Thank you, Tanya--A beautiful hosta for a wonderful celebration--as I listen to the start of our local fireworks display!!! I am too worn out to attend this year (family gathering for this 4th) and frankly, I have been spoiled by attending 'Thunder over Louisville' in years past! Nothing comes even close to that and nothing (fireworks displays) ever really excites me since then!!! Photo by our Son-inlaw! May God (continue to) bless America!!!!

My dear Jeff and Lavonne, God sure has blessed us by bringing the two of you into our lives. Thank you for such a beautiful letter to us all. I wrote a letter of thanks to Jan and Jim earlier today for having such a good son that he is willing to protect each of us from harms way. I can think of nothing any harder than to have to give your son or daughter into God's hands in a strange land. I know that God is protecting Bryon and his family. It's hard to believe how far our Nation has come in such a very short period of time. We are a young Nation compared to so many in this World, yet we are the World's leaders. When our fathers started this nation, I wonder if they thought that they were starting the stongest nation of the World. Did they know that by believing in the strenght of God, that he would make this Nation so very great? And to think, people actually want to take God out of our Nation. Out of our Nation after he has given to us the greatest stength of the World. We must all stand firm in our beliefs that with God we can do anything and without God, we are nothing. Priase to the Lord for all the men and women that are protecting our homes and Nation from evil. Thanks to all the men and women and most especially to all their families for allowing them to be away from their homes on this holiday. A very specail thanks to all of the wonderful people that I have had the pleasure to meet and now love from your great state. I feel so blessed to have met Jan and Jim and all of my wonderful friends from Tennessee. You are all so very special to David and me. I give all the Glory to God and ask for his blessing for all this holiday weekend, Mona

Happy 4th to you as well! It's a great day to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of the perfect kitchen! Isn't that the definition of happiness? And, be proud to live in a country where we are free to be TKO! Seriously though, and not political or anything, I just want to say how thankful and proud I am of those who serve our country! Happy 232nd Birthday United States!

Lisa, I was waiting for your response to this post:). Curious to see what you had to say about this guy:). I was under the impression that E. glauca has shorter not so slender leaves, but maybe it's just the way its been grown. It's pretty whatever species this Echeveria is:).