Congrats, Angie - this must be a good year for variegated frits! Do common violets grow where you live in Texas? The variegated frits lay their eggs on them here when there are gulf frits all over the passionvines or the gulf frits have totally eaten them. I've read that VFs in Texas use flax as a host plant. I'm not familiar with flax - it doesn't grow here, as far as I know - but you could look it up, and maybe you could plant it for the VFs. Sherry

That is a really funny story, northspruce! I've had the same kind of luck with any daylilies that I buy from local greenhouses or big box stores. I have all these NOID's, and I don't have room for both them, and the ones I wanted in the first place!! And to make it all worse, I can't bear to just toss a perfectly healthy plant, even if I don't really care for it's bloom! Gah. I try to give them away if it'll make someone else happy. I guess that is one justification for spending the extra money to mail order: you will be guaranteed you get the right plant - if you don't, they'll have to send you the right one!

I'm so sorry, I don't know Laurel or have any more news. (I really like that name, Laurel - planted an oak tree in our yard of that variety - name of a family friend.) I hope she's OK, and await whatever anyone can know next of her. I was never in any danger, being in a different building a good distance away. We were not told to evacuate, just to lock our doors to the hallway. I and the other people who I was locked-up with conferred briefly and brainstormed about what things were lying around in our room to use, if the bad guy busted in our door. We chuckled a little, thinking of all the everyday office things that could make some pretty nasty weapons: the pyrex coffeepot with a cup or so of hot coffee still in it; the manual hole-puncher, and so on. The youngest guy who was with us seemed the most upset. I think it was mainly because he did not know what was the status or location of his girlfriend. (She doesn't work anywhere near Bldg 44.) Anyway, he actually picked up and held a pair of scissors and paced in the office for a few minutes. For a brief moment, I was concerned about being in danger from him moreso than from the man who had the gun. I'm just not able to sleep yet. Kinda rare for me, for a Friday night. What a horrible ending at JSC! But like Rick said, it could have been worse. I'm feeling disappointment with myself for posting such a stupid thing earlier when I started this thread. I mean, writing some little mock gallows humor brain-fart about diapers. The next time I go out to JSC, I suspect it will involve a lot more than just flashing a badge to get through the gate. Probably a long car search, at least...

Hope you're feeling a lot better today; I remember the chocolate log pic on FB - yummm!! Loved all your Christmas pics, so easy to see the love and warmth in each picture ... you have a wonderful, loving family! (Must add, I kept wondering what your KT name was as I went thru the pics LOL) Hahaha Trish (I personally love dust bunnies. Most of mine have names) but she's right, people come to see YOU - as DH would say 'Don't sweat the small stuff' :) One thing that works for me when I have a head cold / fever is boiling a few peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and cloves in one cup water, simmer and let it reduce a bit - and then sipping it while it's still warm. DH likes it with a bit of brandy in it but I just put a tsp of honey in it. ~Pranjal