I have gotten into the habit of having them send me a list, if it's not a 'my choice' type BEAP. It's so much easier than having to dig back through several emails. I do the same when I respond to a BEAP offer... and any trade. A list of what I'm sending as well as a list of what I'm looking forward to receiving from them. At least in a trade, I take care of the recap and that list myself. When I'm offering a BEAP, I stress to them that if I have the list in front of me with their BE when it arrives, I can generally get their seeds packed up and back in the mail by the next day. As much as I hate to say it, I have to use 'rules' when I make an offer: 1. Post here (so I can determine who was 1st, 2nd, etc) 2. Email me, including your GW ID in the email (so I know who I'm dealing with) 3. Use a Bubble Mailer (if it's just a BEAP offer where they can choose, depending on the number of choices they make, I may specify a BE size) etc.. In the course of the emails with them, I may find other seed that is on their wants list that I don't have offered in the post, so I may offer it. Or they may have something I'm interested in and we'll turn it into a trade, even if it's an uneven one. As long as we're both happy, right? :) If it's a seriously uneven trade, with the bulk going out on my side and I feel it may need some extra postage to mail to them (though I can sure stuff a lot of seeds in a BE for .84!) there have been a few where I'm sending them a lot of bulky veggie seed (from a BEAP offer)and asking for some marigolds that I don't have in return, so I'll ask them to include an extra stamp. And I'm more than happy to do the same if the trade is seriously uneven on their side too! That stamp is either used on their return package or it is returned to them in their BE. Sorry, got a little off track. The main thing is, I enjoy being generous, but this is suppose to be for my enjoyment as well as for theirs. If they don't use a BE, I will email them and make sure they understand that I'm not sending the seed, especially the larger, more bulky (any thus, more easily crushed) ones without padding. And if they come to me that way and are crushed, then I let them know and expect that they will make it right and use a BE this time. Wendy, I agree about taking your name and address off of your trade page, hon. Because several of those that are mailing you have probably not done so from an actual offer you've made, but rather just "cold mailing" you. That makes it really difficult to keep up with things. And I'd set some rules for the exchange-whether it's from an offer you've made or a trade you're working. I understand some folks wanting to go more green- like Trudi. But Trudi is very experienced in making sure those seeds are well cushioned and will arrive in viable shape. I've also received seeds from some of the more experienced traders in a plain envelope. And I do send some that way for the Birthday Card swap I'm in. However, I always literally wrap those seeds in bubble wrap and make sure they are secured to the middle card so that they can't shift. Though I do use a BE if they are the more bulky seed. It's the time of year when we are getting an influx of newbies, and we have to teach them to be good traders. Sue's suggestion of listing their first name and state is a great idea. Hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted out, Wendy. If it becomes stressful, then something needs to change and change quickly. *BIG HUGS* Hehe... how about this, Sue? And I haven't even had my first cup of coffee yet! Thought my son was gonna make it for me, but he's watching some movie :( So I've gotta go do it myself. Kathy

Wow, Shannon/garden_witch, you sure put together a special package!! I was so excited when I saw the mailman pull up and carry my package up to the porch! Ok, well first of all, there was a card with beautiful flowers on it, and such a pretty envelope, I loved it! And I really enjoyed reading your letter, and learning more about you! I liked seeing the photo of your backyard, looks like you've sure got your work cut out for you, like I do with my yard! But you've got a great, fresh space to work with looks like, and I'd love to see more photos this summer once you've got some areas of that yard filled with all those plants from your winter sowing! And here's what was in the package: A great coffee mug with a garden-themed picture on it of a watering can and some other things, I will be using it later for my coffee; and even better, it was filled with mini candy bars! Mmmmmm.... :) I tried one of those Midnight Milky Way bars, which are made with dark chocolate around the outside, (I love dark chocolate, the richer the better,) and oh my goodness was it ever good. I'd never tried those before, and now I'm really wishing there were more than two! I NEED more!! Must... go... buy... more.... see, look what you did to me, Shannon! LOL. Okay, moving right along. A pretty pot with hand-painted flowers on it that I love, (I love pots, and am always wanting more of them, so it was perfect!) And in the pot, was a baggie of several different kinds of seeds that I can winter sow, (woohoo, I love seeds! lol) and a beautiful anklet with jade colored stones in it, which is great because green is my favorite color, and I love jade colored things. Then there was a beautiful little garden ornament, which is right up my alley, I absolutely love those types of things! I have to find a special place to hang it now... Also, some pretty faerie gifts tags and book plates, a wonderful smelling homemade candle, (it is lit as we speak,) and last but certainly not least, a great gift! It was a bag labeled "Seed snatching kit." And in it, was a little notebook, a really cool gel pen that writes in several different colors, some seed envies, and a pair of Singer thread snippers, which I never would've thought to use for this purpose, but it is just perfect for snipping off seed pods! They will go to great use, that's for sure. And a couple of the gifts were inside these very pretty handcrafted bags, which I just love. And Shannon, where on earth did you find that alien wrapping paper? LOL! I love it. :) Everything is wonderful, and I am very thankful that you are my new pal! ~Summer

My dad hasn't been able to log in and post for over a week, and he's getting pretty frustrated! He emailed gardenweb but they didn't respond yet. Anyways, he sent me this message because he wanted to thank everyone for all of the cards he received so far, which is a lot! ***THANK YOU FROM GARDENDAD_2K10*** Wow wow WOW - I am just overwhelmed with happiness with all of the cards and seeds I have been receiving! Everyone has been very generous and I am very grateful to you all for this. I have a whole pile of cards that I will be thanking people for, so stay with me. BUSTANI - Christmas tree card with a present inside. I opened the present and out came never-ending seeds. Wow wow WOW! I think they were all hand-drawn on and colored with Christmas sayings. I could see that a lot of work went into packaging these up and I am very grateful. She sent Cherry Bomb Pepper, Catnip and Catgrass (Kitty is very grateful), Sugar Snap Peas, Basil Mix, Blue Lake Bush Bean, Nature Sweet Tomato (LOVE TOMATOES!), and Habenero red & orange mix seeds. Thank you very much. You are more than generous and thoughtful. Merry Christmas! DEBBY_1 - Cat with a Santa hat on sticker was sealing the envelope. Very cute. I got a reindeer card and inside was Pepper long red cayenne and rutgers tomato seeds. Thank you very much! Peppers and tomatoes are my specialty and I can't wait to try these out. Happy Holidays! MOLLY_AND_ME - Candy sticker sealing envelope. I think the card was handmade - very professionally done. You have a great talent! I got seed paper that has Mammoth Sweet Basil embedded in it and some catnip for the kitty. How do you make seed paper? It looks great, I am interested in making some of my own sometime. Very creative person - a lot of time has obviously gone into this card and the seed presentation. Thank you and Merry Christmas! JULIE2112 - 3-D mitten card looks very cool. She sent me tons of seeds, how generous! I got onion 'white sweet spanish', pineapple tomato (wow sounds interesting!), amish paste (Have to look that one up), cauliflower 'snowball' (never grown that before but looking forward to it!), cauliflower 'self blanch', beefsteak tomato (one of my favorites), and Rutgers tomato seeds. Thank you very much - I love them all and will plant them with care. Happy holidays! DIRTDADDY - Very cool Elvis Card along with lots and lots of seeds. I got Parsley Extra Triple Curled, Fish Hot Pepper (his favorite, looks interesting!), Louisiana Red Cayenne, Thai Basil, Mavi Purple Hot Pepper, Tepin Pepper, Wenks Hot Pepper, Dr. Wyche's Tomato, and Lemon Drop Hot Chile Pepper seeds. Wow - I can't thank you enough. It must have taken forever to harvest those seeds - I am very grateful and can't wait to grow these. So many varieties that I have never tried before. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas! RUTHZ - Cool snowman card that says 'let it snow' with some great seeds inside. I got yellow eye bush bean, japone pepper, and...

Val Interesting ? - I didn't read any responses yet I found this forum late 2005 after we had a flood in our home. First finding the kitchen forum. I had so much work to do in a very short period of time. Basically an unplanned entire home renovation. The biggest being a kitchen gut & master bath gut. I could not have come to a more welcoming place. I was a maniac poster at times (might cringe if I were able to find my posts) - I had to move us out of this home, find a rental, movers to move contents out, rid of junk/flood ruined things, deal w/the insurance co., GC's, kitchen design, lead abatement, etc,etc, etc & 2 parents who were quite ill. I owe so much of how my home turned out to the talented people on GW - they helped with paint choices in each & every room, wallpaper, cabinet hardware, furnishing choices, rug choices, placement of furnishings, wood stain - You name it there was not a query that went unanswered. I felt overwhelmed to say the least. But GWers were always up to the task. I learned about hanging pics/mirrors which are typically to high, grouping artwork (still working on that one). Types of fabric/paints/carpets - Mind you I was much more concerned with the plumbing runs going through the joists in the LR and how that would be corrected. I think mostly I learned that I had capabilities and to trust myself & my own judgement. Along the way I gained much decorating confidence and became more engaged. I think previously my decorating sense was there, certainly not as educated or engaged. With confidence (much of it gained here) - I ventured out and started to do things I was interested in but afraid to really try - purchased a sewing machine & started some projects. I got an angle grinder & skill saw one Christmas & did my first tile project. I got so many ideas from looking through the eyes/homes of the GW group - still do. Where else can you go and get people(total strangers) willing to give their time and advice to help you? with anything? GW IS THE BEST - that's why I'm still here. Maybe we could have class of xyz reunions!