Marjie, I agree with PG, some hoyas are more clingy (like yours, they want to grab ahold and wrap around other things) whereas others like to just hang there. I believe Hoya DS-70 is one that likes to hang (doesn't cling to things), whereas a H. carnosa likes to grab ahold of something and climb. Me personally, I don't like it climbing on things and wrapping around, makes it difficult if you change your mind to unwrap it from something. But, nothing wrong if you like that "style," everyone is different. Here's a photo of one of my H. carnosas ('Krimson Queen'). I think in time if the vines get heavy enough (with enough leaves), they will fall but they'll still try to cling to something if they find something to hold onto. I have two vines currently that are sticking in the air. Mine looks rather busy because I have long vines that I've looped back over the pot. If I un-looped them, they'd be almost touching the floor. Planto

Thanks all, for looking and commenting. Debra, I wasn't into spiders and UFOs until the last couple of years. Now I can't seem to get enough of them! Nj, Cleopatra's Jewel had a much more gold "jeweled" edge last year, but with the cool night temps, a lot of my DLs aren't showing their full potential. Oh well, maybe next year will be back to normal. Rita, I'll bet your El Desperado was planted in a better location than where mine is. That particular bed where mine is planted gets dappled shade for some of the day, so some DLs take longer to mature (IMHO). Linda, Glad you like CJ. It has increased well and is becoming quite a nice clump, which will continue putting on a nice show for the rest of July. Julie, Thanks, and the Coreopsis Golden Showers increases so fast, that I can divide often, so I have it growing in several different locations, making a nice companion to the DLs. Kitten, C's J seems to be a favorite of many viewers here. Envy Me looks spectacular in a gentle breeze. Julia, I agree, I have many more buds to open. And I'm still learnig about the different settings on my camera. Sometimes I use the macro mode, but if the auto flash wants to go off, (and I don't want a flash, since it washes out the color), I can switch to the no-flash mode. Lately I've been using a program mode with spot metering, hopefully capturing a bloom with more detail and better color. Julie

Jerzee, I really thought about what you posted. I asked myself if I honestly was just jealous of her success. I don't think I'm jealous of her success per se, but rather her success made me question my own abilities. She's a top producer at our office, and I'm lucky to have her as a partner; she's helped me immensely and throws lots of leads and deals my way. I just got home after that day and found myself thinking, "What is WRONG with me?" Like PaigeCT, I was thinking "I *should have* done this-or-that. A "proficient" individual would have done fill_in_the_blank..." I believe that's the root of the whole thing. Her success juxtaposed with my horribly bad open house made me question my own abilities, and made me think that I'd made a mistake, I'd never get it right, I'd screwed everything up, etc. While I know those aren't rational, that's where I was. (Poor DH, when I got home and he asked me how it went, I screamed at him, burst into tears and ran back to the bedroom, leaving him standing there with a cookie crumb dangling from his lips and a bewildered and hurt look on his face.) Fact is, when I'm up, I'm pretty much unstoppable. I don't care what the *facts* are, I can get stuff done. But when my confidence is shaken and I don't believe in myself, the world becomes a very scary place! I just need to chalk that day up for what it was; a learning experience. I need to put on my *big girl pants* and go find someone else to help! (Can you tell I'm beginning to become annoyed with myself? I don't have too much tolerance for being down....) Paige, THANK YOU for sharing your own experience. I really emphasizes "That's how life is", and it wasn't just me!! And Susanfnp, I have to say that I've never thought of my "act now---question later" attributes as being GOOD things. I've always considered my impetuous behaviors to be a bad thing, and so I consequently feel guilty about 99% of the time. You really made me realize that I need to have a different perspective! Almost EVERYTHING I do is done without hesitation, and I honestly never looked at that as being a good quality. Just last week, I got the wild hair to remodel a small powder room. One minute I was telling DH that we needed to pick out tile, and then next minute I had the crowbar in my hand removing the old stuff. I felt TOTALLY guilty for 3 days, as I felt like I was "putting everyone out" and not being a good wife, mother, broker, etc. But you know what? That powder room is finished. In 3 days. Why didn't I see that as a good thing before? Wow. What a catharsis. Nothing like seeing your own mess scrawled in black and white on the WWW for a little introspection!! Honestly, thank you. I really do have a different (and much healthier) perspective. And Pecan, I would NEVER turn down your pound cake. It's to die for!

Monday--appt. with my urologist (he released me, tests were all good and he doesn't want to see me unless I have more kidney stones); ran to the bank, laundry, then DH and I had our regular check-ups that night. Yesterday--had to run to the nursing home for yet another loose end to tie up, puttering around here. Then DH and I went out to grab a quick dinner and make a Home Depot run to get paint chips for the living room (finally picked out furniture, need to paint now, before it arrives). Today? Mostly spent the day clearing the driveway and sidewalks. And another foot to come tonight--YUCK! Did call the Surrogate's Office to postpone my appt. from tomorrow to next week--that will will wait. Hope DH filled the snowblower with gas when he got home. I like to get it done while he's at work so he doesn't have to worry about it when he comes home.