Abbey: I received my seeds today, too. You did a marvelous job selecting these for me. I just spent the last hour looking up the ones I wasn't familiar with so I could put the info in my database. I can't imagine how many hours you must have spent doing this. Thanks very much! You should take a much-deserved rest! Becky ramazz

Actually, the lady pictured in the "Rooster Crow" photo I posted is my SIL, Sharla, not my wife, Elly. But yes, Sharla is constantly crocheting,...mostly projects to be entered into competition at our August county fair. She used to win cash prizes along with her ribbons. Anymore, though, due to professed failing funds, winning competitors receive only ribbons these days. While Elly, obviously, crochets as well, she's nowhere near as prolifically dedicated to the practice as her older sister. Just now, however, Elly is working to complete a poly-chromatic afghan to enter into county fair competition on the occasion of the fair's 100-yr anniversary. While the fair board currently claims it is actually functioning in the black as of late, we'll see what ultimately happens.

Mellen, The box from you arrived today. Wow! I was thinking it was like Christmas morning as I pulled one thing after another out of the box. The only bad part is that I am almost certain that I was here when the mail was delivered (probably around 1:30 or 2 p.m.) and the postal worker did not let me know. They usually beep the horn so you can walk out and get the box. Around 7:30 p.m. I said to my husband that maybe we should check the front porch in case the box came and there it was! My husband was a dear and helped me get the plants either in the ground of in pots for the night. You sent me so many plants that I love, I just hope they settle in okay. I put some water on them even though it was almost dark at that point. Anyway, I can't possibly list it all - Mary Ellen sent a beautiful Christmas ornament decorated with fancy lace that I will certainly keep from year to year. I also got a candle, memo pad, journal, angel plant poke and squirrel pot hanger (these two are so cute!) With the journal, I decided I will try to keep myself a little better organized with my plants and will write it what I received and who it came from. I completely lose track of that. Mary Ellen also was a true treasure as a friend because she had already prepared plant markers with the plants' names to stick alongside them. That is so good. I usually rush to put them in a pot or the ground and think I will remember and do a label later and I don't get around to it and forget the name. (I know no one else does that! LOL) Anyway, as for the plants, I got: Sweet Potato Vine 'Marguerita' (I have two sweet potato vines but didn't have this one), a Polka Weigela - it is a shrub - couldn't believe it when this came out of the box! - a cigar plant, a Sum and Substance Hosta that I have wanted for a few years now, a heuchera 'Chatterbox', two daylilies - Heron, and Custard Candy, and a flowering maple (also called Abutilon - I have a different variety that I bought at the Botanical Gardens plant sale this spring and it bloomed all summer and I love it so I am really happy to have another!) Does anyone grow these? I am wondering how to get more (root or save seeds)? I also wonder if they are winter hardy in our weather. Guess I will do a little research. Anyway, I know I did not list some of it. Thanks so much Mary Ellen. I know you weren't feeling well and I don't know how you put all this effort into the box that you sent. Thank you so much! Sandlapper

Last night while we were watching the fireworks I said how next year I'd love to make a 4th of July quilt-and now I see this beautiful quilt that you've made!! Did you follow a pattern? or are there directions I can follow?? It is beautiful!! I am inspired! Thanks, Vicki in VA