Greetings all from a possibly rainy Stockton today.  My quiet day got turned upside down when our friend, who&#39;s competing as an Iron Chef, decided to bring us into the fold and tell us what the secret ingredient for the cook off is.  apparently, the only ones who won&#39;t know what it is will be the judges and the audience.  He wanted me to craft two display units for him, so I spent my quiet day in the craft and Home Depot, checking things out.<br />
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Anybody here have experience with clay polymers?  I&#39;m looing for a shrinkage rate.<br />
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Tonia, the hassle with a cookbook is making sure that all your ingredients and instruction add up.  I was working from handwritten notes.  There are even a couple of &#39;mystery&#39; recipes in which we cna&#39;t figure out what they are supposed to be.  Ground beef and strawberries - just not working for me as an entree or a dessert.  Like you, I have a ton of cookbooks.  My favorite thing to do is close my eyes and pull something off one of the shelves and us it for every dinner that week.  Do you have a copy of &quot;Spies, Black Ties and Mango Pies&quot;?  It&#39;s a colelction of CIA recipes.  Very funny stories.<br />
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Mebert - so glad to hear that your godmother has her spirit and  I&#39;m sure your visit gave her strength...with or without the TV or telephone.  Gotta say, last time I was in the hospital, I could have done without either.  <br />
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Hope everyone has a grand (and safe) day.<br />
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Charlie