:) You guys, you cut me to the quick! It's my Charlie Brown tree. It was wonky and absolutely pitiful when i brought it home last year. By October, it had developed these wierd, gangly lower branches that were as wide as the tree was tall. So late winter/early spring, i sort of chopped those lower ones off a bit, in the hopes that it would assume a more balanced shape. It just hasn't leafed out yet. It will look better soon ... Do you think it's doomed? I'm determined not to give up on this tree. It was the only Tomcot in the nursery, and i just had to have it. Now, i'm going to love it tall. I have so much to learn. But overall, i'm pleased with the way the fruit trees are coming along. Am i just being overly optimistic? Blind to obvious problems? Anyway, thanks for your feedback everyone. It looks like two slightly opposing opinions about the pruning cuts so far. I hope i can save this tree ... :)

Well laundry is TOTALLY out of control around here right now. In the past 2 days I have washed like 10+ loads but have not folded a bit of it ~sigh~ So today we are going to bring it all in the dinning room and we are ALL going to fold. Now I have to say that when I say fold I mean throw it in a basket that the kids then take to their room and stuff in their drawers. Yes, no need to adjust your monitor. I DO NOT FOLD MY KIDS CLOTHES. Honestly I just don't see a reason since 30 seconds after I put nicely folded clothes in their drawers someone goes looking for their *favorite* t-shirt or such and messes the whole thing up and I just want to scream! So I just cut out the middle man and let them stuff it in there! Ok. I will admit that I DO fold their church clothes and put them on a high shelf but other than that in my almost 16 years of parenting have yet to loose a child to wering slightly rumpled sweats or less than crisp t-shirts for the express purpose of getting filthy dirty outside or laying on their belly on the floor while they play legos. My 13 year old DD now does her own clothes since she wants them folded.. for the rest.. they take what they get :) Maddiemom

People worked with wood for thousands of years before the advent of electricity. A quick Google search turned up a video that uses a circular saw to save some time. No reason you couldn't use a hand saw instead. There's a You Tube video using a hand saw here.

I've not made a traditional two crust pie ever that I can remember. I do have a couple pie tins and a glass one from a yard sale. For fruits I like a rustic galette. I fell for the tart tins with the removable bottoms years ago and have many. Different heights from one inch to three. Most are the small 7inch diameter. Cooking time reduction varies depending on the height and the filling. Berries are forgiving but some fillings are problematic. (I add fresh berries halfway through cooking on top.) If the recipe cooking time is one hour, I count on 20 minutes less. If the cooking time is 45 minutes, I count on 15 min less. Really depends on the height/density. Pecan pie, a family favorite, gets so dry/gritty if overcooked. (did that once) I do the same with crust. Never cut the recipe. The overhang gets turned into decoration for the edges. Usually a tiny oak leaf cutter. DH is the pie crust maker so always have some in the freezer. Frozen as singles. One party I took out two thinking I might make two different pies/tarts. Just made one knowing the crowd would just want a sliver. (Dad will take a sliver, then 4 more slivers 🙄) The second crust I rolled out and started adding grated cheese half way through the rolling and made cheesy crisps. Nice pre-dinner snack. So you can always freeze or use that extra crust for other things like pot-pies or hand pies. Not made a pie at all this covid mess. Just eating our fruit fresh. Shame. Not even a custard.