While we lived in Montreal, we used to get a 12-year old cheddar from a company in Ontario. I can't recall the company's name. We had to drive 40 miles to get it directly from the company's outlet on Saturday morning. It was divine. It cost the earth, it was impossible to slice an even piece because it crumbled as the knife sliced through it, but it was the stuff dreams were made of.

I got that 8 year old cheese at Costco before Christmas, along with a wedge of Swiss, Stilton, a chunk of Parmesan, feta, St-André and some cammembert. Costco is the best place to get some good cheese, IMHO. I am always disappointed with the lack of choice in my grocery store's dairy department. They stock what sells. Most of what they stock is run of the mill cheese, often bagged, grated or shredded: yellow cheddar, Colby, Jack, alleged Swiss, cardboard Parmesan and cream cheese. There is nothing you could use in there to make a cheese platter with fresh fruit, a glass of wine and a baguette.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

My 6 year old cheese also came from Costco. It also crumbled (no sandwich slices) but was delicious to finger eat or in salads. I thought maybe you got yours from a fancy cheese shop - but apparently Costco also.

You peeps here want excellent cheese..................get some from here.

http://www.alpanddellcheese.co...

It's a local cheese shop and I get all my cheeses there. It's run by a Swiss guy, his name is Tony Zgraggen.

I know they ship cheese.

I LOVE his brick curds, I like those better than the cheddar ones. I always ask if they're "fresh" (so they squeak when you bite into them). This kind of weather I have to take what he has, but during tourist times, he's usually always got fresh around. One day I was in there and asked him "are the curds in the case fresh?" He said "yes, but come over here, I give you some of these; we just got them in". OMG.........they were still WARM!!!!!!!!!!!! Did they ever squeak!

Goodness - I have never heard cheese "squeak".

That's because you have never HAD squeaky cheese curds. And that is curds that do that. That's how you can tell if they are fresh. And they won't squeak if they have been in the fridge, they'd have to warm to room temp. Even if they "squeaked" (squoke??? LOL) before refrigeration. You have to be in an area where they MAKE cheese in order to get something like that.

Relief milking! now that is indeed a great service to whomever you elect to provide! Right on Anna and I would imagine that no longer having your own herd(s) also allows you a whole lot more freedom to go wherever, whenever too

Sylvain--my whole house still smells good from the soup bubbling yesterday
I will say that next time, I will put more booze in me and less in the soup
We got some mighty fine Gruyere and parm and that was my favorite part I love cheese!

Thankfully, we do have dairies and transplanted cheese makers close enough that I, too, can indulge in the warm, fresh squeaky heaven


Acorns
I gave you one for your pics of Lucy!
It is a good thing.

At the bottom of every page there is the link for Acorns-what the heck are they and what do you do with them?
http://garden.org/special/acor...
It says we have a raffle monthly, but we don't. I don't think there is a set frequency for raffles but there are some awesome prizes that can be won. You can check out past raffles. Here is the last one we had
http://garden.org/ideas/view/d...

Also, the most recent acorn 'tips' appear on the homepage (at least on the PC--not sure if they show up on a mobile device, I think they don't ) and can serve as an ever-changing list of possibly interesting or noteworthy items to check out
I say possibly because while your pics of Lucy were of great interest to me, someone else checking out the post to see what the acorn went to may think otherwise

Yup, Dirt, it sure does. And I can say "no" if I want to. And I have a couple of times, just because I didn't want to do it. LOL

We have about a half dozen guys we milk for. After this job is done next Sunday, we have nothing till April. And that could change, as for the most part, we can do "spur of the moment" jobs.

Anna,
That is awesome and a great help to those who need you. Wow, cowsitting.

Sylvain,
I drink in your meals :o)
Smiling. You're good with all animals.
I'm sure you'll find the perfect cruise. I can't wait to see where you decide to go.

Stillwood,
I too was given acorns and I think you compliment someone with them. I finally remembered we have a thumbs up. I need to use it more often.

Sylvain,
It's hard to find good cheddar. I think as soon as they make it it's wrapped and sent to the store...

Anna,
Thanks for the cheese link. I bookmarked it.
We had a cheese house that let you taste cheese before buying it, but it just closed. They made curds right there. You could watch thru the window. Squeaky cheese and yes, warm too. Nothing like it!

(singing) I'm going on a cruise,
I'm going on a cruise,
tee-da-lee-da-lee-da-loo,
I'm going on a cruise. YAY!

The deed is done. Everything is finalized. I can't wait until December. Just a bit over 320 days before I sail and I haven't got a thing to wear. I travel light and casual: 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on. No tuxedo, dinner jacket or sport jacket for me. Dress pants and a golf shirt and I'm good to go for the evening. So, big whoop... I have to sew 3 pairs dress pants and 7 pairs shorts before December. The rest, I have a-plenty. I'm so excited, Gail might need a broom to swatt me off the dining room's chandelier.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

So, are you gonna tell us just WHERE you are going, or would you have to kill us all if you did?????

Well, Sylvain, please tell us. I am currently looking into a cruise for later this year. I'm curious which one you decided on.

Here are the details of my 27th cruise: Ship: Norwegian Getaway, 7 nights from Miami, departing December 10th, visiting Cozumel (Me-he-co), Costa Maya (Me-he-co), Honduras and Harvest Caye (Belize). I'll be cruising with my cruise buddy. We always get an inside cabin because really... what would we do with a balcony? Enjoy a Hallmark quality moment while holding hands as we watch the sunset? I don't think so, Tim. I have to say Nay, Nay. Inside cabin it is with an unlimited beverage package (open bar) for the whole trip and 2 onboard rebate offers. Should be nice. I got an awesome deal. I always do. Cruise shopping is serious business.

This will be my 4th cruise with Claude. We coexist extremely well together. On our last cruise, some guy told me my boyfriend was a good dancer. I answered that I had taught him everything he knows. When I told Claude about this, he blushed. Oh, grow up, I told him. What other people think of you (or me) is none of our business. Life is easier that way. Gail taught it was hilarious. She told me I was shameless. The thing is, I have a wicked sense of humor.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

At least it will be warm there and not this icebox.

Got a question for anyone who might know the answer. I was in Kroger yesterday and there was a woman shopping who had one of those vapor cigarettes, she was sort of hiding it in her palm and taking quick hits from it. I know they give you a dose of nicotine, same as regular cigarettes but are they so addictive that you can't stop smoking them (or vaping?). I guessed from the way she was palming it, that it didn't give off any heat, so the only other thing I could think she was doing was rebelling against the no smoking in the store rules? Just wondering what you all might think.

I have a friend who had the same concerns about those electronic cigarettes. She tried them and her feeling was that, unlike a normal cigarette, you don't really burn these down to a filter, so she thought it seemed like she had no cue to stop and that she "smoked" more. Are they subject to the same no smoking rules as real cigarettes?

Oh, as far as I can tell after some research on Google the jury is still out on that vape question. Let's stick to the lady in the grocery store hiding her electronic cigarette to sneak a puff when nobody was looking. That behavior is a clear indication that she was:
a) heavily addicted to that electronic cigarette,
b) knew that the management would take a dim view of what she was doing in the store,
c) couldn't be bothered to do the right thing and puff on her electronic cigarette outside.

Electronic cigarettes do give off nicotine that is inhale, as well as polypropylene glycol (radiator antifreeze). The fact that they flavor the vapor with banana/strawberry/walnut and mint just makes the smoker feel better about it. They produce no flame, but on some models, the tip glows (blue, or red depending on brand) when you puff them. Plus, there are quite a few cases of those devices exploding. I smoke cigars; Churchills to be exact. They have loads of nicotine and produce humongous clouds of smoke. I can blow smoke rings when there is no wind. But at least, I have never heard of a cigar exploding in the smoker's face and you don't inhale cigars. To each his own.

There are cigar lounges on cruise ships and I visit them every day when I cruise. I checked that fact before finalizing the reservation this morning. I'll tell you this and it never fails. At least once in every cruise, some old bat with a tired and flea-bitten mink stole, wearing wrinkled mother-of-the-bride dress she bought 25 years ago, a blue rinse in her hair, and costume jewelry peacock earrings will step into the cigar lounge and freeze at the entrance, waving her hands about as if she were attacked by a swarm of Africanized killer bees. And she'll declare loud and clear, for everyone to hear: "It stinks in here.". One day, I stood up and told her: "You are quite right, madame. There is an oderiferous haze in here. But it just got worse since you walked in. I would say it's a smell like stale perfume, an aquarium in bad need of cleaning, a dead rat, or something like that.". Note: I did Improv in college and I was good at it. Everyone started laughing as she fought with the door, trying to get out. In a rush to egress, some people insist on pushing when the door is clearly labeled PULL. I was drinking Drambuie that night with my stogie and the bartender brought me one on the house, with his thanks. Being part of the crew, he couldn't say anything, but I could. OH YES, I DID. I am so bad! I fully expect to spend the afterlife burning, but my friends will all be there and what a time we'll have.

I didn't want kids and we didn't have any. TYLJIH,TY. But if my child wanted to smoke, I'd gladly sacrifice a nice Churchill to teach him/her the joys of smoking and the proper use of a cuspidor in emergency upchucking situations. That would teach the punk. Aversion therapy is very efficient with young minds.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

OMG -- I have been lurking and can see why so many people were missing this thread from DG!
Sylvain, I may just have to book that same cruise, and if I do I can assure you that I WILL hunt you down and...
hug you!

So will I. You are the epitome of joie de vivre, Sylvain. I'm so happy you're here.

Me too, Sylvain, me too! Exactly what Zuzu said.

Sylvain - If Gail reads these posts, she may not let you go on the cruise or may send Dad to chaperone (as if one man is trustworthy to chaperone another!). All these ladies are planning a rendezvous with you - my, my - who would have thought ATP is becoming a "dating" site!