The tomato's that have set fruit still haven't turned red and I'm not seeing any more fruit setting. They are still making blooms though so we'll see what happens. We've been getting a little rain off and on but not enough to be able to stop watering. A couple of weeks ago I started some cantaloupe, watermelon, and three kinds of squash. They sprang up in 3 days! It's pretty late to be starting them I know but I just wanted to try. Hey, if it works it works... If not I've wasted a small amount of seed. Anyway... Mars went out this morning and started tilling up another garden spot to put them in. I've got my finger's crossed that we will get some goodies from them.
Several months ago we had checked on satellite internet connections out here. It was (and is) available but they wanted $70 a month for the service. There are limits to the amount of bandwidth you can use as well. Needless to say that was out of our budget and so we ended up going with a wireless internet provider who charges $50 a month with unlimited bandwidth. The connection is slow and unstable at best. Watching videos and such is painfully slow but it is, as they say, better than nothing. I was truly surprised to get an email last week from the satellite company saying that our address had been chosen to participate in the Broadband Recovery Act. It was a part of some of the stimulus money spent in 09. They provide internet access to folks in rural areas who cannot get highspeed access through cable or a phone line. The cost? $40 a month for unlimited usage. Now I am sure that some folks are going to talk about how it's just another government program and that I should be ashamed to be using it. Say what you will, the money has already been spent and I qualify. I am going to take advantage of it. If that makes me a bad person- so be it.
I tried my hand at making Banana Pudding from scratch this weekend. I was pretty impressed with how easy it was. I also did something I've never done or even heard of anyone doing before. I'm not saying it hasn't been done, just that it was a first for us. I added strawberries to it! Oh so yummy! It turned out great too apparently because it didn't even last 24 hours! I sure should have taken a picture but I was just a tad late. By the time I thought of it all that was left was an empty pan.
Banana Pudding
Ingredients
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
1/2 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafer cookies
*** 1 cup sliced strawberries *** optional but OMGosh so good!
Directions
In medium saucepan combine sugar, flour and salt. Add eggs and stir well. Stir in milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly. This will take at least 15 minutes.When mixture begins to get pretty thick, remove from heat and continue to stir, cooling slightly. Stir in vanilla and butter until smooth.
In 9x9-inch dish, layer the pudding with bananas and vanilla wafers. Chill at least one hour in refrigerator before serving.
$70 a month is how they get you in. They want a two year contract and after the first few days you realise it is even slower than 56K. So you call and they make it faster for you. I am now up to $93 a month for mine. In December I am cancelling it and going back to the phone line. I just won't be able to upload any pictures.
ReplyDeleteYOF doesn't like any 'erry' fruit ...strawberries, cherries, blueberries, you name it ...or I would SO be trying that recipe on him!!
ReplyDeleteWe pay $80/month with Wildblue Satellite and that's what we have been paying since 2007. The installation was a big pill to swallow ...around $200 but it was worth it. Before Wildblue, we had $10/month dialup and a landline. The $10/month was more like $14/month after the fees and taxes and the $39/month landline was more like $60/month after all THOSE fees and taxes. So our monthly cost went from about $74/month for a landline plus dialup to $80/month for high speed satellite. The only time we have connection problems is in very heavy storms ...the kind where you OUGHT to have powered down all your computer equipment anyway. Download/upload speeds were increased at least 10 fold so the installation cost was well worth it.
Sci, it's no one else's place to run YOUR business. YOF and I took some flack for having farm tags and claiming a reduction on property taxes for Ag recently ...from people who are always screaming 'starve the monkey.' Well, apparently, us taking the exemptions we're entitled to by law means we're 'on the gubment tit' and not paying our fair share. I say screw it ...I'll take every single exemption I'm entitled to by law but I also pay every dime I owe by law too. The way I see it, those who refuse to pay what THEY owe by law are the ones demanding a free ride.
Sorry, my soap box is a little too handy sometimes. I put it away now. If you can get high speed for $40/month and keep on posting pictures, I say GO FOR IT and critics can go fly a kite ...in a lightning storm preferably.
: )
MDR I hear what you are saying. I am hoping that the information I was given is correct though. I guess I won't know until they come out and hook us up. For now, I'm just hoping for the best.
ReplyDeleteHB This recipe is good even if you have to go without the 'erry! And those dang taxes will eat you up for sure. As for you and your soapbox....You go Girl! You seriously have me giggling with your flying kites in lightning storms!!!
Anon It would be hard around here not to be able to eat eggs. I just love Bacon and Eggs!! LOL