Dear Gladys,

Another one of your "gems" that sounds absolutely wonderful! I haven't been on-line for several months, I know. And now there is another "Marilyn, California" that isn't me. Oh, well. So I have started using my home town in my handle. My mother was taken ill and died suddenly a few months ago. I simply haven't been able to turn on the computer -- it seemed like just one more thing that I had to do. I'm still cooking food in mass quantities and freezing it and then driving it down to the Bay Area to help care for my father and brother. Life goes on. But I'm back and I'm feeling better. I'm looking forward to doing more posting and reading more of the wonderful posts that I have been missing for so many months!

Hope that you are doing well and the recent storms have not wreaked havoc where you live. We had a horrendous summer here in the Central Valley (114 degrees one day) and a lot of my plantings suffered terribly. Today is finally much cooler and the vegetation seems quite happy! We grew 3 kinds of grapes this year. They just ripened and are the best. I made filet of sole Veronique the other night with them and it was heavenly.

The very best to you.

Take care,

Your friend, Marilyn, Tracy CA