Mike, thanks for updating your Crocagator story. Perhaps you would dig back into your photo archives and post an earlier picture showing the creature full length for those not familiar with this amazing bit of humor. Catkim, I decided years ago to never post pictures on GW. I enjoy designing and creating 'out-of-the box'. It does not take long for others to lay claim to ownership. Some of our family members deal with this type of problem. I find bits of this and that at Good Will which are useful ideas and everyone seems to appreciate sophisticated fairy houses and scarecrows. Always included is an annual blossom that attracts butterflies, such as Tithonia which is covered with Swallowtail butterflies until late fall here. People really do like to stop, observe, learn and an added smile is always a plus. Mitch, that palm tree is a winner! Googly eyes, too! Thanks for the ideas. Happy New Year!

PAMark- I liked your haiku a lot! Ortho brings you rest, indeed! How about these? An oversized duck, I dabble amoung my rows, tending. Bottoms up! Good neighbor, don't ask Why do I steal your fall leaves? Compost heap needs browns. Green gifts on my porch? Who could grant so much bounty? Zuchini fairy.

Thanks for the humor, Josh! Portland is a mirror image of northern TX! My sis and I have been exchanging photos. Kim's DFLED 3 which Christopher so carefully packed and sent seems to be coping. The poor little thing is hunkered down in my potted driveway nursery (last photo). I didn't have a chance to prepare any plants for the arctic blast. Fingers crossed! Carol

Today, it was very windy and I went out in the kitchen garden to put one of the arches back in (which blew over) but it was one I moved a few weeks ago, so it was only part way in the ground. Anyway, I'm walking around, checking on the plants (as the winds were dying down a bit) and sure enough, here come my 'helpers' to see what I'm doing. The barn kitties (especially a few of them) love to walk around the kitchen garden with me. I think they believe it's their garden, but I can play it in, too...when I want to. They also seem to think the fairy garden was created just for them, so they'd have a shady place to sleep in the summer...but that's another story. So, we're walking around the garden, fixing the arch, checking on the plants, and finally I just started walking around, figuring out what I plan to move, in the spring. Then, I realize, two of the barn kitties are following me, even as I walk around in (seemingly endless) circles...and I swear, they're offering me the occasional opinion, too. The funny thing is...they're not there for food. I had fed them only a few minutes earlier. They just seem to like walking around the garden...and adding their two cents. I wouldn't be surprised if they take credit for the whole design. "Oh, we suggested the table in the center...and the arch looks so much better, since we had 'the girl' move it. Don't you love that purple clematis, on the arbor?" :)