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Mike, I don't care for coffee made in the microwave. For some reason it just doesn't taste as good. I use an instant coffee but I heat the water for it in a stainless steel kettle. I've been drinking this particular coffee so long, I don't care for the brewed anymore. I use Nescafe Taster's Choice and I put a spoonful in my cup and then pour the hot water in. It tastes so good you'd never know it was instant. When I've served it, people can't believe it's instant. The Walgreen's Pharmacy will run it on sale quite often and I'll buy two jars when they do. If you haven't tried it, do so. A jar will last a long time and I drink coffee all day.

As for rhubarb pie, in my opinion this is something you have to acquire a taste for. I can remember my paternal grandmother always grew rhubarb and made pies from it. Even though she was a wonderful cook, I never cared for the rhubarb pie. To me they had a sweet/sour taste.

Snow peas are tasty but I still prefer the ones you shell. Just a matter of individual tastes, I guess.

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Okay, that's done,
I have just finished micro-waving my coffee so now I can get on with things. Actually, I believe the micro-wave was invented by a Russian Scientist, although I don't believe his intentions were to cook food. Now, people who wear pace-makers don't seem to like micro-wave ovens either.

Back to the food chain. My mother spent a lot of time baking fresh pies. She baked them all. The ones that I remember most were the Rhubarb pies. Amanda, did you have Rhubarbs in New Zealand?
The stocks are red and the leaves are green. You need to discard the leaves as they are toxic. If you have never had a Rhubarb pie you have to have someone make one for you. Once the pie cools take a big bite and taste the sweetness. Uh, well, maybe if it's your first Rhubarb pie you might not want to take a big first bite. I forget to tell you that it might hit like a Boomerang at first. It is sweet, however there is a hint of bitterness as well. Perhaps it might be more of a shout than a hint.
There is also a vegetable that goes by two names. It is either called Snow Peas or Chinese Peas, probably because it is used extensively in Chinesse cooking. With this pea you eat everything.
I actually believe that the pod gives it a sweet taste. I'm going to try to grow these this gardening season. Now, I think I will heat up some Lima beans.

GOD BLESS YOU
~Mike~

Someone To Watch Over Me by krishnanand in the style of Rod Stewart

Mike and Amanda, I did a search and came up with a recipe for a Strawberry Rhubarb pie with a 5 star rating and rave reviews from the Food Network. I've never tried this combination since finding out as a child that rhubarb wasn't a dish I liked but with the added strawberries it might be something to consider. I also saw where rhubarb is a seasonal plant but it is also grown year round in hothouses. The name of this pie is Grandma's Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie and includes the pie crust recipe too.

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Hi Amanda,
The next time that you are at the grocery store, usually like a large grocery store like you would find in WalMart, check out the vegetable section. Rhubarb is one of those items that fit into both the fruit category as well as the vegetable category. Remember to discard the leaves as they can be toxic. The Ryman I don't believe is out on the market as yet, as the girl singing it is a studio performer and Karen is looking for someone to sing the song where an artists name can be played on the song as well as Karen's name as the song-writer. She is in the prossess of doing that now. I heard from her a few minutes ago. She is in Iowa and found out that it is snowing in Minnesota. Therefore, she will find a place to stay in Iowa overnight and head home in the morning. She said something about a large Antique shop that she will be browsing through first. When anyone mentions Antique to Shirley she points at me and says, "I already have one."
GOD BLESS YOU
~Mike~

Mike this is GREAT news!! I've always believed that God works in mysterious ways and I've found that to be oh so true. Congratulations to you and Shirley! I'm so happy for you and hopefully this will signal a turn around for you. :)

You know Mike you've probably read where the reason I up moved almost 800 miles away from family and friends was because I dreaded the thought of another brutal East Tennessee winter where last winter there were days I didn't leave my house long enought to go to the mailbox because the temperature never got out of the teens for days and not counting all the snow we had. Well lo and behold here in my area, a few days ago it got down to 30º one night and 38º the next night. Thankfully it warmed back up fairly quickly and yesterday and today I've had my air on in the afternoon but for the last several nights I've also run the heat. Yesterday when it got up into the 70's I went grocery shopping wearing sandals and summer weight clothing. I love it here and there are some of the friendliest people living here I've ever met.

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Hi Mary Evelyn,
Yes, we had a wonderful visit and while she was here, she gave me the phone number of the person who is helping her get her music noticed. She told me to give him a call to get Shirley's music going as well. I called him today, told him what I do and told him about Shirley's song writing abilities and during our conversation he told me something and I was glad that I was sitting down. He said that just two days ago, his studio has started a brand new project that will be televised, and that they were looking for new artists to interview. In the next few months Shirley will be one of those artists. He spoke with Shirley and she told him that she has a web site with her poems on it, and he said to send him the link. He will help her get artists to sing her songs for her. Before hanging up he told me that GOD must have made me call because this is a brand new project and he was going through his information to find someone that does just what we do to be a part of it. He said that as we are Karen's friend he knows that we were good people and he will look no further. We are in!! He lives in Florida and was telling me that one day last week it had gotten down to 17 degrees. Before I hung up I told him to be sure to get out the Flannel bathing suit before going down to the beach. He wasn't sure if he heard right and asked me to repeat it. I did and he asked why. I told him that if it is going to go down to the teens that he might want to wear something a little warmer. He finely caught on, laughed and said, "I'm going to enjoy working with you."

GOD BLESS YOU
~Mike~