Haha, your post is funny token! I haven't lost a plant, but like mbhoney, I have a couple plants and I have no idea what the he!! they are. It frustrates me because I should have marked them or put them on the map I make of my beds, but I did neither and now I feel like an idiot for not knowing what I'm growing when I'm the one who planted them last year. I also have at two things growing which are either something I planted or they're weeds. I'm waiting for them to get a little larger hoping I'll be able to tell which they are, then. I hope at that time if they're weeds, they haven't dropped seeds. Robin

I didn't find the receipt you were looking for exactly, but I goggled a couple of things you could check out. Try, cooking in the 1800's, and Duck receipts in the 1800's They had some interesting articles and other things. Hope this helps a bit. Also check wild game receipts for that time frame.

Can't help with your bread, but I think the fruit thing you are looking for is called Rumtopf. It is of German origin. When I lived in England some friends kept a pot of it on a shelf in their kitchen. It was delicious, and the fun part is you just add more fruit as you use it! Here is a recipe I found when I did a google search: Rumtopf (rum pot) Recipe The ingredients: 1. fresh fruit 2. sugar 3. rum (or brandy) It is traditional to begin with the first fruit of the season. This typically includes strawberries, but fresh fruit is often available all year round. Start with your favorite fresh fruit, as long as it is ripe (not over-ripe) and full of flavor. Ideal fruits are: Pineapple (remove rind & core and cut in large cubes) Cherries (any variety, pitted) Apricots (halves, pitted) Nectarines (halves, pitted) Peaches (remove pits and cut in halves, quarters, or slices) Pears (cored, peeled & sliced) Plums (remove seed and half or quarter) Grapes (sweet seedless red or green grapes are ideal) Strawberries (don't wash, just remove stem & leaves). Strawberries will lose their red color. Raspberries (don't wash). Raspberries will lose some of their red color. Red currants (removed from stem) Other less ideal fruits, may be added if you wish: Blackberries or Blueberries (can be bitter and can discolor the other fruits) Watermelon and Cantaloupe chunks (can make the mixture a bit watery) Rhubarb (can make mixture sour) Bananas (too mushy) Citrus (too acidic) Directions: Wash and dry the inside of the Rumtopf. Wash and dry the first chosen fruit. (Don't wash Strawberries and Raspberries.) Remove any stems, seed and pits. In a separate bowl cover the fruit with an equal weight of granulated sugar and allow to sit for one hour. (example: 3 pounds of fruit and 3 pounds of sugar) Place the fruit, sugar and any juices left in the bowl into the Rumtopf. Pour in just enough rum or brandy to cover the fruit. Weigh the fruit down with a clean saucer or plate Cover the opening of the Rumtopf with plastic (to avoid evaporation) and place the lid firmly on top. Store in a cool place away from heat and sunlight. Adding additional layers of fruit: For each additional layer of fruit follow the instructions above, but use only half as much sugar. (Example: 3 pounds of fruit and 1 1/2 pounds of sugar.) After the fruit and sugar has rested for one hour, gently add this mixture onto the earlier layer. Do not mix the fruits. Add more rum or brandy to cover the new layer. Cover with fresh Saran or plastic wrap and the lid. Throughout the summer, repeat the process for each new fruit until your Rumtopf is full. Then allow the entire mixture to sit for another 4 to 6 weeks. It is best at 2-3 months, which is just in time for the Holiday festivities. Serving suggestions: Serve the Rumtopf fruits with its syrup (hot or cold) over ice-cream, cake, flan, puddings, or cheese cake. Serve in an elegant dish topped with whipped cream or cre frâiche. Serve as a side dish with any game meat. Serve the strained liquid as a liquor or after-dinner cordial. Add two tablespoons of the strained liquid to Champagne for a unique and elegant cocktail. Linda

Wow. You guys are great! Thank you all so much for the kind words and encouragement. It helps a lot. And I see I'm not the only one in this boat! I do know that things will get better, and I can always plant new roses, etc. But it's just the loss of the rare roses that pisses me off. Why couldn't it be the more common ones that are easily replaced? Of course that's not the way it goes, altho there were a few of those too! And it's my fault for planting the tiny own-root bands in this crappy soil of ours before they've grown to a decent size. And it's my fault for not keeping on top of the sprinklers to be sure they are covering the entire beds, and my fault for not getting the most invasive weeds and underplantings pulled out when they were smaller. But... that's because I've been so busy, and overly obsessed and buying waaaay too many roses. I'm not growing and cultivating them, I'm collecting them. That's what I do. I collect things. It's sad. It's a sickness I guess. I know that in the coming seasons I will get all the beds done. And Bluegirl, yes I am doing what you said. I plant a rose, or weed part of a bed. In this heat, that's all I can do. It's slow going, but it's nice when I do get something done. Right now tho, I also am now dealing with the death of my 98yr old mom. We've been expecting it for sometime, but it's kind of surreal now that it has finally happened. My brother just flew out from Upstate NY and my sister is coming up from SoCal, so we will be dealing with all the estate and stuff over the next two weeks. I'm not going to get much done in the yard for awhile, except watering. Which is ok, since it's been too darn hot to work out there. By then it will be cooler and easier to do stuff outside. The only drawback now is the days are getting shorter, so I won't have as much daylight to get things done. Oh well, it'll get done when it gets done. LOL My life will be so different now. I'll have more time and less stress. Not that Mom was stressful. It was my niece who is my partner in the shop, and who lived with her. She's got mental issues and was a nightmare to deal with regarding Mom. Our lives revolved around her needs and wants, and my younger son and I had to go stay with Mom whenever she wanted to have time off. Now I have freedom, and so does Mom! She was trapped in her bed in a body that didn't work and a mind that was basically gone. I will miss her, but I will not miss the ordeals we went thru with my niece. And I will think of Mom when I'm out there working in the garden. Being out there will help me get over her passing. Judith, your chickens sound wonderful. We only have room for a few. (In fact we're not supposed to have more than 2... which is totally ludicrous... why bother?) Anyway.... we built a decent little shack for the girls and have a run that's 8'x24', but we're going to add another 10-12' in length and use our old satellite dish to put over part of it. It's going to be a fun and funky set-up for them. And next yr... I want some of those Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and Brahmas. Can't wait! Oh and I also am using weed barrier under some of my potted roses. Saves on weeds that's for sure. Altho they still get in the pots. But now I am sort of cultivating some weeds. Those are the goodies for the chickens! They love it when I bring them their "greens!"