I'm glad you were able to at least save the bottoms of the boots to use. Good idea to just cut them off. And clever to reuse the top too. It's not everyone that has a flower pot that matches their boots! (and a spare for next year! lol) This weekend on a tv show I just happenned to come across while flipping through channels, there was a fellow doing 'upcycle' kids crafts and he did a similar thing with the cut off sleeve of a sweater and a tin can.

Good Evening Idylls! (((Dear Taryn)))...you didnt bum me out or chase me away! We just had a minor crisis here at home, but things have quieted down, so I thought I would catch up with the Idylls. Of course its so sad to know that Bruce is coming to the end of his journey and I feel so badly for Gigi and his children. Im glad they have had these last few years to make memories and to be together...memories they will carry with them always. Its really hard to even imagine how they will get through this; how anyone gets through this. One thing I do know is that they have been blessed to have you in their lives. You have been a true friend and an exceptional, strong, loving, and generous soul. I couldnt say it any better than Yeona "you are the epitome of a good friend. I'm sure that Gigi will need you more than ever, just as I'm sure you'll be there." I really loved your songs Taryn, especially the one about Living Like You Are Dying. It made me think of a quote I keep on my computer called "In This Moment." Every time I read that quote it puts pictures in my head and so I wanted to share them with you. I hope that anyone who reads this wont see it as a sad thing, because it is not sad at all to me....its a reminder of my blessings and gets me centered when I feel askew. This has been a hard year for me, but honestly, I *do* know how lucky and blessed I have been! I have lived a charmed life and I need to remind myself of that sometimes. The words of this quote always hit home and Im going to post it here because its filled with the pics in my head. I hope when you read the words that it fills your head too, with all the many blessings and special moments in your life. I dont want to take up space on the new post, so Im posting it here: In This Moment Author Unknown We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are... After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles *were* my life". This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness *is* the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special. Special enough to spend your time ...and remember... time waits for no one... So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off Until Spring... Until Summer... Until Fall... Until Winter... until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy... Happiness is a journey...not a destination... So, dance as if no one were watching... Sing as if no one were listening... And live every day as if it were your last...

haha....well you guys are just plain slow.LOL! Laurie, I wouldn't even begin to try and count the number of plants that I planted this spring. I have started what I consider to be fall planting. It started with my iris order.......now I have to keep watch when the perennials come on sale at the nursery.....they come on really really late here.....who knows what I might find there....then the fall bulbs from Costco (200 minimum)....and the orders that I placed....hopefully will all be planted before the snow flies. hee hee. Sierra

Syble, Your collection reminds me of a magazine picture I saw earlier this year. There were several of the red boots such as you have, and they were used as vases for evergreen sprigs, so it was a very similar look to what you have shown us here. I liked it so much I thought I might start collecting Santa boots. I MAY have one, my mother had an old plastic one but I'm not sure I still have it. - Magpie