WOW! I've been very busy at work for the last 2 weeks so haven't spent any time on line. It was a shock to come back and not be able to get to my favorite place.

Just wanted to share with those who understand the great feeling of making raspberry jam from our own raspberries. This is the first year we've gotten a large enough harvest. I made scones for dessert last night. Nothing like hot scones filled with butter and raspberry jam! YUM!! This is the first thing we've harvested this year since I got a late start, although the carrots and peas are almost ready for their first picking. I love this time of year even though we're always so busy.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Answers

Amber, that is so cool, it's so great to hear from someone who is young and excited about making homemade goodies! All Joy to you! Love TRen

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

I'm envious, Amber.

We just planted raspberries this year and they're only about 8 inches tall right now. I needed to cover them with Remay as the deer wanted to dine on them.

We planted strawberries this year, too. But the deer decimated the plants just when they were starting to look great. The strawberries are now covered with Remay, too. I hope they survive... :-(

Sure wish we'd get rain. We've been over a month now with absolutely no rain. On the bright side the little stream in my basement finally dried up and we haven't had to cut any grass because its all gone dormant from lack of precipitation. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Jim, I wish I could send you all some of our rain, I will do my very best rain dance for you, though!!! Seems as if it is "feast or famine" with the rain around here.

Amber, yes, I can appreciate the homemade jam, I usually put up homemade jam too, but I pick mine wild from the edge of our woods where it meets the hayfields, nothing better than wild black raspberries! This year I had plenty left over, so I didn't have to put up more yet. Always got to keep an eye out for the black snakes UP IN the bushes ( they know the birds are after the berries too)when I pick 'em, sure wakes you up in a hurry to reach in the thicket and see a black snake right at eye level, staring back at you, course I probably scare the bejabbers out of him too!!!

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

We got around 3/4 of an inch early this morning, not enough, but better than nothing. First rain in about 4 weeks.

We WERE doing a rain dance (actually singing and dancing) on Sunday night and now we got some . . . Seriously, I have seen this work a number of times. What song and what dance doesn't seem as important as the intent for rain. Hope it rains some more!

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

I can tell when the wild berries are ready here by the purple bird poo poo on the picnic table! Berries are ripe! I still have a big bag in the freezer from last year. We really need rain badly, thought some was comming, but none so far. Even my Rose of Sharon bushes are drooping and need buckets. I need to make some strawberry jam, the plants are loaded again. My peaches never seem to do well.

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

Do you think it would help if I went out and stripped buck naked before starting the rain dance? At this point I'm almost willing to try anything!

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2001

It might. Be sure to have Ruth take pictures . . . [big evil grin]

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Well, I'm sitting here reading this and the thunder and lightening are rolling in, supposed to be state-wide. Guess that dance was mighty powerful stuff!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

We got some rain here yesterday after a long hot humid spell, what a relief. I'm sure that you will get some soon Jim, but I guess that dance wouldn't hurt anything.

Annie wish that I could help you pick those wild berries. I'm still picking red Raspberries and Beetles here.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Hey thanks Jim! I hope it wasn't too chilly out there last night doing your rain dance. It worked. We got some rain very early this morning, and a bit more comming still. I am hearing the boom booming of thunder as I type.

Did Ruth get pictures? I hope she used the flash. At this point, I think we could use a week of steady rain, soooooo, making it a nightly event would be much appreciated!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

We got rain!!! thanks jim and david

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

We got rain, too! 1 inch exactly!

It was way too dark to take any pictures - which was probably a good thing - I couldn't afford the lawsuits from anyone that mighta been traumatized from seeing such a sight! :-0

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Raining here again too, supposed to do so all weekend, according to one report, but not in large amounts. Oh well, it'll keep the garden going while I'm gone this weekend.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001

Ah nuts! I misread the note Ruth left me. We didn't get 1 inch like I thought but only 1/4 of an inch. I guess it's better than nothing but still...

I guess there's more naked rain dancing in my future!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2001