I have learned to never be afraid to try plants in conditions which are supposedly unfavorable to them (as long as that plant was inexpensive enough that you can afford to lose it). You'd be amazed at what you can grow. I have learned not to give up hope on a supposedly dead plant until the following Spring. Sometimes they're just recooperating and will be a little unexpected surprise the next year. I have learned that cats love to drink fish emulsion fertilizer when you're not looking (BLECH!!) I have learned that cardboard and mulch over weedy problem areas is a life saver. I have learned that a Kubota tractor beats moving dirt by hand any day of the week (duh). I have learned that mischevious puppies and meticulously placed plant labels don't mix. And lastly I have learned to take time out to just take in your garden once in a while instead of breaking your back working on it all the time. Even though there's always more to do, take a few minutes to sit back and enjoy the fruits of the labor you're already done. Squirrellypete

Growing old certainly does beat the alternative doesn't it? I lost my parents when I was in my early 20's. Mom was 60 Dad was 54. They died 13 months apart, much too young to die. I have decided to grow old and drive my child nuts. I tell him regularly that I changed his diapers and I expect the same from him when the time comes!! Nicki

Some fine life messages. As for age ... you have 20 years on Jack Benny, Minnie - he claimed for years that he was 39 ... ... and I don't remember whether we ever heard how old Mary Livingstone was. I enjoyed his gentle humour ... and he never put people down. ole joyful ... enjoying 83, even with a bit of increasing arthritis

my MIL has psych problems, she lived in a small garage apartment on our property..she is a hoarder.. even her car was piled with stuff..trash, papers, magazines. broken dishes,art supplies, baskets, plastic containers, receipts, tax business papers from 10 years ago, old clothes, bags of recycling bottles and cans and filthy old smelly musty and moth ball smelling stuff.. helping her clean i once found a ketchup bottle in a plastic bag under an easy chair. it was so old it was dark brown.. she remarried, has moved 800 miles away and i am still finding her crap in the garage. this is after she had 2 dumpsters filled within 12 months.. i have not been to the new place.. i can only wonder.. i do not mind clutter..if the house is clean, floors, windows, sinks and counters, porch, patio, outside of appliances, bathroom, etc.. but that kind of trash and hoarding is really sad. she never taught her son how to clean or be organized and guess who is stuck holding the (garbage) bag? hahahaha i love my man and he is smart and organized at work, when he comes home it is a whole other story.. i am getting ready for winter and cleaning closets and cabinets and putting summer things away and getting out he winter stuff..ugh,,we have literally 2 closets..so things have to go to the garage and shed.. and when i get the place back together i have to put my foot down and set some rules.. EVERYTHING has a home and it's place....especially bad when the kids were living at home, small house, before they flew the coop, what is so hard about putting it back after you use it? and if you drop a potato chip or some food or paper or twist tie or something on the floor why can't some people pick it up? they leave it and will walk by it 10 times!!!! i just tell myself to forgive, they know not what they do...