Wyndacre you are so lucky to live near Wrightman Alpines! The nearest alpine plant nursery to me is Alpines Mont Echo in Sutton, Quebec. They are quite a trek from here but I have ordered plants for delivery from them. I have also found a very good alpine nursery in BC called Beaver Creek Nurseries. Their selection of plants and quality is wonderful and their prices are very reasonable too. With a few exceptions, I would not purchase from mail order companies because I can purchase most of the plants they feature locally. I also highly recommend Pepiniere Jasmin as a source for unusual, quality plants. Their bulb selection is extensive. I should also visit Pivoinerie D'Aoust as they are only about 15 minutes from me and I know they enjoy an excellent reputation.

Thanks for the "jumpstart" INK! I think Jill is on to something. It's only when older folks start moving out, and younger families start moving in, that you get "landscaping." I've seen this more in my sister's Milton neighborhood than my own. Say what you will, lawn and meatballs are WAAAAY lower maintenance than perennial beds. Also--I think taking on an "established" yard is intimidating. It takes cojones (and a strong back) to rip out ancient meatballs and replace them with more intersting shrubbery. Additionally--mature trees can make life difficult on a small lot. They suck up water, they cast impenetrable shade--their roots are EVERYWHERE. Yes, one can cut down a 70+ y/o oak...but the neighbors frequently get upset. Case in point: We had a neighbor move in and the first thing he did was take out all the 40 + year-old azaleas and all the pines. Much of the neighborhood was VERY unhappy. "It was so pretty in the spring!" (Yeah, for all of three weeks.) I tried to point out that the lot was overgrown and that the Tall pines were a hazard. No one thought these were good reasons. He did my argument no favors by doing some truly hideous landscaping...but the point is, the neighbors were doing the BMW before they even SAW the hideous landscaping. I'm rambling again... melanie

I thought of the same with Ron. I lived in Colorado for 4 yrs and that's where I learned my English. They commonly use "you guys". When I came to Texas, the dentist picked it up right away and asked me "you didn't learn English here, where did you learned it?". It caught me by surprised so I asked, he said my accent and vocabulary were different. I guess, it was not of Texan's origin. Here in Texas, they say "ya'll" and in Colorado, "you guys". Hah-hah... try saying "yes m'am and yes sir" to a New Yorker ;o) ... same concept.

Well, Carole I love your vote of confidence but it is already changed! I'm just looking at it trying to decide on the borders. I have the brown cut in 2 1/2 inch strips and now I'm not at all sure what to do with it. I think it needs more than one border, my daughters are really NOT liking the blue and I don't have a LOT of anything else to use. Buying something is OUT of the question for this quilt so it's kind of still in the planning stage. The blue looks like a solid but it has a little tiny print on it. I know I'm the creator here but they have a input in this quilt as we are making this for their grandfather. Vicky