Dear Silenus Charm,

What a helpful elf you are. yes, that recipe is very similar to what I had in mind for my perch filets. Instead of the cream, I'll use Greek Yogurt which is very thick - almost like butter. Layered with the Onions and potatoes and cracker crumbs it ought to come out very much like the Jansson's Temptation. I think I will save this dish for closer to Christmas proper seeing as it's a traditional holiday dish. I like to use Ritz Cracker crumbs mixed with some regular breadcrumbs because they are so decadant and melt in your mouth.

Since you've been so helpful, perhaps you can suggest a nice dessert to go with it? I looked at the Saffrom cake but it didn't appeal to me. Maybe I'll make a Pavlova or individual spongecakes with spiced pears. I got a huge box of pears from fruit of the month club and I'm always trying to find something to do with them.

I'm afraid I'm short on fresh Lichen. Is there anything else that Comet might like to nibble on when Santa passes through the neighborhood? Do reindeer eat Pyracantha berries? They're in the apple and rose family and birds and bears love them. Just tell him to spit out the seeds since they're not good for you. I have a huge Firethorn bush/tree in my side garden next to the chimney. he could probably snag a mouthfull without even having to make a stop!

Believe it or not, I still have s stand of sunflowers that the birds haven't totally picked clean and while the stalk are all dried up, the seedheads are still intact (well some of them anyway). I don't know if there'll still be some at Christmass, but Comet is welcome to have a munch. They are conveniently located next to the Chimney also. Does he like Moss? I Have a nice soft bed of moss in one corner of the side garden and he can have that too if he likes.

I'll have to do some research and see about planting some reindeer friendly food sources for next year. The past few years, I've been trying to see to it that the Monarch butterflies have something to eat when they get here. There used to be Milkweed all over the neighborhood but when we put a new fence in, the landscaper tore all of our milkweed out. It's s shame too because it's the one plant the Monarchs love the most and utlize in every stage of their life cycle.

I had mercy on the ground bees this month and permitted my huge basil bush to go completely into flower. Usually I pinch off the buds all the way thru winter so I can have a supply of fresh basil for pesto and margherita pizza . However, after seeing how much they loved the delicate white basil blossoms, and how they'd fight me for them as I tried to pinch them off, I decided to give them the entire bush for Christmas and they're loving it!

In spring, I'm hoping to convince my husband to help me get serious about putting in a reised bed for sweet peppers, salad greens and a few tomato plants. if he won't cooperate, I think I'll have to buy those Earthboxes and grow our salads on the side porch along with the citrus trees I'm hoping get for Christmas. I'm tired of paying so much for Red bell peppers and lemons. TIme to grow my own.

Well, I'm off to go trim some lavendar for a sachet and see what I few basil leaves I can grab before the ground bees get mad at me for raiding their lunch table.