Glad the crisis is over and you are OK! I just posted positive feedback for you on Rate & Review. Your stephanotis seeds you sent me in '06 are now a mature viney carpet gracing my neighbor's fence with glorious garlands of fragrance. I wound up living in a condo, with insufficient sunny space to plant the 6 vine seedlings, so I engaged in 'guerilla gardening' (sorta.) I convinced a local resident to 'adopt' em. She gets valuable fragrant landscaping perennials, and I get to smell the perfume every evening when i walk my doggie past her home. :)

Judith, Just wanted you to know that your Candy tree is featured in the "Tree Trimming - Your Pix" post by Garden Web!!! All the trees are beautiful to be sure but after seeing it last year you inspired me to make one of my own, kitchen sized like yours, and I've been collecting candy ornaments ever since. I'll post what I've got done later. Have a speedy recovery and let this be your year to just enjoy the spirit of Xmas without all the hassle. May it be your best one yet!!

Thanks for the welcome, Kathi, joansews4u, and Mary. The eye pillows were suggested by a friend. I saw some on the internet, and they were quite pricey. I put my first one in the freezer for a few minutes, then put it over my eyes. It felt wonderful. I'm sure you could also nuke them, but only for a few seconds, as you wouldn't want to burn your eyes. I did check out the quilting forum, but as I don't quilt, I didn't really stay long - but I loved the post about introductions. I sat there and read the whole thing. I felt welcome and I don't even quilt! Joansews4u, I actually thought about running a stitch around the nylon before I washed it. Too bad I didn't think about it longer. I was shocked at how much material I lost to shredding.

O no! these look like what in Italy are called "processionarie"-the Bug Parade. Do not get near them-they really can cause allergic itching, if they are the same ones that we had. Now, I am against-totally against-any insecticides or herbicides, but these may require spray. Is there any trustworthy local source to which you can turn for advice? If they are only on a few plants, I'd say use long-handled clippers and a long-handled arm-extender-pincher that holds an open bag , and just clip off the branches that hold the nests/parading bugs, dropping them into the bags, and then trash them (not compost). Do NOT use any kind of insecticide unless you have on-hand,local, and professional advice. Insecticide can actually worsen the problem! Been there, done that...