The other day, I'd tried tried tried to invite friends over, to no avail. The electricity out, the cable out, no landline, only sporadic cell service. Her landline didn't work at all the other day and had left her cell phone at another friends. So today was the first time we could get together. I furnished chocolate pudding cake, school lists, chapter books we'd finished (always pass on books you've read, right?), extra scisssors so they wouldn't have to buy any, but in return, they gave me the biggest laugh I've had in forever!!!!!!!!!!! E's father really really really loved the monkeys of see, hear and speak no evil. It made me cry to see the bottle. After they went home, I laughed and laughed, because I finally read the cork. Pinot Evil. Life is about friends, right? Well, they bring surprises that make life worthwhile.

Hi Trish, Yes, I built my boxes using two totes to make one earthbox clone. I mixed the lime, fertilizer and Epson salts all together and then just poured my fertilizer strip. I had some BER (blossom end rot) problems last year so I figured a little lime wouldn't hurt. I'll see how things go this year and then adjust for next year. I'm thinking I might mix a little lime in the bottom of each planting hole as opposed to mixing with the fertilizer strip. Will let you know what happens. Will post new pictures tomorrow...four weeks after transplanting. Plants are 3-4 feet tall and blossoms are setting. You can also search in this forum for "earthtainer". Raybo has taken the earthbox to a whole new level and he does a good job of taking you through his methodology for building them. I've added a couple pics of my boxes which are a pretty basic build but work great cheers Bing

Hello my friends! This week has been positive in many ways. Thank you for thinking about me! I've been 'offline' for forums and surfing alot for quilt ideas, christmas crafts and just mentally 'colouring with my crayons'. My dear great aunt told me I look fat (she does everytime I see her and it's funny actually - she's 96 so I give her lots of allowances for quirkieness). A young doctor came and was very unsuccessful trying to make a mold - geez at her age her jaw continues to shrink down, skin grows over. Now I have to call and arrange to have the senior doctor come and try again to make a mold. She has her lower teeth - I thought they were lost - but they are loose. It has literally been 5 months since I have seen her. I don't know where time flies to but it flies some times. Seeing her makes me feel closer to my Mom, in bloodline only. Mary is a sweet old gal. I should see her more often and I think I have been afraid to get close because over the years, as a great aunt, I've not really been a major part of her life. I would normally see her once or twice a year while growing up. She has another nephew - my uncle - he is extremely unwell and has never bothered with her at all. At any rate, I should pop in to see her a little more often. One day she will be gone and then it will be too late. Mary has made us family quilts, baked for us and carried on old family traditions because that is the life she knew. We talked about canning preserves on my last visit and gardening. Most of her 'marbles' are still with her at 96 - I should be blessed to do so well at that age. Yesterday I had 2 bank appointments for my Mom's estate with my sister that I don't get on with. I have been learning and working on 4 things: don't take it personally don't assume be impeccable with your word do your best By learning not to assume I did not toss and turn all night worrying about what my sister might have to say during our bank appointments. She is not speaking to me and is in her own world. Too bad. I keep trying to be polite but I get short, rude answers. Her body language still exudes anger, superiority (I think) and negativity. I feel sorry for her. When we left the bank she did not thank the person nor shake their hand - just left. I was embarrassed by her behaviour given she is now a 'director' in our federal government. My parents never taught her manners such as this. The banking officer appeared nervous - maybe because my sister was so short with her answers, seldom smiling and just needing a slap up the head at 46! I shook their hand, thanked them and smiled - I also rolled my eyes at one point. Couldn't help that. Unreal. So I continue to try to be a better person. I don't have to worry about letting go of her in my life because she is shutting out the communication unless necessary. Ah well, that is her journey. I hope she finds happiness somewhere. Today I'm sitting in bed - clothing all over the bedroom. Pulling out summer clothing for laundry and packing and restoring my fall/winter wardrobe. Fall cleansing and watching my dvd set of The Pallisers (Masterpiece Theatre). I love the period costumes and saga. One day I hope to purchase the north american region of The Duchess of Duke Street. I have the UK and can watch it on my laptop but it's not the same as TV. Also I have homework from my shrink - complete a quiz on depression (I'm feeling more and more positive about life again) and think about what I would like to get out of my future visits together. I've lucked in meeting a doctor who finally makes me feel comfortable. So, if I can sort a few things out in my head - one day, one step at a time, I am hoping to return in the right frame of mind for my fall/winter dietary clean-up. I've gained about 8 pounds but that's fine. It will come off when I'm ready to take more care. Anyhow, I should get going - I can't see my bed right now for clothing and I should get laundry going. Sunday is our cheapest rate day for electricity - laundry. Will catch up on the posts later! LOL to all my pals, Peggy

JOURNAL IDEAS: what to write about: Choose a topic/question each day or week and start writing! YOUR CHILDHOOD/SCHOOL YEARS: 1- What was your favorite childhood story? Why did you like it? 2- What was your favorite childhood game? 3- What was your favorite school subject? Why? 4- Talk about a happy school experience 5- What did you do for fun that kids don t do today? 6- Tell about a non-family person you admired when you were growing up? Why? 7- Talk about a childhood swimming experience. 8- Describe your childhood in 3 words 9- What was the most embarrassing experience? 10- What was your favorite dinner? 11- What did you eat when you were a child that you don t eat today? 12- What was your favorite dessert? 13- Where did you go for dates? 14- What was your favorite movie? 15- Share a childhood experience with death 16- What was your favorite outfit? 17- What was your favorite smell to smell? 18- What subject did you learn that they don t teach today? 19- Tell about prices of food. Then and now. 20- Share a childhood memory about bedtime that makes you feel warm 21- Where did you go to school? 22- Where did you live? 23- What did you like most about the place that you lived? 24- Where did you like to hide? 25- What did you like to play? 26- Who did you play with? 27- What was your favorite toy? CHURCH: 28- What is your favorite church memory? Why? 29- Who was your favorite teacher and why? 30- Who do you admire at church? And why? 31- Tell about something funny that happened at church 32- The best part of going to church is 33- What is your favorite scripture? Why? 34- What is your favorite hymn? Why? 35- What is your purpose in life? 36- Talk about the importance of religious faith in your life 37- When I walk into the church building I feel 38- The thing that I love most about the church building is FAMILY: 39- Say something about illness and how it has affected your life in a good way. 40- Share a family ritual that has special meaning to you. 41- Share a family tradition that has special meaning to you 42- Share a new family tradition that you have started recently 43- Share a family tradition that you would like to start. 44- Complete: 5 things I like about myself 45- Name 3 things that you don t think your family knows about you. 46- Name 3 things that you would like your family to know about you 47- Who do you admire in your family? And why? 48- How do you think your mother/father would describe you? 49- How do you think your brother/sister would describe you? 50- How do you think your grandmother/father would describe you? 51- How do you think your children would describe you? 52- Share a compliment that a family member has given you 53- Name one person you feel close to in your family. Why? 54- What do you like best about one person you live with? 55- If you could have a committee of 3 people (living or dead) to help you make decisions, whom would you choose? FEELINGS/THOUGHTS: 56- Tell about a depressing time in your life. How did you get through it? 57- Tell about a wonderful time in your life 58- Complete: I hope 59- Share your feelings about financial security 60- What kind of emergency scares you the most? 61- Complete: the happiest time for me is when 62- Tell about a recent news story that has captured your interest 63- Tell about a time when you needed help and someone helped you! How did you feel? 64- Tell about a time when you helped someone. How did you feel? 65- Tell about a time when you secretly helped someone. How did you feel? 66- What would be the most difficult news for you to accept about someone in your family? 67- How do you feel about sharing personal problems? 68- Say something about resentment. 69- If you could watch only one hour of TV this week, what would you watch? 70- What seems to be the biggest problem in your life today? Name 3 things that you can do today to fix it? 71- How do you feel about donating parts of your body at the time of your death? 72- How does TV advertising affect your buying habits? 73- Complete: I wish I had someone with whom I could share 74- Share something that no one knows about you 75- Which of your senses do you value most? Why? 76- Tell about a time when you felt awkward and someone helped you? 77- Say something about poverty 78- Talk about responsibility 79- Share your feelings about changing jobs 80- Talk about your eating habits. Choose one thing to change today. 81- Talk about newspapers and how they affect your life 82- What roles do love and affection play in your life? 83- Say something about apologizing. 84- Say something about alcoholic beverages. 85- Describe divorce in 3 words 86- Say something about gambling 87- Describe the car you would like to own 88- Tell about the last time you were late for something 89- How would you want to spend the last year of your life? 90- Say something about suicide. 91- How do you feel about guns? 92- Tell about a mistake you have made recently 93- What is the best thing in your life today? 94- Tell about the most significant person in your life 95- Describe something you like that you know someone else does not like 96- What are 3 things you would like to be doing in three years? 97- Talk about competition 98- How does music affect your life? 99- Say something about surprise parties 100- When I am in a large group I 101- Share a funny dream that you have had 102- What do you know now that you wish you would have known when you were younger? 103- Tell about a time when you felt productive 104- What are your feelings about space travel? 105- What is your purpose in life? 106- Describe the funeral service you would like held for you 107- When do you feel most confident? 108- When do you feel most peaceful: 109- Tell about a time when you felt successful 110- Tell about why you want to go on living. 111- What is one thing you could do to improve your life? 112- Tell about something that you have learned to do recently 113- Tell about something beautiful you saw this week. 114- What have you done in the past 3 months that makes you feel proud? 115- Tell about an understanding person in your life 116- What would you like to achieve with your life? 117- Give 3 reasons why you like yourself. 118- Share a compliment you have received recently. 119- Tell about a book that you have read and why you liked it. 120- Tell about a movie you have seen and why you liked it 121- Describe the most pleasant job you have ever had to do 122- Describe the most unpleasant job you have ever had to do. 123- How do you act when you want to avoid something? 124- Say something about spontaneity 125- Say something about hitchhiking 126- Make a statement about honesty 127- What is your favorite sport? Why do you like it? 128- Complete this sentence: my favorite kind of music is 129- Complete this sentence: my favorite time of day is 130- If there were 6 more hours in a day, how would you spend them? 131- Describe your favorite movie star 132- Which fairy tale character do you feel most like? Why? 133- How do you decide between right and wrong? 134- Describe the greatest dessert in the world. 135- What color would you use to describe yourself? Why? 136- Would you rather be a sunrise or a sunset? Why? 137- Would you rather be a sports car or a family car? Why? 138- Would you rather be a lake or an ocean? Why? 139- Would you rather be a red light or a green light? 140- Describe the kind of house you would most like to own. 141- Talk about a time when you were locked out of the house 142- Talk about a time when you were locked out of the car 143- Tell about a time when you got lost 144- What musical instrument would you use to describe your self? Why? 145- Talk about your favorite TV show 146- Tell about a secret desire that you have 147- Describe an ideal vacation 148- What you like to receive on your next birthday? 149- What was the best gift that you have ever received? 150- Tell about your favorite magazine and why you like it. 151- Tell about a time when you were teased and LIKED it! 152- Talk about bragging 153- How do you think your mother would describe you? 154- Talk about the last time you lost your temper and apologized 155- Complete this sentence: I am the kind of person who 156- Describe the pet you would most like to own HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED IF YOU ARE WRITING A JOURNAL FOR YOUR CHILDREN: 157- When I was pregnant I craved 158- When I was pregnant I thought about 159- When you were born 160- When you turn/turned 2 161- When you turn/turned 5 162- When you turn/turned 10 163- When you turn/turned 12 164- When you turn/turned 16 165- When you turn/turned 18 166- When you turn/turned 21 167- When you go/went to college 168- When you get/got your first job 169- When you get/got married 170- When you have/had a baby 171- Your favorite dinner is 172- The thing that you like to eat that surprises me is 173- Your favorite dessert is 174- Your favorite movie is 175- Your favorite toy is 176- Your favorite outfit is 177- You go to school at 178- You live at 179- My favorite thing to do with you is 180- I remember something funny that you did 181- What I think about the guys/girls you are dating 182- How I feel about you 183- I am proud of you because . 184- One special thing I like to do with you is 185- We went here on vacation 186- Birthday parties were celebrated 187- Pets and names of pets that you have had 188- I remember when you got hurt and I . 189- I remember when you surprised me with... Compiled by Barbie Boop