a hedge or in an area they can grow wild like the seashore. I fought several rugosas for a few years in my client's garden, constantly digging up suckers that wanted to take over the garden. I had enough and dug up all but one mother plant (due to sentimental reasons on her part, otherwise I would have gotten rid of all of them). In the areas I thought I had thoroughly dug up the rugosas, there are shoots sprouting from what must have been roots left in the ground. So I am still working on it. Yes you can dig up the suckers and transplant them, but they get quite a shock from it and aren't happy at all for a while (if they don't die). What I try to do is sever them from the main plant by slicing a sharp spade into the ground, then leave them be where they are for a few weeks or even a year, then transplant them where you want them after they have grown enough of their own roots. Alternatively you can dig them up and pot them up, place in a shady place and keep them well-watered for a few weeks to lessen the shock before transplanting to their new home.

Sharon, I did use the recipe and method in Charcuterie. I found that the last step, which is steaming the pastrami for a couple of hours, really helps cut the saltiness, the first batch I sliced and froze, and didn't steam. It was far too salty. David, Elery has a MasterBuilt electric smoker. It's in my garage, so he uses it year round. My garage is not heated, and the electronic display doesn't like it when it's under 35F or so, so we have to remove it, take it inside and warm it up, then put it back on. Thankfully, it's easy to do. We smoked the pastrami over cherry wood, the last one we did with apple. Why did we choose those types? Because I pruned the apple and cherry trees last spring and that's what we had. I think Jessica was referring to the deli because of my reference to pastrami... Annie

Russia is certainly beautiful, isn't it? And Budapest, with the lovely Danube. How does the hermit get to his little house? I think I saw a ladder, but what a difficult climb! And I'm surprised people can find their way around Barcelona, as so many of the streets and buildings look alike. Mumbai looks like a place of desperation. I saw an aerial shot of Pittsburgh yesterday and was surprised at how beautiful it is. I've never been there. Thanks for sharing, Jemdandy.