Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

Jam cake is a tradition in Kentucky. You can find it at most summer picnics and holiday gatherings. KENTUCKY JAM CAKE RECIPE 3 cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup raisins or chopped dates, optional 1 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup blackberry jam, seedless 1 cup buttermilk Cream Cheese Frosting, below . Frosting: 1/4 cup butter 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature 1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract PREPARATION: Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, soda, salt, and spices. Sift a little of the flour mixture over the nuts and raisins or dates. In a mixing bowl, cream butter; gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and blackberry jam. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat until smooth after each addition. Fold in nuts and raisins or dates. Pour into three 9-inch layer cake pans and bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes. Spread cream cheese frosting or your own favorite icing between layers and over cake. Directions for cream cheese frosting Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl; beat well until smooth. Makes enough cream cheese frosting for a 2-layer cake

Oh, wow...what are we going to do here in the party room if everyone is taking a break? Does that mean I'll have to take a couple of days off to do....to do.....(I can say it, I know I can say it...) h-h-h-housework? I did get another whole yard of cow poop today, and a yard of bark mulch, and I (we...Mr. H helped) got the final bed built. And I got 2x10s for it! Woo-Hoo!!! And the Mr. said "Too bad we didn't get them all like that." HAH! We might make a convert out of him yet! Anyway, I also found the boards to use for cross bars on the raspberry bed, so I must get those cut and screwed on. And then all the new stuff needs to be painted, because that's just the way I am :-) I am having an entire dinner from my garden tonight, except for the olive oil, salt & pepper! Mr. H had a couple of grilled brats with his, but all I ate were baby beets (my first of the year, sweet as sugar), beet greens and chopped onion sauteed in olive oil, steamed green beans and crookneck squash and cherry tomatoes. Oh, Mr. H also had sliced cukes...I just do not like them. Mr. Poopyhead and Angela, hurry back, OK? Granny Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

Our kitchen isn't done yet, but we're putting hand soap in the dispensers at both the prep & main sink. I considered putting the dish soap in the dispenser, but I like to be able to squirt my dish soap at different places as needed. If it's in the dispenser the only place to put it is either in the sink where it "falls" or on the edge of pans/dishes as far in as the spout sticks out (I hope this made sense!) As to using dish soap for both...I find that even Palmolive is too harsh for regular hand washing...maybe if you only did it once or twice a day, but I wash my hands many more times a day. IMO, the "hand soap" label on the Palmolive (yes, we use that brand) refers to "hand dish washing" as opposed to "machine dish washing"...despite "Madge"! ("you're soaking in it!")