Hello everyone. I got back yesterday from a week in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. It's so beautiful there; those of you who live in that area are really lucky. I took a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC which is a wonderful place to go if you want to learn or improve a craft skill. I took a papermaking class. We made lovely papers from rush, iris, gladiolus, okra, yucca, and mulberry, all things we collected and processed ourselves. It's a lot of work, but the results are beautiful. I can't wait to try some at home. The garden is still producing; there are tomatoes on the vine and lots of okra and green beans. My ornamental popcorn was a success, producing little, very colorful ears which look great in fall arrangements with the little pumpkins I also grew. I bought a bushel of apples on my trip, so I'll have the canning kettle out this week to make applesauce and canned apples. I have one of those steamers which is wonderful for juice and applesauce--no slice and peeling. Hope everyone has a good week.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), September 23, 2001

Answers

Tell me more about these steamers. I've not heard about them!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 23, 2001.

Good eve, We do have the perfect place to live! :) Tell us more about the classes they have at this school. Or where I can find info about them! I would love to take a class on weaving--from start to finish..You know from the sheared wool or cotton 'balls' to the loom!

Our fall garden is still going strong. We are getting more okra than we know what to do with--still have tomatoes(Long Keepers). I plant pumpkins every year and this will be the first year that I will actually have a (1)pumpkin!!!!!

Does anyone know when I should sow my poppy seeds? I was give a pint jar of the old fashion, big, red ones! I purchased daffodils bulbs that I will need to plant when the ground gets cold. They are doubles or unusual colors!

Have a good week! Debbie

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 23, 2001.

Debbie, Why not plant your poppies with your daffodils. They bloom at different times.

-- Barb Fischer (bfischer42@hotmail.com), September 23, 2001.

Thanks,I don't know why I didn't think of that! That will be a perfect pair! I have planted daffs and daylilies together so much I don't think of them anywhere else! Thanks again!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 23, 2001.

Hi folks brrrrrrr got chilly here this eve. its still dry here but maybe the cooler weather will bring some rain. the lakes and ponds are so low i havent been fishing. usually have 20 or 30 lbs of catfish in the freezer by now. finally got my summer kitchen and back porch finished. still have to finish the room on the inside. would like to go some where but to broke. if i can find someone that will hire a old fart like me think ill get me a old long nosed k.w. and go somewhere!!!!!!!! ben quite a while but i still like to look out over the hood and get gone. you all have a good week best regards Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), September 23, 2001.

Fall has definitely arrived in Illinois. There is a chill in the air this morning here.I went outside this morning early to hang up some clothes and you could hear the hum of the grain dryers running in all directions. I guess I am goin to have to get those carrots out of the garden before to much longer. Our tomatoes are just about done although I do have a row of green beans that are still producing. I guess it is time to put the garden top rest for winter.Applesauce sounds really good right now Katherine I will have to get busy on that also! Everyone have a great week.

-- Barb in wc Il (Barb43@countrylife.net), September 24, 2001.

The leaves are changing here in Nova Scotia nd we've had some frosts but the last few days have been warm and humid. Finally got some rain too though at this late date I don't know who that would help. i moved some asparagus and tiilled a garden bed to be bigger for next springs garlic and sowed a bit of spinach (fordhook)and lettuce (quatre saison and deer tongue) for some fresh eatin's. Pulled the pole beans (potomac)and stood them against the scarecrow to dry ..then it rained! Need to get at the ripe bush beans now to get next seasons seeds dried (Black Valentine green beans)before they all rot from the recent wet. My son loves helping with the dry beans so its a family job although I am leaning towards winnowing since thise years batch is big. I have the peas in a feed sack to be stomped and winnowed...maybe the next dry breezy day that will be the project. I got the ram wormed with Ivomec and am trying to figure out how to catch my girlies. I will probably have to build a little enclosure in their paddock and trick them into it with grain. Gotta do it soon cuz breeding time is upon us but, what with being sick for awhile, my energy isn't up to the task yet. Soon I hope. I made salsa last week and still have a bunch of red ripe maters..what to do..maybe freeze em. Barn is coming along nice although hubby put the framing for the door in the wrong place and put a window in a useless spot (gonna put a chicken coop lean to against that wall with a door to the barn..why do I need a window there??LOL). Oh men, they ask ya what ya want and then do what the please anyways. :o)

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), September 24, 2001.

There was a thread about the steamers a few weeks ago. They're a three-part pot: bottom is filled with water for the steam; the middle has a cone-like hole that lets the steam go up to the top level and a hole with with a hose attached for juice to flow out; the top level is like a colander. You put fruit in the top level. Steam it, and juice collects in the middle part. For applesauce, I put the softened apples through a food mill, adding juice if necessary. Leftover juice can be canned as well. You can get the steamers from Lehman's or some garden catalogs.

The Campbell Folk School can be found at www.folkschool.org or for a catalog call 1-800-FOLKSCH. They have lots of weaving and spinning classes; I'm not sure that there are any that go from sheep to shawl, but you can check. It seems kind of expensive, but you work mornings, afternoons, and evenings if you want which makes the hour by hour cost really reasonable. They also have a work-study program if you have time to spare: work two weeks, get one class week free.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), September 24, 2001.