Andrea

Go to the Dollar Store. Buy a Sympathy card, preferably one for "loss of a sister." Write a little note that goes something like, "My condolences on the loss of your family. According to the affidavit you signed for the State of Florida, you have no siblings. Have a nice life. - Momo" Before you seal the envelope, visualize putting all the grievances, hurts, slights you've experienced from this woman inside the envelope. Seal it well, put it in the mail, and say your final GOODBYE. Put it as far behind you as you can. If it creeps into the edge of your consciousness, say a prayer, pull weeds, go for a walk, do anything constructive to put it out of your mind. You've said your farewells, now do your best to keep them in the past. I know, easier said than done. Sigh . . . .

((((Momo)))) I should have started out my first post with a hug, sorry!

Do you know the insurance agency? Contact them and let them know that your sister is not an only child and that you would like to send them a copy of your birth certificate. Ask your brother to do the same. And ask them when they will be sending you your portion of the insurance money. If the insurance company wants to press charges, let them but don't have any more contact with your sister. You're right, it isn't about the money, it's about your sister's complete and total lack of respect for you, your brother, and your Mother. Some would say that you should just let the money and your sister go. I get that, I've done that. But, just know that if she gets away with it with you, she's going to attempt it with others. Maybe it's time someone called her on it? It doesn't have to be you but maybe it should be you? (Believe me, I understand. My own family relationship is currently torn apart because of my sister. There are no more family gatherings for any of us. My brother is actually thinking about filing a lawsuit against her. And yes, it's kind of about money ($10,000) but it's more about her refusing to acknowledge that she owes him anything and her constant conniving to get the rest of our extended family against him and his wife. It's horrible, horrible, horrible the way she treats him and the things she has said about him. I'm so glad I live 400 miles away. And yes, she owes me several thousand as well.)

This is COOL! Thanks, I'm off to research this . . .

:rofl: A big thanks to all you "enablers"You know who you are!

It's good to see you again! Sorry you haven't been feeling well. Have you explored "anti-inflammatory" foods? Things like onions, broccolli, cabbage, and beans aren't budget busters and they may help. If at all possible, try to stay away from anything processed. I fight low energy and achy joints but I'm able to control it pretty well if I watch what I eat. In fact, I hurt all over today because I was an idiot and ate Chinese food yesterday. As for the housing situation, have you considered meeting in the middle? Keeping your house but renting it out and moving to a trailer on your in-laws property? Check the rental house market in your area. I know it's not fun living near/with in-laws, but it can be a great benefit to you financially. We combined households with my elderly mother-in-law 10 years ago. It hasn't always been easy but financially, it was the smartest thing we could have done. We kept our first house and it's been rented out all but 2 months of the past 10 years. That house has pretty much paid for the new house. Hope things start looking up for you. Pop in when you have time! (((TheCG)))

Thanks!

In honor of Westbrook, I'm going to take this thread where she would have taken it a few posts back: There is a cockroach cookbook download available for free here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Cook-Cockroaches-a-Solution-to-the-Global/ Bon Appetite!

Seriously, apparently this exists: http://gardenrant.com/?guest_post=the-joys-of-cockroach-composting-seriously

But that's the joy of a "harvest" thread, MtRider. Not everything we harvest nourishes the body! The mind and soul must be nourished as well! Thread Drifts Welcomed!

Ann - have you tried composting directly into your ground? I did this when we first moved to this house because of the heavy clay soil. I would dig a hole about a foot deep and toss in compostibles (vegie trimmings, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds) and cover them up. It worked out well in those sections of the yard that weren't impacted by tree roots. Sometimes I'll come across an uncomposted tea bag or vegetable label, but it's all good! At least I never experienced this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16374283

That sounds goooood! I wish I could grow rhubarb here. I've tried but it just can't handle too many triple digit days in a row. But, my parents in Northern California grow rhubarb like there's no tomorrow. Maybe I'll raid their beds next time I'm up there . . . lovinit - would you mind posting your recipe? Maybe I'll forward the recipe to my mom and have her can it for me! LOL I ate leftover stir-fry - great use for New Zealand Spinach that is attempting to take over the world! And I also ate several figs and raspberries as I puttered around the yard. I currently have horehound in the dehydrator. Not my favorite herbal tea, but it is good for chest colds and my horehound plant is battling it out with the New Zealand Spinach and Lemon Balm for the title of "Yard Dominator!" But I'm cool with it. I'm a lazy gardener so plants that grow themselves are perfect for me! Hopefully, I'll get the rest of the potatoes dug up tomorrow. I should have done it today, but have I mentioned yet what a lazy gardener I am?!? I might toss in some zucchini seeds into those beds but I may just let them sit until September when I begin my Fall plantings. Oh, and I have the seldom used half bath in the laundry room cleaned out and ready to set-up for my indoor lettuce/kale garden. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to produce my own lettuce. I grow lots of things to toss on my daily salads (sprouts, onions, purslane, herbs, tomatoes, grilled vegies) but I FAIL when it comes to the lettuce part of the salad. I just hope the neighbors don't notice the grow light and turn me in! Did you see that youtube episode of "Grow Your Greens" where the host had his house raided because the neighbors suspected him of growing pot? Turns out he had a grow light set-up in his bathroom for his collard trees, but they still searched his house. Collard trees, that's a future project! I had them on order from Bountiful Gardens but they were unable to ship them out until June this year. That is too late for me. I got them in May last year, they flourished for about six weeks and then the heat did them in. If I can get my indoor set-up working, maybe I'll try them out as well. Hmmmm, how many vegies can I grow in a tiny half-bath?!? (P.S. here's the link to the youtube show: )

Yummmm! I made up 14 1/2 pints of pepper relish and gave it away as Thank You gifts. I need to make some up for us now!

I was a good girl this week. Went with dh to an out of town job. Stayed at the Peppermill in Reno for a week, on their dime, and used their awesome workout room everyday. So I got in at least 36 miles. This week, uh, not so much.

(((Dogmom))) Eggs definitely count as "harvest." Now that I'm a pre-empty nester ( I have six weeks left), we should meet up sometime. I can offer lots of plant starts and a 21 pound, Orange cat from Hell . . .

Twilight - 8 thriving walking onions will quickly multiply! I started out with only 4 bulblets 3 years ago. Since then, they have travelled all over the place and I'm constantly giving the things away! I especially love that they're perennial here - I never have to worry about not having onions. Annarchy, doesn't it feel great to be able to use something that you produced in a meal? I live on a suburban lot. No way, no how am I going to reach full sufficiency with my food production (unless of course, I could figure out a way for us to exist on 30 calories a day!) But I figure that every onion I grow, every tomato I turn into sauce, is one step closer to being "self-sufficientish", which makes me happy. Not to mention the fact that I love watching things grow from seed - it's a connection to the Earth and to God that I have trouble feeling anywhere else on this planet. Speaking of self-sufficiency, I read this in a blog: http://awalkapart.wordpress.com/

Just came in from watering. Brought in a big armful of New Zealand spinach, some spindly celery stalks, and a few Egyptian walking onions. I'm going to get it all cleaned up and combine it with the mung beans I just finished sprouting, some cabbage, and a bell pepper and make a wok full of stir-fry for dinner. YUMMMMM! I'll throw some leftover chicken I froze into my husband's portion. (Oh, I also pigged out on fresh figs and a few raspberries while doing the watering! ) Now that we're through having company, I'm going to get started on getting my indoor lettuce beds going. I spend about $10/week on lettuce and greens simply because they are difficult to grow in my climate. I'm hoping that if I can get them established indoors, I can not only save $10/week, more importantly, I'll know they were grown without pesticides. I hope I can figure out a way to make them happy!

Last year, I attempted to eat something from my yard/garden everyday of the year. I actually came pretty close to succeeding. What I was terrible about was logging in every day! So, here is a less formal place to log in what we harvested, ate, and maybe even a few recipes we've come up with! Right now, we're eating purple potatoes, figs, and raspberries. My summer squash are almost ready to pick, another day or two and I'll be dicing those babies up and sauteing them in a bit of olive oil with lemon and garlic. I've also got two dehydrators running with raspberry and lemon balm leaves. I'll be dehydrating at least 6 quart jars of each of those. I've tried lots of herbal teas and this is my favorite blend. The raspberry leaves taste almost like lipton and I love the relaxing flavor and effect of lemon balm. (Warning: raspberry leaves must be dried first or they'll upset your stomach) I also need to get busy and start harvesting and using up some of my New Zealand Spinach - it is taking over the world! What all are you eating from your garden?

I'm only growing Egyptian Walking onions these days. They are a perennial here and all the parts are edible. If anyone would like some starts, send me a pm this fall or next Spring,and I'll be happy to mail you some (it's too hot right now).

The dollar store also carries those little personal battery operated fans. I have a few stuck in each of our cars. They come in handy if you're stuck in traffic and don't want to overheat your engine by running the ac. Great article, thanks for posting!

After several years of research, I've decided that if I'm going to raise any animals in my suburban yard, I should go with quail. However, after spotting this, I might have to change my mind. Too, too cute! http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/navychicks-page

(((Cat))) My one and only graduated last Friday. She's off to a great school in August but wow, what am I going to do?!? I empathize and sympathize but we'll get through this. (Besides, we have to keep up the illusion that we're sane and balanced so that we can spend lots and lots of time with our future grandkids someday!)

And we have a winner!

This is AWESOME!

Fluffy Spuronimo