I don't think the leaves would work as a weed killer, as the toxin that prevents other broadleaf plants from growing under walnuts is spread though the roots. The effect of the nut washings on worms might be from the high level of tannic acid in the hulls. That might be what gets the tapeworms, too.

I have a big Manitoba Maple (you might call it a Box Elder) in the back yard that I've been meaning to tap for years. They apparently produce perfectly good maple syrup, just not in the quantities that you get from Sugar Maples. Too late now of course, but now that I know about the milk jug collectors, maybe next year.

Wulf

I never get tired of reading that kind of comment, because I get such a kick out of how much people like it. Usually when I think I've been very clever, I'm the only one who says so!

Wulf

Nice touch with the stickers, hopefully the other moms won't get jealous   

Hopefully the other moms will get inspired! I bet the stickers and the snowman pin (which is a brilliant thing, by the way) will result in lots of people hearing the stories of the snowman building and her favourite toys. I like the whole kindergarten photo board idea, too. I wonder if it's commonly done.

Wulf

Yay, duct tape! It should have its own board.

Wulf

Wow, great stuff here. I'm definitely not missing out on the next one. And what can you say about little Zoe? One cute baby trumps all fabulous fairy trinkets! (Though the fairy house is a very close second!)

Wulf

Dry it out and then re-constitute it for baking? Can it really be that easy?

Okay, I understand why I was confused about the card swap. I too like the chain-letter version; getting one card is just as good (maybe better) than getting ten, and much less stressful on the makers! That way it's like a swap-within-a-swap, sort of a secondary, independent swap that just weaves in and out of the main one.

Wulf

I had already seen this in my RSS feed from some other craft blog and I love it! 

Thanks, I'm glad everyone likes the idea so much. This has been a very eye-opening thing for me: a reminder that although Craftster seems like a cozy little group of friends sittin' around talkin', everything we post here goes out into the great Interwebs and out of our control! I've been very surprised how far afield my little hardware box has travelled!

Wulf

Someone at Google is probably thinking "What's with the sudden interest in sashiko?"

KLK, I never thought about the heaviness of the cloth keeping it from sagging onto the dough, but you're absolutely right that it doesn't. I realized too late yesterday that I'd forgotten to flour the new cloth to keep it from sticking, but it wasn't necessary. Now I realize why! I don't do sourdough; I'm so-o-o lazy, I use a no-knead recipe. But I love sourdough bread when I get it. Do you think sourdough starter can be sent through the mail?

Wulf

There is a saying that "A quilt is not a quilt until you quilt it"

You're right, I'd never thought about how much of "quilting" today is better described as "patchwork". I had an elderly friend who used to say of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, rather acidly, "It's not a quilt. It's applique!."

Maria Isobel, I'm fascinated by your observation that Texas quilts all seem to be done by hand. Are you seeing heirloom quilts, like from our grandparents, or contemporary ones? I wonder if it's a local thing, or simply that nobody is quilting at all any more so the only ones you see are older ones. I think the last hand-sewn quilt I saw was a big Hawaiian one that my mother made about ten years ago. I think she did it by hand simply because it would have been too aggravating to machine-sew it. But it did take a year or so to get finished!

Veri - love the diaper creams! I was just looking at a recipe for calendula and lavender diaper cream last night and thinking it was too bad I don't have a baby to try it out on. I think I need to start experimenting on my friends' little ones!

Wulf