Argh - I'm at work finishing up the same project I was working on yesterday. The last thing I need is for the server to transcode 6 more clips for me, and it's frozen up. The server is in the UK and nobody is there on the weekends to give it a thump. So so frustrating.

(And Dylan has a terrible cough and runny nose, so there's a good chance I'll have to stay home with him tomorrow, hence my coming in TODAY to get this done. Did I mention ARGH?)

Growing up in northern Ohio, I am of course a maple syrup aficionado. In fact we had maples and did our own sugaring sometimes. It took an absurd amount to make any at all, but it was fun and the sap tastes good by itself. We also use lots of honey (which never goes bad) and wash sugar (from Hawaii only!) and agave (which has a higher glucose index than sugar so use sparingly). Mmm, sweet things. I`ve not yet tried the butter bell but I want to, especially hearing you guys use them. Lehman`s sells a nice marble one.

as long as you keep the jar closed, it will keep almost literally forever.

I've never worried about how long honey would keep, because a jar doesn't last very long at our house. I will eat honey with a spoon.

Yeah us too. I bought a giant jar of orange blossom just before I got the flu. I thought it would last forever but I had lots of honey tea whilst sick and it was great.

I suspect Owen's been sucking on the Honey Bear like Brad Pitt in True Romance.

Plei, I can't thank you enough for the topcoat recs. Poshe has been a savior! I'm now bidding on some new colors on ebay.

That's all very helpful, thanks guys! I will be having a stern talking to with the neurons responsible for this irrational honey aversion.

I just checked my pantry and what I have right now is clover honey and star thistle honey. I don't remember when I bought them, but they are clearly from California so they should be less than 5 years old. I know I've got a place nearby where I can sample honeys of various sources and figure out if there is, in fact, a type I don't like; I need to take advantage of that.

They'll usually let you sample honey at the farmer's market.

Speaking of which, after the success of the beer batter last week, I bought more squash blossoms. Ideas? Recipes?

Flying Bee Ranchis not very far from me. I've been toying with the idea of using their Allergy Relief Packs but kept thinking that having honey everyday would be onerous. I'll have to make that excursion more of a priority.

I have been making a coconut shrimp with sweeted coconut meat, curry powder, lime juice, garlic, sweet peppers onions, a little bit of honey. Served over pasta.

No shrimp in house, but do have tempeh. Hmm - if I marinate the tempeh in sauce before cook....? (And given this is grain tempeh, no need for pasta). Good idea? Bad idea?

I love the idea of honey, but it's way too sweet for me to tolerate in any form other than a splash in hot tea.