This has been a really spectacular read. I'm an environmental consultant in MA. Wetlands work, water quality studies, some rare species studies, various and sundry permitting issues, etc. I have a house in Boston with a postage-stamp-sized back yard that I am forever trying to squeeze as much produce out of as possible. I do get enough to have a giant harvest party every year, with homemade sauce for 30-35 people plus plenty left over for us in the later months. Good times. I discovered GardenWeb forums maybe two months ago and I feel like I've already doubled my knowledge. I'm so psyched to put some of these ideas into practice and see how things go. Thanks everyone for such great threads, ideas, and comments. Hope everyone is doing well. - Chris

Hey guys great to see you!!! Can't wait until it is in real person. I don't have everyone's email so I will email Gina today with our dates. Unfortunately it looks like we are going to be in LA during the week so lunch will be tricky and I know that dinner can be a bad time given other obligations. Hopefully we can arrange something but if not...............I will kill myself.

Many creative people indeed, and the rest of us to admire their creativity. That does look like a very comfortable chair, Lars, and like barnmom, I'm imagining how silk/mohair would feel. And, back to food, is that triangle standing up on the side of the bowl the crunchy rice? Annie

Cindy, I never got those Lava Cakes right either, somehow I always overcooked them and so never got "lava flow", but my kids loved them, said they were like the best brownies they ever had. They'd eat them hot with ice cream and hot fudge, called it a "hot fudge brownie sundae". I still love Chase's red pepper soup, I first had it made by Chase herself when Elery and I went to Toronto and met Sharon and Clive and Woodie and Ken. Now I make it myself, but I never thought to just buy jarred peppers. Between that trip, The Michigan Run, Canning Camp, California Dreaming and just various visits, I've met something like 27 members, including several of those in Lars' pictures. I've enjoyed every single one of them. I'm sorry I never got pictures of Janet Englehardt before she passed away from cancer, although I did stay in touch with her husband, Larry, for some time. Several of us lived/still live in Michigan, including Lakemayor/Karen, wizardnm/Nancy, Sheshebop/Sherry, Bunnyman/Michael, Solsthumper/Sol, and a couple right next door in Chicago, including Peppi and Ilana. Annie