This is a interesting discussion. However, it's in the June/July archive folder. If someone in the future wants to find this canning discussion which took place in August they will have a difficult time.

Could I request we move it to the current weekend chit chat folder? Thanks.

I'll repost some of the last few posts there and then Close this folder.

Deborah, we once had a 20 year old freezer. One summer, since we were going to be away a lot, I emptied it and unplugged it. I could not believe how much lower my electric bills were than they had been the previous summer! So I bought a new one, pronto.It paid for itself in six months!

Down here at the beach, I have my sister's old (21 years old) refrigerator in our storage area. We only use it for parties, etc. One time, I forgot to unplug it for a MONTH!!! and my electric bill that month was $100 more than that of the previous year. EEEK!

I think these appliances have come a long way as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

We got rid of our freezer a few years ago when we downsized and the kids were gone. Sometimes I yearn for one, though, and have even considered buying a small one. But...my sister only lives a half-mile away from me in PA and she has a freezer and extra refrigerator that I often use.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I have read that a full freezer is more efficient than a partially empty one."

This is what the salesguy told us when we bought our freezer in '80. In fact, he suggested (as did a different salesperson years later) that we put jugs of water in the freezer or wadded newspaper to fill up the space. We never did that but i usually managed to keep our freezer full. Mostly i'd make big seasonal batches of meals & keep them there, slowly replacing them with home-baked goods over the year. Now that our kids are gone, i'd probably save those ice jugs. Or keep towels there in the summer! However, we haven't agreed to replace the old one yet. *sigh*

deborah, who actually found a bag of frozen vegetable in the freezer portion of her 'fridge today!

I always have a little extra space in my freezer to tuck in bags of of frozen veggies, and always have a big assortment there. I have read that a full freezer is more efficient than a partially empty one. We just got a new refrigerator/freezer and it uses so little energy per year...I was amazed.

JoAnn, i remember reading that about frozen food but factoring in the energy to keep it cold, i usually end up buying canned, if no fresh is available.

Jan, i'm with you on the looks of canned meats.

Btw, dad also mentioned that a neighbor across the road was in charge of killing animals for the government, which you may recall reading about in the book we read together. Being in Texas, he mainly killed cattle. However, he called neighbors in to help themselves & the entire block spent the day canning meat for future use. Dad said that man helped save many people from malnutrition, illegal though his actions were.

deborah

Deborah reported her dad's wisdom: "He believes that once you tied into a system--be it jar canning or tin canning--you stuck with it because you had the equipment. For example, the crimper, which sealed the cans. Since you'd invested in it (probably during WWI, he believes), you continued to use it. "

Okay, that makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

I remember having heard about lead used in sealing cans but always assumed it was commercially produced cans.

I wonder if tin cans are used for canning meat because of the appearance factor. A jar of canned tomatoes, green beans, or beets is lovely to behold, but I'm betting jarred meat wouldn't look so savory. But, come to think of it, that's probably a concern of a person who has plenty to eat. Folks who had little access to any food except what they'd "put up" themselves wouldn't be so persnickety about appearances, would they? Thinking of the people in the book about the Dust Bowl. . .

Jan O'Cat

Many large food producers (Birds Eye, Campbell's) have processing plants in areas of large farms. My aunt and uncle sold their tomatoes and corn to both of these companies and I remember them telling me that the vegetables were all processed within 24 hours.

I once attended a talk by John Stossel who told us that is why frozen and canned food usually has more nutrients than fresh produce that has been trucked/shipped across the country.

Ok, i got the dope from my dad, as he calls it. I was mistaken, they didn't actually can in the field, even though that was the way he described it to us. (Another example of him using a term, thinking we'd understand.) They used a wood-burning stove in his cousin's kitchen.

He knows & remembers that there were glass jars for canning but they never used them. He believes that once you tied into a system--be it jar canning or tin canning--you stuck with it because you had the equipment. For example, the crimper, which sealed the cans. Since you'd invested in it (probably during WWI, he believes), you continued to use it.

Two other points he made.

#1) They still used tin canning in Alaska, particularly for meat. (I suspect they use it other places for meat but he saw it in Alaska in the '80s.) It's handier than glass for mailing food, which apparently parents like to send to their kids in college.

#2) Some home canners used lead to help the sealing. He had a distant cousin a few towns over who found an unopened can of corn in some trash. (What he was doing there--were they poor and hungry? or was he just being a kid?) Yes, the kid opened it & ate the produce. He died. According to Dad most people knew enough to not use lead, even then. Sad.

deborah

Deborah said: "He mentioned that if a can bulged, they immediately tossed it away, as that was a sign of poor canning, which is true even today in grocery stores."

My immediate thought was that they might not use jars as they sometimes explode, but that bulging can would be just as bad. I'm betting it's the can-in-the-field aspect, something else I'd never heard of. But imagine how hard it would be to take the jars and work with them in a field.

Jan O'Cat

JanOMalleycat wrote: "Deborah, I've never heard of this. Did you ask why they did it this way instead of traditional jars?"

No, i didn't think of it, Jan. I'm guessing cost, although it may be because they canned in the field, not in a kitchen, using a wood-burning stove. They picked, then canned immediately. He said he knew there were such things as glass jars, they just didn't use them. I'll ask when i next talk to him, though. He mentioned that if a can bulged, they immediately tossed it away, as that was a sign of poor canning, which is true even today in grocery stores.

deborah

Deborah said: "It was only as he spoke on his birthday we realized that while we were thinking of jar-canning, he meant tin canning. They'd buy empty cans with bottoms. They'd add the vegetables, the liquids, then seal with a sort of crimper & steam bath the cans. "

Deborah, I've never heard of this. Did you ask why they did it this way instead of traditional jars?

Jan O'Cat

Traveler wrote: "Deborah.. so glad you are feeling better. And theat you were able to find the strength to spend Sunday with your dad at the bBQ. 85... WOW
..."

Thanks to all for the nice wishes for my dad's 85th. I finally thought to ask him about the Dust Bowl in west Texas. He said where he lived (a number of different towns) they were below a long ridge. The dark topsoil storms of which we read were only sand storms by the time they reached them. However, there were still an unusual number of storms there, too.

In the past he'd mentioned canning food with his mother & cousin. It was only as he spoke on his birthday we realized that while we were thinking of jar-canning, he meant tin canning. They'd buy empty cans with bottoms. They'd add the vegetables, the liquids, then seal with a sort of crimper & steam bath the cans. Who knew? It's funny how such simple words meant something different to all of us over these years.

deborah

Sherry (sethurner) wrote: "Deborah, Alfred Lunt was born in Milwaukee, and had relatives (grandparents?)in Genesee Depot...[deb edited:] Lynne Fontanne was from England, originally."

Thanks for the info, Sherry. I think i was under the impression Lunt was from the UK, not her. This brain. It looks like a great day trip.

deborah

Glad to see you Debbie! I understand the heart hurt when they leave.Rough, istn' it?

Kate

It's good to see you back, Debbie. I'd been wondering about you, but thought I remembered you were going to have company. I feel for you on the hurting heart. It must be hard for your daughter and grandson to live so far away.

Jan O'Cat

Hello everyone! I have been MIA for most of the past 5 weeks. My daughter, SIL, and my 4 month grandson have been here! Unfortunately, they went back to California today. I so enjoyed having them here and seeing my grandson every day. Now, I have to get through my heart hurting :( The good news is I will have time to get back to my usual routines!

Tricia,

What cruise are you going on and when?

Deborah.. so glad you are feeling better. And theat you were able to find the strength to spend Sunday with your dad at the bBQ. 85... WOW

DJ.. I was hoping to lose some weight before the cruise but still haven't gotten in that mode. I need to get in the zone. I will let you know when that happens. lol Probably as soon as I arrive home from the cruise and am so mad at myself for my weight.

madrano wrote: ==
deborah, glad to be among the living again
--------------------

Sorry to hear you were under the weather, Deb. We missed you. Happy 85th birthday to your dad !

Deborah, Alfred Lunt was born in Milwaukee, and had relatives (grandparents?)in Genesee Depot. I don't know how many miles that is, but today it's probably around half an hour by car from one to the other. Lynne Fontanne was from England, originally. If you Google Ten Chimneys there is a little bit of information about the two of them.

The malls usually open earlier they have apple 1 to 1 classes that start at 8am. I heard them tell one person it's for the training only you can't come in and buy stuff at that time. What I notice is (it's a big mall) and they put cones at all the entrances closing off the different rows of parking spots. The first time I went at 9 I didn't know if I could park there but saw other cars so I did and there was a guard at the end of the one watching so I walked half way down to her and asked if I could park there that I was going to the computer class she said yes. So it's still happening so this week when I was leaving the store I stopped to ask one of the guys that stand by the door to direct you in the apple store to the right person and he explained they do it for employee parking before a certain time in the morning. I said to him I thought it was to keep the communters out and he said it probably is for that too. The stores themselves open at 10. The ones in that County can't be open on sundays. It's under Bergen so they aren't allowed to open stores that day. It's not the closest apple store to me. I could probably get to the one closer in less than 1/2 the time it takes me around 1/2 or maybe alittle more. The closer one is down the highway from me onto another horrible highway. That mall since I moved here I usually don't go to most of it alone because for some reason I just don't like going on my own. It's were the costco I go to is, The old Borders used to be there. I didn't even know where the apple store was in there until I asked and the guy said it's next to the disney store so it really is the happiness place in the world (guy was making a joke and using the saying from Disney) I'll probably go there when my bil goes with me to the 1 to 1. There is alot of the higher end stores at the location I go too. But alot of little places. I haven't even seen the whole mall lately since they added more than double or triple the amount of stores.
T, happy birthday I thought it was around this time. Sorry I missed sending you a card. But expect some time in the future the promised picture I always said I would send you. I have to wait until I get up to a certain amount of pictures with the new camera for getting them free. And I'm not up to it yet. My sister took 2 nice ones of me with the sunset behind me. At some point after getting enough pictures I'll be taking the digital class for mac so will learn about doing things with the pictures and sending them. I might even end up starting a blog but I'm not ready to go that far yet. Today was WW and that is a different story. I lost point something don't even know. I'm so off track lately. But no more prepaids and you either have to pay for 17 weeks for $190. or do the one for less but that is though the computer that they auto take out from your acct. Neither do I like. So having used my last prepaid. My sister stopped going she was sick of it at least for the summer. So she's giving me the rest of her coupons (we always bought them and shared them) so I'll have the rest of those then will either stop for awhile or pay by the week. I think my sister has 5 if not 1 or 2 more. She either had one left when we bought the last time or she was one less than me. So can't remember and she didn't have them at home last week. So now I think I'm going to use those but if I switch to the weekly pay then I'm giving myself a goal amt and time and if I don't lose a certain amt by then. I'm stopping for awhile. I hate doing it because even if I'm not losing I'm somewhat in control with getting on the scale each week. So we will see.
T, maybe we need to start the emails again.

Sherry (sethurner) wrote: "Design For Living. Lunt and Fontanne were the premier acting couple in the 1920, 30, 40s and even into the 50s."


Sherry, your visit sounded nice. I remember the Lunt/Fontanne couple & was intrigued by their history. Neat that they lived in your neck of the woods & you can see such a place. Was one of them from there originally or did they just happen upon the area?

deborah

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "the most noticeable being that she had lost control of her hindquarters (ataxia) and walked as if drunk! This has been so stressful on the new parents, to say the least."

Almost as soon as i had our second child our cat (3 years in our care, a stray), began walking that way, Jan. Unfortunately it was the first sign of a sort of cat leukemia. She died of it fairly soon after. It's sad in any circumstance but to see such misery when one is so divinely happy with a newborn moved me to new depths, as well. It sounds as though Charmer will recover, however. I'm just pleased to learn you've been able to relieve their caregiving a bit.

deborah

I have a sort of "Lost Weekend" story to relate. DH went to San Antonio last Wednesday, the 22nd. It was to be my time to revel in solitude. About 10 minutes after he left, a horrid cold or flu struck me senseless. For the next 80 or so hours i did little other than sleep (& little of that, thanks to a "frozen shoulder" i've been battling this year) and click the remote. No morsels of evil to devour, no tomes read, no posts written, just a living deadness. It was wretched.

THEN, because Sunday was my dad's 85th birthday i garnered the requisite energy to bake two pies (blackberry & strawberry) and two side dishes & tote them to Dallas for our birthday barbeque. My DD flew to San Antonio to see her paternal GPs, then DH drove her to Dallas to surprise my dad. It was a delightful day, too short.

In fact, her entire visit was too short for an adoring mother. Tuesday afternoon she returned to NYC. Still, it was a joy for my heart.

Naturally this called for a relapse, so it's only today i'm feeling nearly human. My first thought was to post on the boards, me being me. ;-)

Bottom Line: Despite illness & such, i had a great weekend.

Traveler, a belated Happy Birthday to you! You seem to have had a wonderful time with & without others--ah, a shopping spree! DJ, good to see your posts. And, Jan, how did you get two identical posts placed? (or will one be edited & everyone will think Deb's still ill?) I've often "lost" posts (usually long ones, of course) but none ever showed up again, let alone in duplicate.

deborah, glad to be among the living again...if ya want i can list some of the bad to mediocre movies i watched on the tv!

Donna Jo said: "I've been going the last few times on wednesday between 10 and 11 and that is a good time the mall isn't open yet but the doors are. "

Donna Jo, what time do your malls open? Ours open at 10:00 and a lot of people think that's too late. Some of the stores that have outside doors open at 9:00.

It's good to hear from you!

Jan O'Cat

Donna Jo said: "I've been going the last few times on wednesday between 10 and 11 and that is a good time the mall isn't open yet but the doors are. "

Donna Jo, what time do your malls open? Ours open at 10:00 and a lot of people think that's too late. Some of the stores that have outside doors open at 9:00.

It's good to hear from you!

Jan O'Cat

So DJ.. they sent you the wrong thing and what you did get is destroyed. And now the company is closed. NO WAY. OMG. Is the gift you got usable at all? Thats so bad it's almost funny.
My friend who is unemployed due to the recession and really struggling decided after much thought to renew his gym membership and they closed the day after taking his payment. AHhhhhhh..
Yes, my birthday was Monday. So we sort of celebrated all weekend. I think I told in the weekend thread what we did. Went out Friday night and got in at 3am. Stayed in Saturday, bf & I watched TV and played yahtzee. lol Sunday we had a cookout. FUN!! Bf got me a baker's rack for my kitchen and put it together; (I've wanted and needed one).. and a bunch of "Carolina" stuff. A Carolina Gamecock teddy bear; Carolina beach blanket; shot glass; and big Carolina block C car magnet. Football season is around the corner. Plus we usually do a trip in July since both our birthdays are in July. We went to DC and Busch Gardens this year.
He was going to take me to dinner on Monday night but had to go out of town for work so I cooked dinner for us which was fine. Also, I took the day off and went shopping. Just little stuff. Went to Wal-Mart; hobby Lobby; AC Moore. I was looking for baskets for one shelf of my Bakers Rack. Bought candles (love candles around the house); bought some clothes; etc. It was fun to run around all day. I haven't done that in awhile just for fun.

Well hopefully soon I'll be on regular again. Oops, T. isn't your BD around this time too. I know every year I say I have to write it down to remember but I know you are around the same time as me. <grn> BD is nice had a extra day at the shore that weekend. It seems so long ago. We went on the saturday to see ABBA The tour usually when we go to this place we don't sit inside we stand outside or sit if there is a bench empty. It's a place that is open on the sides but this year my brother in law wanted to go inside. We got general admission. It was good seats. They were great but it was loud so you really couldn't enjoy the volume that much. But you knew all the songs. The orginal drummer was with them on this trip so it was someone from the orignal group. But they sound the same if you didn't know it was them if you would think it was them. We went out to a nice restaurant on the beach for my monday birthday and it wasn't a place we have been before so it was different. Just owned by the same guy as another place we go too. I think I might have been here afterwards and said that my sister & BIL gave me 50 single dollar bills plus a starbucks gift certificate. Robbie made me a cute picture frame that I got the weekend before last when I saw my niece at a baby shower. My cousin gave a B&N gift certificate and that is it so far. I had a gift from my nephew and they sent the wrong thing the company he got it from. Well it turns out the company is going to be no more (they didn't tell him and took the order the day they found out when they weren't supposed to) but it was going to be creditd back to his card so really I have the wrong gift that was distroyed in mailing and nothing else. But I'll be seeing him in a few weeks. So who knows.

HI DJ...

How was your birthday. I forgot to send a card this year. Forgive me. I hope you had a good one. Being out of town this month threw me off a bit.

Yes Donna Jo. I was thinking about you this morning and thinking we haven't heard from you in a long time.

Barbara

Good to hear from you DonnaJo, we've been missing you!

Donna in Southern Maryland

I'm haven't been checking in awhile because life is busy and some days until I get a service which I have to one of these days I get no signal so it's finding a spot that I get a signal away from home. And feeling like I have to stand on my head to keep the signal. So only writing emails or answering emails that I have too. And trying to keep up with mail. But this week after being home (no shore) for the weekend I finally got a signal again. So I had to time to check in. weeks of the summer are going very fast. with my 1 to 1 Mac training which I'm doing once a week, needlepoint another day, and whatever errands another day it's been busy. Had total withdrawal this past weekend with no shore. But sister was home for a wedding so didn't fell too bad. And she keeps in contact every day or every other day. But can't wait to head to shore on friday. It better be a nice weekend it's a house full. Not fun when it's lousy weather. And we sure have alot of rain and storms hitting at least once a day the last week. The 1 to 1 training is at time fun and other time feel like I get nothing. You would think you would get the same person each time but you don't so you never know who get's you. So you start a topic to learn about one week and then you pick the same topic the next time to learn more and it's a different person. I wasn't in the mood to go today but did it was my second time with learning stuff in relation to pages (IWork) both last week and this week was enjoyable. My first part of Itunes the first training was enjoying the second I felt I didn't get anything out of. Another time again I felt I didn't get enough out of that one. But I guess it depends on who the trainer is. Mostly young people. I've been going the last few times on wednesday between 10 and 11 and that is a good time the mall isn't open yet but the doors are. The parking lot isn't bad that I have to park at far. The only problem is I'm ending up eating there afterwards or spending money I shouldn't. Can't seem to just leave when the training is over. And it's a pain to carry your laptop around with you afterwards. They say you don't have to bring it but I rather do stuff on my own mac. I shedule my next training at the end while there so far. I probably can't when I want to start skipping a week. But at this point I rather get in as many as I can while the weather is good because who knows when winter comes if I'll be able to go as much. With the new rules it's not the amount of times as I was told in the beginning I can go as many times in a year as I want. And once my sister & brother in law are home I'm going to have him start using it too. As they say he can say he's me. Ha Ha. I'll probably sign him up for the beginning stuff that I could probably hear again. I haven't been reading much in the last week or so but now I'm reading Freefall by fern michaels and have to get moving on the borders book club book for the 20th of aug. Which is East of the sun by Jula Gregson. Probably a book all of you would enjoy. They read Empress Orchid the last time forgot the author I didn't get into it or read it fast enough Plus it didn't help it was the 4th weekend and I was gone on the thursday they had it. After telling the leader Jennifer that wasn't a good idea in the past she went and did what I said not to do. Or please don't do. And now when I talked to her a week ago in the store she said she learned her lesson. I think it would be a good book Empress Orchid for us to read since she already said some wanted to read the next book and talk about it. So I'll need help to get though the first one. If I'm not mistaken Nancy enjoyed reading this author. I think it was the history that was too much but yet to me I didn't get far enough into the book before giving up. But this East of The sun is a fat book and I have to get though it fast. it's about 3 women who go to india and each want something different out of it. Last night went to the library book discussion signing of E. F. Watkins. Never heard of her before she writes paranormal. It was interesting but not reading alot of horror or that type of book I felt out of it. But she talked alot about the differences of different genes thriller, mystery, paranormal, horror etc. I bought one book the first of the author. Didn't get any of the newer ones. First signing I went to that only 2 of the 9 people bought books. I kind of felt bad for the author and even with the storms coming and going in the area I was glad I went. I got in and out and still home in time to see the after the rose.

Lol Donna.. I think he's taking a break. Poor guy. Remember he had spent $400.00 on a plane ticket for the one girl. Well the airline will only give him a voucher IN HER NAME. So pretty much he's out $400.00.
I'd be calling MANAGEMENT. That is crazy. He's a student and only works part-time.
I should have taken pictures last night so I could post them from my camera and you could see some of these faces. :-)

Tricia, Has Jeff from across the street made any more Love Connections, or is has he sworn off women for awhile? :o)

Donna in Southern Maryland

Sherry that sounds like a great day!!
BF is trying to get a group together to go to Carowinds for a day. We had one of my closest friends and her Mom over for dinner tonight. And of course, the neighbors came out. lol Jeff from across the street came over. My other neighbor and her rockstar bf came too. So we had a fun cookout. And bf tried to recruit them all for the day trip.

We ran out of propane so bf and Jeff ran over to another friend of ours house and "stole" his propane off his grill. lol Of course, we left him a message.
In fact, he called and was going to stop by on the way home from the lake but never made it.

A good weekend overall.

It wasn't this weekend, but Thursday I met up with Peg and Rita from the AOL boards, and we had a really nice day touring Ten Chimneys, the Lunt and Fontanne estate in Genesee Depot, WI. I started but did not finish my old professor, Margot Peters' book about the acting couple called Design For Living. Lunt and Fontanne were the premier acting couple in the 1920, 30, 40s and even into the 50s. Their home is beautiful, and I was a little stunned to think that people like Helen Hays, John Gielgud, and Noel Coward regularly visited a little town so nearby. After our tour we had a good lunch and book chat. Now that's a nice day!

Stayed in tonight and beat bf at Yahtzee. lol
We went out last night and got in at 3am.
Having friends over tomorrow night for a cookout.

Plan to go see the Harry Potter movie sometime soon.
Then I have to read the LAST book. Ah, I will miss Harry and the crew.

Jan, my cat wants nothing to do with Charmer. If she get too close, he hisses. But he tolerates her as long as she leaves him and his food alone. Of course, because we have part of the house blockaded so Charmer cannot walk too much, it is easy for him to stay away from her.

Charmer has spent a lot of time with us....sometimes months. So she knows we give good care!

Wow, Charlie is so much bigger! I'd never heard of a Bumbo seat. Looks like a smart idea.

I'm so glad Charmer is comfortable enough with you that you can give her and her parents a break. Poor girl has been through so much. How does your cat take to having a dog visitor?

Jan O'Cat

I love those Bumbo seats! I first saw one several years ago when a friend placed her young daughter in one. It was the first gift I bought for Ava and she loves it!

Kate

I just uploaded a new photo of Charlie, sitting in his Bumbo seat for the first time yesterday

http://www.bumboseat.com/orderbumboseat....

My dear Charmer has been staying with us since Tuesday. We just decided the my daughter and SIL needed a break. The phenobarb for the seizures has had some awful side effects, the most noticeable being that she had lost control of her hindquarters (ataxia) and walked as if drunk! This has been so stressful on the new parents, to say the least.

So we brought Charmer up to PA for two weeks at Camp Grandma and Grandpa. She was glad to see us and we have her set up in the family room (which is carpeted) and a small section of the kitchen. I took her to our vet yesterday (this same vet saved her life 4 years ago) and she thinks her ACL surgery is healing well and that the ataxia is almost gone. I have seen a noticeable improvement since Tuesday. But she will probably need to be on phenobarb for the rest of her life, and it is not good for the liver. Something else to worry about.

Shauna, how did Caitlin get so lucky? My friend Barbara's daughter was sent to MONGOLIA on her church mission.

And here's the irony...her two older brothers were sent to Italy and Switzerland!!!!

Hi Shauna. I think the actress Demi Moore also named her daughter Scout in tribute to the girl from Mockingbird.

Best wishes to Caitlin. Spain ! Wow. That is exciting.

Hi, friends. My oldest daughter (Caitlin) is going to serve a mission for our church to Madrid, Spain, for 18 months beginning December 9. We are all very excited!

"Mockingbird" should be interesting. As most of you know, my youngest daughter (Hannah Scout) is named for the cute girl from Harper Lee's novel.

Hope you're all having a great summer.

Shauna

They'll learn to listen Kate. lol Elderly people just love babies. It's amazing. So glad you took the baby.
Becky.. I've visited Estes Park and Denver. Also, loved Boulder. Glad you had such a nice trip. I used to scrapbook but havne't for about 2 years. I keep taking pictures but they are just piling up. I need to get to work and organize them.

Jan.. HA!! Next time you'll just have to join Donna & I. Yeah, that's the ticket. Where should we go?

kate/Edukate12 wrote: "Trust me, Nana Kate has to work overtime to keep her mouth shut."

Ah, grandparenting rules! I had no idea. Good for you, Kate.

deb

Kate said: "Imagine my surprise when they called me shortly after returning home to tell me that.............guess what............she's teething. I guess maybe Nana Kate does know a thing or two.

and then Jan said :Way to show those kids, Nana Kate!

Trust me, Nana Kate has to work overtime to keep her mouth shut.

Traveler said: " OK, I know you ladies did something with your weekends while I was gone!!!"

Not me, Traveler. You know I'd never do a thing without you here to supervise me.

Kate said: "Imagine my surprise when they called me shortly after returning home to tell me that.............guess what............she's teething. I guess maybe Nana Kate does know a thing or two.

Way to show those kids, Nana Kate!

Jan O'Cat

I went on a trip to Colorado last weekend. My girlfriend and I spent time in Denver, hiked in Estes Park and stayed with her relatives in Ft. Collins. We drove 30 miles north of Ft. Collins and also visited my two sons and husband and her son at Boy Scout Camp. It was great to get in the mountains again and to get some great shopping in. We are both into scrapbooking so we hit some major stores and did lots of damage to the wallet.

Becky