It tis said that every black cloud has its silver lining. My wife was diagnosed with diabetes a few months ago and this is the first time I have been faced with trying to prepare a "diabetic-friendly" meal on the day known for eating. I used my position as a newspaper publisher to get a very personal response to how to prepare such a meal. One suggestion was to use Sweet Potatoes instead of white ones. My son is a chef and he was telling me how SPs have more sugar than any other potato. Yet, I knew they were recommended. Google gave me some great info - while they are high in sugar, their glycemic index is extremely low and they are rated at the very top of veggies diabetics can eat. So I will obviously have a bunch of space in my backyard garden for them next year. But in my search, I also learned that Swiss Chard is also very good. One search lead to another and it turns out SC is about the easiest veggie on earth to grow but also very valuable. One web site is selling organic SC for $22 for three pounds. Each plant is suppose to average about three pounds of produce over a season. If I dedicate a row to it (250 plants) that would be 750 pounds of produce. I'm not likely to sell it for $7/pound but still, it should be a money maker! Happy Thanksgiving! Mike

Happy Tuesday! WE HAVE A WINNER!!! :D MARGO!!! I double checked and you are the Big VALENTINE Bingo W~I~N~N~E~R :D Can you please send me your addy and I will be getting out your Supa Dupa Prize this weekend. Shirley, I was out the other day doing the same thing. Putting back my flower tags took longer than I thought with the ground still a little frozen. So I put them under rocks for safe keeping. I planted a tiny, I mean teeny tiny, little yellow foxglove baby that I got from a friend of mine. I was so astonished to see that it has at least tripled in size. It is planted in the back of the house, by the foundation, where there is very little snow and no wind. Is it possible that it could have grown over the winter? I was just shocked to see it. Ruby, that sounds like a terrific HEART. Chocolate and Butterflies! What more could you ask for??? Corrine, your right! I love to laugh... and best of all IT'S FREE :D Ellie, I hope your feeling better. There hasn't been that much of a winter to do "sowing". I do jiffies under lights, but have been wondering with such a mild winter are the ws'ing jugs outside bursting with bloom or are they not growing at all because they don't have the snow for insulation? I also would like to remind everyone about the rate and review forum. We don't do it nearly enough on the round robin, and for some of the newbies, it really helps to establish them. Thanks! SENDING ORDER :0): poisondartfrog sends to cryptid**SENT**REC'D** tl.graham sends to shoestring**SENT**REC'D** canyonwind sends to flowergirl34**SENT**REC'D** hazelnutbunny sends to farmergirl2009**SENT**REC'D** sjc48 sends to hazelnutbunny**SENT**REC'D** smitties sends to sjc48**SENT**REC'D** shoestring sends to canyonwind**SENT**REC'D** corrine1 sends to rosemctier**SENT**REC'D** rosemctier sends to poisondartfrog cryptid sends to smitties**SENT**REC'D** farmergirl2009 sends to tl.graham**SENT**RED'D** flowergirl34 sends to robin1962-2008**SENT**REC'D** robin1962-2008 sends to corrine1**SENT** Just waiting for a couple more and we can wrap this up :) I just want to thank everyone for such a fantastic swap. You guys have made hostessing this month super fun. And I can't thank you enough. Have a great day! vina

I've made some things (fabric cushions and curtains), some were made by friends (paintings by my mom and my MIL). A few things were my mom's. I've picked up pitchers at Marshall's, lamps and curtains at Target, little twiggy arty bits from the local nursery/gift shop. Candles and dishes at Wegman's. (All hail Wegman's!) I'm growing my own ivy topiary (buffing fingernails). My DH has made some simple furniture pieces out of cherry. A few things from Pottery Barn Outlet or sales. Watering can and baskets from Ikea. The downside to decorating on a budget is that browsing can be a bit problematic-- you have to be strongminded about not picking up stuff you won't love, but willing to take the leap to buy something that will really make you happy. If you don't browse, though, you won't find anything. My biggest problem has been artwork and quilts. Not even touching rugs, which I am not spending money on right now. DH bought me a big matted/framed poster I admired for the upstairs hall which was around $300, not a sum I spend lightly. My MIL is more daring than I and has picked up some really wonderful chairs for me at yard sales. I usually have a flowering plant or two for my kitchen island-- right now I have violets clustered in a wicker basket, a primrose on the hall console, and mini roses in another basket on the DR table. These ephemeral pleasures were about $3/plant and my budget would have to rock bottom for me to give them up (so far, DH has been resigned!) I need to train my yard sale eye-- maybe pick up some pictures or at least frames I can fill with something else. If anybody has figured out inexpensive but good-looking framing I would love to hear from them.

great! somebody wants to suggest more names? I don't since you do it better:) (we could even do swaps! the ones who live close to each other. imagine that? I'm very sentimental for example..will bring me more joy if somebody I know has it, than trying to sell it on eBay and stuff. You move-as much as you try not everything fits.Or for whatever reason you like it less..for example have a nice tray that I don't like because it's not "my" color.. but it was a gift so I'm, like what if she comes and looks for it and it's not here? but truth to be told she's in a different state lol. or I have soo many books. on topic. and some I'll never give away like never ever..but some, I can share and let somebody else enjoy it and read it.. I do have couple friends who are interested maybe not to the extent I am, but they are. but they're far away...)