Friday morning Hello

Vickie,

I envy you your peaches and what not, I'm originally a city girl, so this is all new to me, last year I grew tomatoes, peppers (banana and bell), cukes, zucchini.  My tomatoes could have done better, which is one of the reasons I want to plant raised beds, my zucchini was awesome and yielded a good bunch.  My roommate wants to plant different things, he said some winter stuff, lettuce and the like.  I will do two varities of tomatoes, banana peppers and zucchini again, not quite sure of what else to plant, as I have such a busy life, I can't afford to over due either.  Maybe I will plant a couple of blueberry bushes, know it takes a couple of years to get anything off of them, but I will try with hopes toward the futre, I've even thought of planting a peach tree in my yard, as I love them.  By the way, have you looked into the possibility of using something other than sugar to make your jellies, not sure it can be done, but just a thought, I have done a lot of adapting recipes that require sugar and/or making things less fatening to our new thinner, healthier selves. . .

Gotta run, good chatting with you about the planting. . .  send me any ideas. . .

Laureen

Laureen,

Two words:  compost and manure!  You can make your own compost from kitchen scraps, yard clippings, etc.  Just google it. 

I don't know where you might get manure up where you are.  Around here we used dried chicken litter (this is poultry house country).  Raised beds need lots of organic matter.

Good luck with your garden!  Send pics when you get it up and growing!

Sure Jell brand for canning and freezing can be done sugar free-they sell it most places you get canning supplies.

Have you ever tried it, Margo? I've seen the sugar free recipes, but I've never tried them. I did try to make some diabetic pickles for my FIL once, but they wouldn't crisp up. They were a soggy mess!

I've been making jelly for 30 years. I'm going to miss it!!!

Vickie

P.S. BTW, if anyone is interested in making dill pickles, I've got the best recipe! Takes 14 days, but boy, are they good!

Good morning Monica and my OFF family!!!

WOW Monica!!! 156 days sober!! I am so proud of you!!!! (((Monica))) :-)

Well its raining here in Ohio and looks like it will all day long! Guess we need the rain to make the grass greener? HAHA its green already from all that snow mother nature dumped on us not so long ago!! Was talk about u****ting near 80 sunday but now they are saying 71* hmm wonder why that change? Was so looking forward to the near 80*!! LOL

Did I mention that I am new great aunt? My neice had her baby April 2nd its a boy!!! He weighed in at 5lbs 7 oz, 17.5" long and they named him Hunter Anthony. Saw him on FB just before my computer crashed. He is a tiny baby but oh so cute!!! Can't wait to see him when we go back to michigan for my mom's 90th birthday in June.

Got my vacation approved right away this time!!! Glad of that!!! Need to start making the RSV's for motels now and kennel for Bandit. Rick wants to go to the Mackinaw bridge. I have been there many many times and he's never been there so while we are in Michigan we will take a ride up there for a couple days and leave Bandit at the kennel. Think we will have a nice time up there.

Had my facet blocks done in my back tuesday morning and I feel so much better now!!!! What a relief!!! Went to see the foot dr yesterday and he said my foot is doing much better so he will leave it alone. BUT if I get hurting again to come back right away and not wait til it hurts again like before. OK. So tuesday I go in for the sciatic shot in left side and then I am good to go! Feels so good to be with out pain again!!! :-)

Guy that lives in the building across the street from ours had company again last night and yes they all parked over here in our spots again. Guess I will have to put a nice note on HIS car or door to ask that he let them know they need to park in front of HIS building not OURS!!!!! See what happens then. Tired of coming home and no place to park again!!! This is getting OLD FAST!!!! Especially when there are 10 empty spots in front of his building to park!!!!!

Well better get going need to see about some motels in Mackinaw and what the prices are. Thoughts and Prayers going out to those that need them!!

HUGS

Judy....glad your pain is better.....also glad you got your vacation time approved!!

Hugs....connie d

Hey Connie!!! Back is doing SOOOO much better yet today even after working 2 days in a row 8 hours alone!!! BUT...the left side sciatic flared up today!!! GRRRR that will be taken care of tuesday morning!!!

Can't wait for vacation time!!! June 4th thru the 11th!!!!

HUGS

judy-all of the hotels/motels around mackinaw are probly pricey-consider staying on the st ignace side of the bridge---- or are you thinking of on the island??????
they do have a toll now going across the bridge-i think it's $4./50 for a car.

sounds fun tho!

I stayed in a pretty nice motel in Mackinaw City several years ago ... look for a deal ... there are several. I had a lakefront room, very nice.

Margo...I have been going up to Mackinaw for MANY years and I know the rates...as for St Ignace...YUCK!!!! I NEVER liked that side of the bridge at all!!!!!!!!! And there has ALWAYS been a fee to cross the bridge.