You was very positive on CNBC's Squawk Box. Your positive attitude combined with President Obama's positive attitude is helping America's faith in our financial future. We need more public figures to jump on the bandwagon.

Thank you!
Gloria

Thanks for posting

maybe, just maybe it will put a little smile on your face, that even somebody, who´s not a citizen of the USA and lives in "old" Europe actualy totally agrees with you and the things you´ve said in that interview!

The strange thing is, that while even here in Germany the situation is soon the same as in the USA and some of our biggest and most famous companis (like Opel) suffer from it very bad, I, as a small part of the economy, actually feel better at the moment, compared to 3 or 4 years back, when I was focused on other things, when I for example spent my money without that big thoughts about for what I spent it.

Now I focus on the basics, it first started when I became unemployed some years ago and never left me, even as I started to work again, because I loved to do these things.

It was exactly as you said in the interwiev: I improved my skill in cooking by searching mags and the net for recipes and cooking supplies, re-developed all the housekeeping knowledge with the help of messega boards, books and mags as wll and actaully even started over again all the crafts my granny once teached me.

First it started, because I needed to, to save money and then, because I had the time to do it and at last I began to like it. With quite good results, I have to say: for example I learned how to make soap by hand only from the internet and now I´m able to sell the bars with some profit, that helps us through this time as well. And in the last month we spent our money on things, that were higher in quality, but did not spnt that much for many different things. We focused on what we realy want and need.

Lucky me, I have work again, ok, but this need and love to do things for the home by myself and thinking more about my expenses still remains and I cannot think of it ending anymore.

The new media, and in this I agree with you again, is essential, and I believe, for "young" crafters like me even more, because of the fast way to get informations, the unbelievable huge amount of oppurtunities, knowledgebases, blogs, boards, shops of course and so on... And its a great thing for people who are ineterested in our products as well. You´ll never get this big public attention, when you only show your ideas and stuff on local markets and workshops (no need to tell YOU abut that ).

So, you see, it seems to be the same here, and so I´m feeling the same way about how it will keep going like you said as well.

Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion with us.

*sorry for my sometimes strange english*

Cheers
Mone

Have you ever made dandilion and violet jelly
before?

I found a couple of recipes on blogs of the mentioned jellies. I loved seeing the process of the violet jelly turn from a blue/green color to violet color.

I think I will go check out your website and
see if I can find some other recipes for them.

I would like to find more suggestions on their use. What kinds of foods to serve them with.

God Bless You and Yours and Your Company!!!

Even before the economic downturn, Martha, I think we all have wanted more bang for our buck, and your product lines have remained consistent in that realm. It's like you said, too, in this interview, where a simple kitchen gadget can be THE answer to a kitchen/cooking need as we're staying home more and spending more time in the kitchen...not much money spent, and the need is met. Your positive outlook does give us hope, and in the meantime, we (I!) will continue to tune in everyday and get yet more tips that are new to me, get lost in your magazine and wonderful books, twitter with you in camraderie, share mutual admiration for you with friends, annnd... Basically, I'm not going anywhere!

Now, if I could juuust master this disinterest of mine in cooking (as I beat myself up)... [BIGGG sigh!]

=^..^=

(The following helps to validate me a little and make me feel better):

"If you wish to make anything grow, you must understand it in a very real sense. "Green fingers" are a fact, and a mystery only to the unpracticed. But green fingers are the extensions of a verdant heart."--Russell Page

(MY HEART IS VERDANT!)