What a tranquil, lovely spot you found to make home, dulcimerduo! Your totem is very pretty. I love how you incorporated the round pieces. I always think it is fun when people put a figurine underneath a bigger glass piece. Definitely gives the totems more character! Like the rest of the folks, I just love George! I'm glad he managed to fit in your Honda Civic! Only a Garden Junker would be so determined to fit something that size in a small car. he-he I can't wait to see pictures of your new and improved pond too! Here's a funny observation ... I was looking at the picture of your pond and I was wondering about the little gnome standing on the branch of the tree ... that was until I realized it was your DH pushing a wheelbarrow in the background! lol! Years ago, in one of my magazines, they had an article of how someone totally enclosed a mobile home to make it look like a cute cabin. It was located on a lake and they made a screened porch along the whole front of it. Looking at the finished enclosure, you would never know there was a mobile home under it! I could kick myself for not keeping the article. It looks like you have a similar idea! Please keep the pictures coming!

Hi scottspond, some how didn't think she would, Florida vs Manchester, no contest really ;-) The area I live in is New Mills, in High Peak in Derbyhsire. If it doesn't ring a bell, it's just past Lyme park, Buxton is about 2 miles away, Stockport 9 miles and Manchester 20 miles (all via road) Handily the railway station is about 5 mins away from my home, so trips to Manchester are pleasent through the countyside and don't require I use the car ;-) And in summer I get to hop on the odd steam trian, every boys dream. My Mancunian mates reckon I've gone "all posh" living here, as I was born and grew up in Fallowfield and went to school in Rusholme. Regards ChrisC.

F4F: "Proin"? His accidents aren't bladder, they're bowel. I'll check into it, though. Thanks. He's on Levotabs, a thyroid medicine, and Prevocox, an anti-inflamatory, and dasuquin for joints. I wash his pad and sheet every morning also. You're right, it's a pain, but it's worth it. He's just unsteady on his feet - but the sparkle is still in his eye, and he's still bossy, so as long as he "tells" me he's ok, he's gonna stay with me. Chena: I went to the site - I'll head there again later today. I just ordered half a gross (72) sweatshirts to have delivered to an organization that cares for mentally challenged adults, mostly adults suffering from downs syndrome. They should arrive Monday. I'll be a little busy Monday, but I'll try to pass that along to people at work. Thank you!

Morning!! Margo, it's not as bad to take care of as people think. I think because its bigger, its pretty self sufficient. I do need to get in it every month or so and weed. My water plants reproduce so quickly they would cover the whole top if I didn't. What's nice is I put all the pulled ones in a wheelbarrow and bring them down to the veggie garden. Pile them up and let them dry. I about a week they are bone dry. So dry they crumble! I use them for fertilizer. I don't know if its the pond water, fish waste or what but those plants work almost like miracle grow ;) Shirley, we have a Master Gardener's plant swap usually every year here around Mother's Day. I say usually, cause this year we didn't have one? I was so busy at the time, never asked why, and till you just mentioned it forgot all about it :) My fair swap has been growing a little every year by 1 or 2 people. :) A lot of the same people come every year once they get hooked. The like the variety of different things I bring every year. What's awesome is that it all comes from the gw. :) The seed swaps in the fall produce nice little babies for my swap. This year I tried a bunch of Dianthus.... I have Ipswitch, Black Adder, Yellow something I can't remember, Black Magic, Fire Witch...as you can see I got most of these from the Halloween swap last year :) I also have some different Althea's that I can't remember right now, lol. The turtle is officially done. He's not a fancy turtle, but, he does look cute. ;) The kids are so excited I hope he wins. Taylor was looking through the entry list for ecology classes. She's entering photography, art (painting and sculpture), sewing, flower arranging (gee, wonder where she's gonna get those?), and house plant arrangement. I have 1 house plant in my house. Taylor's zebra plant. This thing has produced 8 babies! She took my tea cup planter and planted them around in it. She then used one of my old spoons and stuck it in. Made a tea bag tag to tie to the spoon, " Taylor's Tea" It came out so cute! Billy is entering art. He made the most beautiful pastel drawing of a fish this year in kindergarten. It won an honorable mention at the school art show. I framed it. He's also entering the house plant arrangement too. We didn't have any house plants for him, but, we did have some hen's and chicks. So yesterday we got a pair of his old sneakers, washed them, and filled them with hen's and chicks. They are so cute!! Little blue sketchers!! So adorable!! My neighbor saw them when she was walking her dog and asked if they were going to be at the plant swap...lol! I have to get a photo of them. Have a great day!! vina Here's a weird one...found this double gaillardia. It looks like a science experiment gone wrong, lol.