Thank you, thank you for the "beautiful home" comments. When it was new eight years ago, I was enthused about keeping it clean and orderly. That mindset went by the wayside with the advent of gardening. Now the new decor has revitalized my domestic instincts. I hope it lasts, but I'm really getting less gardening done. I have planting to do now and I've wasted the cooler weather being inside. Oh, well, such is life. Cath, one could argue that I was doing the wrong thing by seemingly buying every blue & white fabric in sight, but in the end it turned out well. The original pillow covers were a very odd abstract design, very not me, so it worked out well with some work on my part. And DH loves it, too. He asked me to make a cover for the recliner to preclude stains even though it is stain-protected. Do you believe he picked a blue & white toile from the stash! Campanula is right. They are larkspur. Delphiniums don't work here - too hot, I guess. The larkspurs reseed and start coming back every January. I'm starting to pull them out now. They have lived their life beautifully. I don't know if the heat is doing them in or they are just this short-lived and are running their natural course. They make a spectacular splash in the garden during the time when stuff is frozen back and roses aren't ready yet. Freezes don't bother them. Without them the late winter/early spring would be so barren. I love that they come back on their own. I'm not disciplined enough to be doing seeds in August for planting in Sept/Oct to make a winter season garden. Did it once and don't think I'll ever do it again. That's all hot-time here and doing the tedious work of distributing tiny seeds in tiny pots while sweating on the screened porch is not my idea of fun. I suppose I could do it in the evening. I'll have to think about that. They'll have to be reseeders though. More research. So, Suzy, I think we have the apparel language straight at least for now. I would dearly love to visit the UK and France but it is highly unlikely since I don't buy lottery tickets. But if I do, I will be up to speed on the language. And thank you for the "Sherry's famous larkspur" comment. It made me smile. Sherry Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Merry Christmas Wendy! You are getting great present - beautiful violet and somehow I know that many more will follow... :-) Welcome to AVOCD(african violet obsessive-compulsive disorder). Welcome to our world. :-)) Merry Christmas to everybody...! Alena

Wouldn't that be a great workout video for winter time (down time for gardeners)? Somehow simulating all the moves we do a hundred times a day throughout the growing season. Fall comes and BAM! down I sit, and that's it til spring (usually 10 or so pounds heavier). I always find that this time of year is the worst - but by the end of the summer, I feel much better, almost no pains at all. I am 50. This year - my 6th winter sowing was almost a non-starter. I just didn't feel motivated - kind of depressed actually - aches and pains. But, somehow I forced myself to do around 30 containers (previous years it was in the 100's) - maybe I'll do a few more while the nights are still frosty up here. But let me tell you, when I saw my first sprout 2 weeks ago, I got that same old thrill - it's still there :)

I was per-menopause in my 40's. Hot flashes then cold when they were over. The family would laugh as the sweatshirt went on and off! I haven't had my period for a year now.....yay! I'm in my late 50's. But I have mood swings. Some days hubby can't do anything right!