Hey hosta friends, thanks for the feedback on my rufflies!! I do love them :-) Last summer I didn't pay too much attention to the hostas (being pregnant in the heat of summer will do that to ya), so I am excited to be back in my beds, gazing at all my hostas! (I'm especially excited to be able to bend down without falling over!!) I do like Clovelly... not sure where to get it, though. I haven't browsed any of the hosta retailer sites this year... Although I must say, I have several hostas that are in pots from this winter that I have to get planted before I can buy anymore! I think I'm especially excited about lots of my hostas this year because I got so many of them a few years ago as small 1-2 eyed TC's or divisions, and now they are starting to look like mature specimens! Buff

When I spot a mantis in my garden, it makes me feel like I'm getting payback for keeping chemicals out - makes the spots on the leaves a little easier to bear, and lets me look at the bad bugs in a different light. Pollyanna? Maybe, but these giant predator insects sure are awesome creatures.

I always LOVE seeing what dishes you put in your white hutch!...love those CTS dishes from last yr ... looks so lovely w/cardinals, candlelight & those red boots! Those reindeer flying 'over' looks like a silhouette! Cute! The mix of 'gingerbread' & old & new on your counter looks good! For one of my DD gifts this yr, I hunted for something 'Gingerbread' to go w/GB soap I got her & some pretty new towels for the bath ...& at HLobby, there were TONS of gingerbread dolls, ornies, lots of goodsies...so I found one today about 8" tall that bouncies on a 'spring' (like you would imagine a boxed mattress spring)! LOL! Jane, I am also lovin' the potted pinecones I've seen ...cool idea & looks 'Wintery' on your red shelf. TFS & lookin' forward to more! Jeanne S. Get some rest (while you can for a bit before Christmas) & hope your Dad keeps responding to the meds & feels much better soon)

Thanks for looking and posting! We just love Hawaii and keep returning there. I'd like to live there, but can't convince my husband to move (yet). It is very expensive. Gas was about $3.70, and food is outrageous. I've thought about buying a vacation rental condo, but haven't moved on that either. DH is still kicking himself for not buying a condo when we first visited in 1993. Now those same condos that were $200,000 then are over $500,000 now. Jodi--We didn't go across Saddle Road, because it would have violated our rental car contract. Our friend who lives there said she drives it once in a while and it's quite an experience. She's really beaten up her new 4Runner on that road. We planned to snorkel at both Kahulu`u and Place of Refuge, but never did. Both times we were at Kahulu`u we were just too unmotivated and ended up just sitting on the beach. And at Place of Refuge, by the time we hiked the 1871 trail and walked around the historic site, we didn't feel like changing into our suits. DH doesn't really care if we snorkel; he says he sees the same fish every time. And I won't go in without him... We stayed at Hale Kona Kai, which is a small, 39-unit condo building between Kona Reef and Royal Kona. Got it thru VRBO. I highly recommend it if you just need a 1-bedroom unit and want to be able to walk to town. It was very convenient. We loved watching the turtles from the lanai. Cathyid--How lucky you were to have lived there! When was the last time you visited? flamingo--Yes, we did see whales from our condo and from other points on shore. We also saw a couple when we were on the dinner cruise. One was slapping his tail on the water, which I haven't seen in a long time. DH saw a couple breaching from our condo. When we were on Maui several years ago, we went on a whale watching boat trip. One whale and her baby swam right under the boat and hung out for a long time! It was spectacular and we will likely never have that experience again. So now we don't bother going on a boat to see whales. I'm glad you all enjoyed my photos! Kathy who woke up to snow this morning :(