I was a total non-gardener until this year. But finding this website has really turned me into a gardening addict LOL! Al got me started making my own potting mix and I love it. It really isnt that difficult. I encourage anyone to try it. If I can do it, anyone can! The hardest thing for me was to find the pine bark in the right size (and finding room to store all of the components!). Home Depot has something called Scottsman soil conditioner, and landscapers mix. The pieces look about the right size. I dont know what the difference is between the soil conditioner and landscapers mix. They look about the same to me. Unfortunately, the bags are much to big for me to use. I have limited space on my balcony (plus I have to carry everything up 3 flights of stairs) so I havent tried it. And it does look like it is partially composted. I keep hoping someone will try it and let us know how it works. I have all of my perrenials in Als mix and they drain almost instantly. In fact, I tended to underwater at first and my herbs got a slow start, but once I got the feel for how often to water everything just took off! Al, its funny you mention coir just now. I have been so busy playing with my plants and fixing up my balcony, I havent been posting much. (but I check the posts pretty regularly) I was given a sample of cocopeat (coir) recently and I repotted one of my mints in it. So far so good, but it has only been 2 weeks. I will keep you posted if you want (although I am using it in a self watering container and I know how you feel about that LOL!). But I want you to know, that once a week, I take off the bottom tray, drain the water and let it dry out for a day. Then I put the tray back on and refill it. So far, it has worked well for my mint. It is growing like crazy and the roots are starting to poke out of the bottom grid. I will be getting some coconut husk chips this weekend. A lot of people in the citrus forum use them and I eventually want to try them on my thai lime tree. But I am gonna try them out first on something more expendable! They are supposed to drain beautifully, and hold up even longer than pine bark. I got some more cocopeat and I am gonna try your mix using the cocopeat and the chips instead of peat and pine bark. We will see how it works out! Lydia

Still a very nice day to get out and walk around the park but Audrey has already closed up. We went today. I couldn't believe how much it had grown since the Lawn and Garden show. Just a bit of a dead mouse smell when we walked into the building but it wasn't overpowering. It might have been worse yesterday. Thanks for keeping us up to date on it's progress Violet. I could see the top of the new Botanical building. : )

I broke alot of needles at first, you will probably find it's a tension problem. I finally put my thread on a threadholder behind the machine. try a different stabilizer if you find a tension adjustment doesn't help your n's! It's all in the practice! I went thru alot of old pieces of muslin at first. I'm getting pretty good with it now...considering! LOL I also find the bobbin doesn't wind evenly, so I put my finger on the thread and manually move it so it winds evenly. Also, as an FYI! I have found after you do a couple of designs, tighten your needle again! Mine has fallen out a few times! And..today..my hoop fell apart! Check the screws and make sure they are tight! I guess all the vibration loosens everything up! Lisa

Vicki I also appreciated your QOTD posts. I must say that I gained some new insight on some answers and learned a few new things along the way. It is hard to come up with questions and must say you thought of things I never thought of... wonderful job you did. The idea of one person who comes up with a question is a goodie and calling it a QUESTION FOR TODAY is a nice title. This is the season most of us begin to do so much outdoor work, and have a tough time getting the necessary sewing projects done. Thanks for your post, and if I think of something I will also add a line or two. Have a great season. hugs around, BARBARA