Ok M and M's;) I'll buy those!! Have you seen the newest commercial where they are introducing the Hazelnut spread spokes candy and the other spokes candies ate him but "not all of him" and there's "his" arms and legs. lol

Thanks! Happy I use those coins for the coin machine it finally paid off.

that M & Ms hazelnut commercials is so funny. FYI that new flavor good

I don't normally use them, but I do have a few in my vault. I am going to try my luck later.

I have never sold one of the coins, I have always used them. I guess sheer luck on my part to finally get an item I really want and need, and expensive.

New pet.He is Dr Blob :)

First time I saw a nightmare blob, kind of cool design. I made one of my pet a lilac blob. Pretty lilac color with blossoms, kind of tranquil looking.

Cute little pile of flowers.

My sisters and I used to make necklaces out of lilac blossoms and dandelions we would tight together to make a necklace.

: That's very interesting about your boss and his migraine. Gluten has surely gained a dishonorable reputation these days and is implicated is a vast array of maladies that one would never before have suspected gluten of being the main antagonist.

I was a little horrified that the other M and M s ate their compatriot. It was a dark moment in American advertising. I'm still upset about the dog family that sends the puppy off to obedience school and the daddy dog gets sad.

On the other paw, I love the advert on Youtube for Sasquatch Soap where the human throws chemicals on the other human and then comments about his manliness. Caught me by surprise. Weldon wasn't as amused as I was though. Boys are too sensitive about such things and girls think it's a riot.

: Good Afternoon!! How are you doing these days? Are things warming up? Have you started your garden yet? Have you learned the language? Do you have pictures of your house? I could keep going...Miss ya!

Oh yeah! I think that the really interesting thing is that there can be such a range of responses to it, from like me who doesn't seem to have an issue at all with gluten, to people like my boss who is gluten sensitive (she's been off long enough now, that any gluten can make her really sick-nauseous, cramping etc.), up to people who have full-blown Celiac's Disease. You gotta wonder how many people in the past had to suffer with this, but had no idea what it was or what was causing it, I mean are more people suffering from this or do we just know about more of them? In any case, I hope that you can find what your baseline triggers are (my boss knew what her triggers were-chocolate, etc. but not about the gluten for years and years) and get to where your not having so many or any at all.

: I know what my triggers are: High nitrate foods, red wines, very dark chocolate, and certain environmental factors.

I received a bottle of very fine Zinfandel for Christmas a few years back. I also was given a large block of super dark chocolate and a mystery novel. I read the book in one setting. When I put the book down, I realized that I had also drunk the entire bottle of wine and consumed the entire block of chocolate. Standing up was very difficult because I was completely hammered and because of a blinding migraine. I was one sick little weasel-girl. Fortunately, my break-through meds mended my migraine in a couple hours of rest. I've not repeated that mistake since. I will eat some of my trigger foods, just not over indulge them.

Oddly enough, it's the environmental triggers that have the greatest effects on me. Wind is the worst. Sudden changes in air pressure and temperature, very low or very high frequency air waves like wind buffeting. There are some triggers that you just cannot mitigate.

WOW! I didn't realize there were environmental triggers! My boss said that the chocolate was the same for her, the darker it was the more it was a trigger.

Your profile says your last name is Von Steuben-I went to Von Steuben Grade School in Peoria, IL. That is just too cool;)

Also have you ever read a romance fantasy (if you like that genre) series by Shelly Laurenston. She has been writing a series called "The Pride Series" about shape-shifters, from that she started an off-shoot series called "The Honey Badger Chronicles." About, you guessed it shape-shifting honey badgers, they are great books and if you like that kind I think you might enjoy them.

I like mysteries as well-there is a GREAT search website call Stopyourekillingme.com that keeps track of authors, books, release dates, etc. VERY user friendly;) I hope you have a wonderful day;)

: I'm having a great day! Weldon is baking an apricot pie from fresh apricots that were picked today by the staff in the gardens here at Healer's Hall. I can't wait for it to cool so that we can enjoy it warm with dairy cream on it!

I love Michael Chricton. (sp?) My favorite animal stories are Brian Jacques Mossflower series. I had my three books written long before I had ever read Jacques, and I was amazed how similar we were in representing our animal characters. Although, I am partial to my stories because they come from my real life experiences and not from some made-up fantasies, like his stories are.

Enjoy your pie;)

I've never read Crichton, I think he's a little dark for me. I've never read Mossflower either, but I like Tamora Pierce.

: what does it mean when you get a warning at BHH that you've been having around too much and you are being warned to stay away for a while?

I read most of Brian Jacques redwall/mossflower series to my sons' when the were in elementary and they just loved it.

: my stories are similar to Mossflower in that there is a similar old world setting with the marketplace economy and trade/craft society, as well as the battles and strong antagonists. But there are different in that, while the animals in my stories acknowledge modern technology, they have very little use for it, it really doesn't improve their lives, etc. But at the same time, they will deal with technology if the occasion arises, they are not complete Ludites. Sparky and his band get a recording contract, Lizi builds a flying machine out of old chainsaw engines and welding gas, Daisy steals a mobile phone to call for help.

Also, we have humans. Jacques didn't. Graham also had humans in The Wind In The Willows, if you remember, Toad stole automobiles and aeroplanes, and the weasels used guns. ( We don't use guns and the weasels in Graham's stories and Jacques's stories were totally misrepresented as being totally evil...we are kind, empathetic and caring creatures who are perhaps the Maker's most cutest animals on the planet...We are also the most modest and humble creatures in our purest white form....LOL!!)

Your stories sound fascinating! I love that you have modernized it, but not really its just part of the background, but they have the capabilities to use modern things if the need ever arises like an unexpected defense.

Oh warning from BHH just wait 20-30 minutes and go back, just keep returning eventually the warning goes away.

I was getting that same message and didn't know what it meant, thanks for asking Sydney!!;)

Thanks.I miss you too. :) It is warmer and we have a dry spring.No rain yet and all the crops are in the ground.Hope it isn't a loss. I am not long here then back to Russia.This room is all taken apart and now it is replacing a new window and then put in new insulation and drywall,paint and put in carpet.Half the insulation is in now.The rest of the house is done.