An affiliation of AVSA

 Editor:  Rachel Mayer  

July 15, 2003

VioletReflections  Newsletter    

I have been watching the member count of the african violet groups on Yahoo and though I make it clear we are not in competition with any other list I have to admit to being proud of how we caught up and passed the other lists to hold the position of being the largest African Violet group on Yahoo.  I well remember the day  I opened this list,  it was with tears in my eyes and I opened it on the suggestion from  a friend.  I never really expected it to go anywhere.   This was just a short  three and a half years ago!   We did it the hard way too!  No mention of our group in the magazines etc. We have had some problems along the way, but we were able to handle them and still come out shining.  I say Congratulations to us!  Oh and  our  Vrbingo game was born here.  I understand the game is being played now with some variations  on some of the other lists but  the game originated here.    On  August 1st. 2000 our moderator Pat called the first number of the first game  and Debbie won the game. .

I am especially tickled when I see a relatively new grower answering questions.  That should give our senior members a wonderful feeling !  You have done a great  job in giving that new member confidence enough to do that.   The  members make the list,  no doubt about that,  and I am so proud of you all.  

                 Millie’s Summer Dinner  Party

Living In the high Desert of Calif. Does have some advantages. Like having an Patio Dinner Party in the balmy evening. We try to eat on the patio as much as we can in the summer to enjoy the evenings. Also so mess in the kitchen. I try to do as much on the BBQ as I can.

Tonight we are having a few friends in for dinner. This is what I will be serving.

Shrimp Cocktail

Green Salad with Mustard garlic Dressing

Corn on the Cob

Baked Beans

Greek Potato Salad

Rib eye steak

Raspberry Sorbet

Starting with the steaks. Put them in a shallow dish and sprinkle both sides with garlic salt. Pierce with a fork so the garlic gets in the meat. Pour some Teriyaki Sauce over the top. Turn steaks 2 or 3 times, cover and let them sit in the Frig for a half hour.

Shrimp Cocktail

I buy the bay shrimp (The small ones) Cut celery very fine and mix with the shrimp.  

Sauce

One jar of Heinz Cocktail Sauce

Juice of a half lemon

2Tsp. Of prepared Horseradish. More if you like it hot.

Mix together, Stir in Shrimp and celery but up in small serving cups. Refrigerate until dinner time.

Green Salad

Cut up a head of Red Leaf Lettuce, Add sliced red onion, One can of drained Tangerines, One package of crumbled Feta Cheese. Add a diced Avocado.

Salad Dressing

In a blender add one clove of garlic. One tsp of Dijon Mustard One cup of salad oil. One half cup of apple cider vinegar. Or adjust vinegar to taste. Blend till smooth. Refrigerate till ready to serve your salad then stir the dressing into the salad and serve.

Corn on the cob

Soak the corn husk and all in a pan of water for 1 hour. Cook on the BBQ Husk and all. This is a little messy but I keep a trash can for the removing the husk at the table. I also put the lid of the BBQ down. Your corn will steam and be oh so good.

Baked Beans

One can of Van camps pork and beans. One jar of cocktail sauce. I diced onion. One cup of Brown sugar. Slow cook uncovered for 2 hours.

Greek Potato Salad This is a recipe I had to have. Its from Pappas Famous Greek Restaurant in Tarpon Springs Florida.

Six Boiling Potatoes

One Medium size Onion

Or 4 green Onions

One half cup of finely chopped parsley

Red leaf lettuce to line the plate with

Two tomatoes Cut into 6 wedges each

One peeled Cucumber cut lengthwise into 8 fingers

One Avocado pear pealed and cut into wedges.

Four portions of Feta cheese

One green bell Pepper cut into rings

Twelve not hot green peppers. I buy the Italian peppers

Four Slices of canned cooked beets

Twelve black olives Greek if you can get them

Four fancy cut radishes

Four whole green onions

One half cup of Distilled white Vinegar

One fourth cup each of Olive oil and salad oil blended. Oregano

Boil the potatoes in the jackets for about 30 minutes or until tender but not soft. Drain, cool and peel the potatoes and when cold slice into a bowl. Cut the onions and peppers into thin slices, and chop the parsley. Add to the potatoes and sprinkle lightly with salt. Fold in salad dressing. I use miracle whip. Just enough to hold salad together lightly.

Line a platter with Lettuce leaves and place the potato salad in the middle spreading out some. Place the tomatoes around the outer edge of the platter with a few on top, and place the cucumber wedges in between the tomatoes. Place the avocado wedges around on top of the tomatoes, along with the fancy Radishes. Slices of Feta cheese should be placed on top of the salad with the green pepper rings  over all. On the very top place the beets, olives and green peppers. I use the not hot ones. Arrange the green onions laying up the sides all the way around. Sprinkle the Vinegar on top and then the blended oil. More can be used later. Now sprinkle the oregano on the top. Serve

Raspberry Sorbet

A cool and fruity dessert, This sorbet makes a simple, yet elegant frozen treat.

Makes 8 One half cup servings.

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of water

12 oz. Bag of frozen raspberries

Pureed and strained about one cup

4 tsp of lemon juice

Combine sugar and water in a med. Saucepan and bring to a boil over med. High heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer till sugar dissolves about 3 to 4 minutes. Cool Completely. When cool add Raspberries and lemon juice, stir to combine. Pour into a air tight container and freeze for about 2 hours or until firm.

Put your steaks and corn on the BBQ and cook to desired doneness. Serve and enjoy.

Thank you so much Millie for sharing this menu with us.     It sounds so delicious, my mouth is watering!

Kay and Millie, I think this is one of the nicest stories!   I am sure they loved it and will remember where they got their violet.   We certainly can see the smiles!  I think it is wonderful to give something you have grown with so much pride.   It is a gift that keeps on giving.   

   
STUNT..........A new Disease?  Or an old one?   
 Stunt looks something like the ravages of cyclamen mites.  The leaves become thickened and brittle, stay small,  and most times get lighter in color. The short and thick stems and  flowers if any appear,  are misshapen.  There is no cure, so you should  throw away the plant and grow a new one.  It is difficult to tell the difference between stunt and cyclamen mite, in that case,  treat the  plants for cyclamen mite first.    The leaves already on the  plants will never  become normal in appearance.  If  the deformity is caused by mite the new leaves will come in healthy -looking after treatments.   If it is stunt  they will not.

If you don't like all the VrBingo messages,  I urge you to try this.  I believe the bingo  is here to stay!   If you have any problems with it just contact me.  I am home pretty much all the time. 

Close inspection of all new plants is the best preventative measure for mealy bugs. Plants should be examined thoroughly.  Check the undersides of leaves, flower stalks if  present, and where the leaf petiole joins the stem.  New plants may be isolated for 60-90 days before being introduced  into the culture.   Isolated plants should be inspected at weekly intervals, for signs of mealy bugs or other pests.  

 Mild cases of Foliar mealy bugs can be controlled by using a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to remove them manually.   They can also be controlled with Chemicals.  As a general rule best control of foliar mealy bugs is achieved when 2-3 applications of a pesticide are used at 7-10 day intervals.  Thorough coverage of the stem and underside of leaves is essential.  

Just in case you are wondering 
We have a total of  eight moderators to run this list.  I am list-owner,  but rarely make any decisions on my own.  This is an attempt to be fair when we have any problem with the list.  It has worked well so far and hopefully it will continue to.  

has never left the store shelves in Northern Ontario.  Wal-mart is still stocking it here.   This is a great relief to me, and I am sure quite a few others.  I was able to purchase a huge bag of it at a nursery supply,  a few years back and still have a lot left.   I purchased a same sized bag of perlite and peat.   I will not purchase peat that way anymore but I have no complaints about the perlite and vermiculite.   

What our stores don't have here in Thunder Bay  is Safer's soap.  They tell us it went off the market  three years ago.  

Chatting schedules 

Event Name:	Tricky's Sunday Night Chat
Date:	Sunday, February 2, 2003
Time:	10:00pm
Repeat:	every week.
Reminders:	1 day before the event and 1 hour before the event.
Description:	Just a friendly reminder - Chatroom to be opened: Sunday, 9:00-10:00pm CT (10:00-11:00pm ET, 7:00-8:00pm PT) Please click here to check your local time zone. http://www.timeanddate.com/ Keeper - Tricky http://www.geocities.com/rachelsreflections/VRPCR.htm If the above does not work, then I will be at: http://www.baynet.net/~wagon/chatroom.htm If the above does not work, then I will be at the egroup's chat room. Hope to see you there!

Event Name:	Grow to Show
Date:	Thursday, January 30, 2003
Time:	8:00pm
Repeat:	every week.
Reminders:	1 day before the event and 1 hour before the event.
Description:	Just a friendly reminder - Chatroom to be opened: Thursday, 8:00-9:00pm ET (5:00-6:00pm PT) Please click here to check your local time zone. http://www.timeanddate.com/ Keeper - Millie http://www.geocities.com/rachelsreflections/VRPCR.htm If the above does not work, then I will be at: http://www.baynet.net/~wagon/chatroom.htm If the above does not work, then I will be at the egroup's chat room. Hope to see you there!

Event Name:	Learning Chat
Date:	Saturday
Time:	3:00pm
Repeat:	every week.
Reminders:	1 day before the event and 2 hours before the event.
Description:	Here is a reminder for Time: 12:00PM Pacfic T (GMT-2:00PM and 3:00PM Eastern) We would like to invite you to take part in a Learning session Chat about AV's we will cover a different topic each week. We will meet at this chat room. http://www.geocities.com/rachelsreflections/VRPCR.htm Please all members join to learn and to share what you know. We hope to see you there.

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