Thank ya'll for the added cheer! Vickie- Thank you. Yes we did have some neighbor children get their pictures made here yesterday. The R/W/B plumes came from probably Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago. I'm pretty good at saving things from year to year like most pack rats. We went out to the parade, pinwheels twirling in the wind on the tops of our heads. The Village newsletter photographer came and photographed me and Hubs standing out there looking like the fat and older version of "4th of July Barbie and Ken". We got all kinds of candy thrown ***AT**** us. LOL The neighbors inquired about how much coffee we had drank that morning. I think they are planning an INTERVENTION for sure now. Ya'll there was no marching band, no drum chore, nothing that made me hop the barracades and join the parade. How can you get parade happy without the sound of sweaty feet marching in white boots???? No veterans, no rifle chore. There was not one baton except on the belts of the policemen (we wont go there). My New Orleans exposure wanted the opporitunity to grab a handkercheif and wave it around and prance along after the a band. BUT NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O. Hubs says that I should insist on being on the parade committee next year. I'm half joking because we are but a little Village and not a city. But even a BOOM BOX playing "Stars and Strips Forever" would have helped. Life needs Music as a backdrop. Sweet karen- when things are not clicking, you have got to change the Spiritual environment. Put on the music that appeals to the proper mood that you need to be in. Hubs installed speakers throughout the house a couple of years ago (he crashed through the ceiling but that is another story). He even put them on the front and back porches. When I need to garden out front, I play nature music and the song "What A Wonderful World'. If I need to reflect on my grandbabylove, I play Connie Talbot. If I need to pray, I play Spiritual music. Being around my house is like being in a dramatic soap opera without the organ music. (Ya have to draw the line somewhere, LOL). But I had myself all jacked up for this parade thingy by watching videos of marching bands on the Internet. When I am truly down and out I usually tell Hubs, "I just cant hear the music lately". But search because music can be powerful. Heaven is supposed to be full of LIVE music!!!! Anywho, we went to the fireworks display and guess what? The fireworks Company had huge speakers with contemporary Patriotic songs!!!! It was a mezmerising (sp?) light show. I cant say that I got the whole 1776 feel for what happened but I can assure you those Freedom Fighters were sweatin' in July.

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

Karen, I love your wire cloches all decorated and since I don't have any YET, I'll use my bird cage to play with. DS put his home on the market so it's here to stay. As far as a Hooters table, not sure I'm up to that just yet!LOL Thanks Nana, you always have such pretty tables and I'm so glad you've joined us. OA, so happy your back posting. You must get alot of wind. Will you have to wipe down all your new furniture each time before using it? Our deck is always dusty and I just plan on cleaning each time before we use it. Hope you'll share pictures of your July 4th celebration and cloche all decorated. Janet, so sorry to hear that you missed out on the dishes at the supermarket. Maybe you'll be lucky and find them at a ts or ys cheaper now. I think of you and Luvs with your DH often. Wish there was something I could do for all in need. Thanks so much for all the sweet comments ladies. I didn't get a Memorial ts set so it's been fun seeing some red, wht and blue for a change. I just found out today that my other brother and wife are coming this weekend too. This will be the first time all 6 of us and families have been together for several years. I'm looking forward to it but alot of work ahead for me. It's times like this when you know how hard your DM worked! Punk

I did look up Drawn Butter, and it's awfully cute. A small golden with good texture. Then I looked for a hosta named lobster or langostino or Alaskan King Crab, just to see if I could make a yummy pairing. (I must have been hungry ;). No luck on those. If someone gets a seedling with really red petioles maybe they would consider those names.