Here's a little update on my pumpkin growing adventure. After a few days of non-growth the boys are back on track. Spike has taken over the lead in the growth department. Stats: Circ. 44' OTT 30' & 30.5' 104.5 OTT= 32# weight. Not earth shattering, but for a twenty-day old pumpkin, not too shabby. The others, Pancho and Lefty are a little behind. The image shows Spike with some of the foliage pruned away. In the foreground are giant sunflowers, about 9' tall now with no heads yet. I have switched to foliar feeding every other day using 'Monty's Joy Juice' (yep that's the name.) I couldn't find the Neptunes Harvest. Monty's seems to be working pretty good as well. It is a late season feed that comes in at 2-2-15. I also blend in a little molasses for added calcium and micronutrients. Here is a link that might be useful: Monty's Joy Juice

Gabi, Yes, when anyone says "big mac" I just assume (incorrectly) that the person is speaking of Hoya macgillivrayi. Yes, I love the leaves on macrophylla var. too. The plant never needs to bloom since the leaves are so stunning (well, flowers would be nice, but not necessary - oh, who am I kidding? I want flowers, too!!!) I just ordered macgillivrayi from DL so I'm excited to get one. I think I ordered the Massey River Queensland form with dark red flowers. With all of the hoyas I've purchased recently, I need to put a cardboard box out in the yard so I have the room for the hoyas in the house! Whatever it takes to have the room for the hoyas! I have a spreadsheet with all my hoyas and if I get everything from DL, I'll have 57. Back in the late 70's and early 80's I had almost 70, so I'm almost back to where I was. The plants I have now are so much cooler than the plants I had back then (lots and lots of carnosa hybrids), but there are so many cool hoyas available now. I just need to win the 10+ million in the HotLotto and I'll be set! Greenhouse, here I come! Mike

I'm glad your husband is doing better, and I've still got you in my prayers for that kidney. Change is always hard, but I grew up in a rural area in a farming family. We never ate out. Now I'm the world's pickiest eater and very seldom eat out. I haven't found a single thing I like at Olive Garden and I feed the dog at McDonald's, LOL. You are right, you have to read labels, there is salt and fat and high fructose corn syrup hidden in everything. I was amazed at the salt level in cottage cheese, I expected it in canned soup and soup base/bouillion but cottage cheese? I don't really find that it's more expensive to eat healthy, but it takes a lot more time and a lot more thought. 4 ounces is a serving, so I can get a pound of cod for $6 and get two meals for Elery and I from that, that's $1.50 a meal for protein and that's the expensive stuff. Pork loin is closer to $3 a pound, so 4 ounces will cost 75 cents. Oatmeal is inexpensive but that fruit is going to get you, it's always pricey. Even at $3 a pound, though, vegetables are a lot cheaper than beef and cheaper than a Big Mac too, and more filling. Beans are a good option too, although they are now up to about $1.50 a pound for dried beans. A pound makes a LOT, though..... Funny, I don't care for pasta or pizza or ice cream but I love beans. Something I like that's actually good for me, it's a miracle! Annie

Nothing I didn't know....but for the actual numbers. Someone needs to show people how to make hamburger helper from scratch. I remember back when Sloppy Joe's were the hamburger helper of the day, people were amazed that I could make a sloppy Joe without canned soup! Or a chuck roast without a package of dry onion soup mix, or a chocolate cream pie without a premade graham cracker crust in a disposable tin and a box of pudding mix....oh yes and an envelope of "whipped topping". The pie takes longer but costs lots less....the rest is quick and easy. I took a shortcut through the "frozen entrees" section of the supermarket earlier this week...oh my...and there is another section for breakfast. Not long ago that contained mainly frozen juice, frozen fruit and Eggos. Now there's a whole section with sandwiches and who knows what else. I used to think I was a slacker if I made Bis Quick pancakes and bought sausage links rather than thawing some ground pork and seasoning it, now you can buy precooked bacon and precooked eggs!