Sunday Open Thoughts

Okay, I don't know anything about growing pumpkins.  It does sound like yours need more watering, though (& more rabbit protection).  Maybe it's too late for this year, but for next year, try taking off some of the blossoms so that each plant puts all its energy into producing a few large pumpkins rather than a bunch of small ones.  I don't know for sure, but I don't see why the pumpkin blooms can't be eaten in the same way squash blossoms are.

Maybe call the extension agency in your area for advice on the specific requirements in your climate?

And if you're just growing them for the grandpigs, then it probably doesn't matter; but if you want to get a few pies for all your trouble, you need to look into growing pie pumpkins instead of jack-o-lantern pumpkins (what my mother always called "cow pumpkins").  Pie pumpkins are a very bright orange, don't have the nice rounded bottoms of cow pumpkins, and have a better ratio of meat to seeds, not as much fiber IN that meat, and a nicer flavor.  They are almost certainly what's in those cans you can't get right now.  (Apologies if you already know all this.)

Wish I knew the name of even one variety of pie pumpkin, but I don't.  When I was a kid, though, every year I'd see at least one wagon piled high with them: even from a distance, their bright orange skins gave them away.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White  

My reputation online generally must've gone really far south.  Nobody responds to what I post on most of the blogs that I hang out on.  Oh, well!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

See, our stores have roller grills for hot dogs and the like.  The two mainstays of the program are Ballpark franks and Hillshire Farms cheddarwursts.  Once the manager ordered a box of pepperjack wursts: they sold very quickly and I adored them too... (and suggested he might order more: he said, "You liked them?"  Well, yes, and MUCH more than the cheddarwursts.)  We also sell a fair amount of Kunzler bratwursts (Kunzler is a fairly large local company, and their brats have a lovely peppery flavor & are not oversalted the way the Hillshire Farms products are.)

Okay, so this week we got a new "treat":  Hillshire Farms beer brats.

So far, nobody I work with who has tried one has liked it.  (Typically it has been take one bite and throw the rest away.)  I kept asking "But what does it taste like?" and yuck is not a very helpful answer.  One coworker said way too salty, which actually does help, but doesn't explain the widespread disgust.

Of course, the fact that Miller beer is part of the ingredient list is NOT a plus.  They couldn't have chosen a tastier beer?  Jeez....

I don't know what the customers think: the beer brats are definitely not selling well, but we just got them in yesterday, so that's not a real surprise.

Intellectually, I suspect that they just might be edible if they were boiled in real beer (the "dirty water dog" of NYC fame, only with beer instead of water) or were used as part of a pork-and-sauerkraut recipe.

But no, I do not have the courage to taste one.  Not until I get a better description than a unanimous yuck! and one "way too salty."

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White  

If pics are worth 1000 words, there are many thousands of words here.

Estimated # of Pakistanis displaced by the flooding?  Seventeen million.  And monsoon season isn't over yet.  

Check it out, please.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White  

the memorial for their mom is planned for 3rd weekend in sept.
& is in another state.
kathleen is concentrating all her efforts into getting her brother well & walking by that time.
& planning the memorial, which has grown into a several day affair with people from all over coming.

please send happy thoughts to her!
♥~

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

most. adorable. piggies. ever!!! thanks for the smiles  :O)

sorry I've been late sitting down to the computer today - we're pretty busy getting prepared for Hurricane Earl. even though the eye is forecast to just miss us to the north, we'll still get the shit beat out of us by the tropical storm winds and rain starting early tomorrow morning. right now we're under a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning, and I'll be staying logged on 'til the the power goes out. it's nothing to worry about, we're well prepared, and turning off the power grid is just standard procedure for any approaching storm.

wish us luck!

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Thoreau ... and, do no harm

Glad your brother's making progress.   Do what you need to do--we'll all still be here, and we hope to see you back soon.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

but before i go-

alma those are just the cutest punkin pictures ever!
& i'm soooo glad lala is doing so much better. i know that had to be very nerve wracking for your whole family.

newp & j plz take care of yourselves through the storm.
i'll be thinkin happy thoughts for you

otb, irev & newp- fascinating conversation in henry's pond... i hope to add my voice soon.

miki- some aziza pics would be lovely... i'm sure she's grown a lot since we last saw her!

timbuk- would you like your blog listed? or would you like to invite some/all of your crew over to participate? plz don't hesitate!

youff- i hope you're weekend'll start soon. plz don't work too hard!

if i've missed anyone i'm sorry...
i'm getting loopy from lack of sleep....

g'nite!
♥~

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

It's a very well-written, entertaining look back at an ancient Greek politician.  I think you'll all enjoy it.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White