Hi, all! Today is overcast and drizzling, so I thought I would catch up. Michelle, A small bulk bin would be perfect for a watering can. Lol, I'll have to show that picture to my MIL. She'll get a kick out of it, and the bulk bins are at her house. I bed DH would love a project ;) I've been to Colorado a couple of times, and just love it there. DH has never been, and if I ever get him over his fear of flying, I'd love to go again. The DVD for Kenzie is an excellent idea! Kathy, for sure there will be pictures now that I've beaten back the crabgrass! Hm, maybe I should find out where DH dumped all those cartfuls he got rid of for me. Bound to be an impressive photo op! I'm used to being outnumbered in any political discussion. I'm amazed at how rabid folks get talking about it, tho. I love a good debate, and don't see any reason for anyone to go away mad. My best friend and I went out for dinner last night and had a good discussion over Mexican food and a couple of Coronas. V, driving around Chicago in NICE weather is my idea of a nightmare, lol! I imagine the citizens of the Windy City are better off without me in their midst ;) Marian- Magnolia, from Calico Rock..she sounds like she should be a character in a book! Oh, no! I'm so sorry about the yellowjackets! I've never had that happen to me, and it's really a wonder, some of the places we mow. Take good care of yourself, and I hope you have a wonderful visit with your family. Deanne, it's hard to imagine that there is a time of the year when your yard isn't a treat for the eyes. It is, however encouraging to hear you say that ;) This is the time of year when I'm tempted to dig up absolutely everything and rearrange it all. Lol @ Rajii! I felt this same way when I opened the door for the dogs at 5 a.m. I quickly brewed a pot of coffee and scuttled back up to bed with the pot and two cups when the beasts came back in. The TV in the bedroom is great, but makes it too easy to stay in bed late. Since it was cold and drizzling this morning, though, it was a good place to be. Jerri, glad you got some puppies adopted out. I always thought it would be fun to raise two litter-mates. Chelone, the backhoe guy sounds like a real jewel! I've got the farmers for BH operators, and sometimes they get a bit carried away with themselves. I would gladly hire you to clean, and would cook a giant meal of fat farm comfort food to boot..just let me know when you're coming and what kind of pie is your favorite. Oh, and while you're cleaning, feel free to berate my DH for his poor organizational and put-it-back-where-you-got-it skills :) I feel for ya on your day at work. When I worked "on the outside", I was very territorial about my work station and tools, and reeallly impatient when something needed fixing in order to work properly. Well, let's face it, I'm the same way on the farm ;) Julie, good to have you! Deanne's containers are indeed spectacular. You couldn't have chosen a better enabler ;) I read the same way as you. One author until I can't stand them anymore, then on to something else. I keep waiting for DH to go on a fishing trip so I can clear out some stuff around here. It's beyond shameful the amount of junk that accumulates on a farm! Saucy..no magic?? I'm disappointed for you! Yay for you on the new undergarment wardrobe. If I never had to shop for shoes or bras, I would be very happy. Ah, catching up reading, I see what happened to the magic. Bummer. Makes good sense about the acid reducing meds and gall bladder problems. I abhor the idea of having to go on any prescription meds. Oh, my, Martie! If I don't need to be driving around in Chicago, I for sure will stay outta NY City. T, good to hear an update from you. I need a nap just reading that first paragraph! Yesterday, I did manage to get more mulch spread and some plants moved. Also reduced the pot ghetto a bit. I wasn't really in the right frame of mind for bed design, so it remains to be seen how it will all come together. DS and his GF rode their bikes over in the afternoon. It's a good 25 miles from where they live, and they decided they really didn't want to bike back, so I gave them a ride home on my way out to supper. Speaking of going out to supper, I must fess up. Poor DH was at home power-washing the pig house while I was sipping beer and gorging on Mexican food. We're due for the next batch on Monday. Maybe I'll manage to get pictures of the little cuties this time, before they turn into HOGS. So, next time I'm grumbling about him....well, he's not such a bad guy ;) He managed to get along on leftover chicken and noodles, and truth be told would prefer that to Mexican food anyway. This has gotten far longer than I intended, and I really should do something constructive. Not sure what that will turn out to be... Later, all! Brenda PS. The Idylls rock :)

Sherry, for me Rosette Delizy has also been very changeable. When I took these pictures it had turned cool, but before we had a hot spell and RD looked very pale. It changed color in a matter of just a few days. It's interesting that yours is mostly yellow, which I assume is also true when the weather is cooler, and perhaps humidity does play a role. It would be an interesting question for another thread. Bellegallica, the plant you mentioned is called statice or sea lavender, which is fairly common in Southern California. It does even better closer to the ocean, and suffers a bit in the summer heat here. Rootygirl, Krista and sabalmatt, thank you so much for your expressions of appreciation. I think it would be wonderful if we could see many gardens with all their different areas at varying times of the year. Maybe I shouldn't confess to this feeling, but it's rather heartening to see that others also struggle with various aspects of their gardens, and that all is not always 100% perfection. I know we talk about these things but photos make it seem so much more real. Elemire, your comments about the similarities in our gardening experience are very insightful, and I'd never thought of it that way before. We try to eke out as much beauty as we can at a time of the year that's hostile to growing things and it becomes a learning experience, and forces you to be creative and discover new varieties of plants that might not have been considered before. Adversity can often be a spur toward better things, and we grow along with our plants. Ingrid

Thank you all for your kind words. It's always fun to show our Before & After project pics here. You get inspired and work so hard creating something new. It's nice to be able to share it . . . even if the end results don't end up in your home (LOL)! Oakley: Haha!! I don't think DD is going to want to give up all of her new (old) furniture and decs to move back into a shared, already-furnished bedroom at her sorority house next year when it's finally redone. She'll be a senior then and is already loving her home only a couple of blocks from campus. Although she definitely IS missing having someone else plan, shop for and cook all the meals (LOL)! The wall's of DD's room were already painted that color by the previous tenant and I don't have a clue what the brand name or color of it is. Sorry. Is your son going to OU? I agree, decorating a son's place is (usually) a lot less fun than decorating a daughter's. My own son's place made me cringe during his six years at OU! Arcy: I LOVE your DD's headboard. How beautiful!!! The fabric is wonderful and looks beautiful with that dark wood. This is a fun age for our daughters, isn't it? Jake: that sounds a lot like my son's rooms when he was in college. Yaya: yes, it drove me to distraction not to be able to do much of anything while my hands were healing. Although I've developed significant arthritis in both hands as a result of the surgery, the fracture and the subsequent long immobilization periods, I love being able to work with them again! Patty: DD was seven? My goodness, it HAS been a long time, hasn't it? Her desk color? Yes, It wouldn't have been my choice, but she does love it and, yes, she can paint it again someday if the mood strikes her. (Shudder) That desk (and all of it's drawers and cubbies) was very tedious and hard to paint. I wouldn't want to do that one again ever! What fun to be able to do your GD's bedroom! You'll have to share that with us when you finish it. Well, thank you all again for allowing me to share my Summer's decorating projects. DH & I have just started redoing his study yesterday. More grunt work and a lot less fun than DD's but the results will be good . . . once we ever finish! Lynn This post was edited by lynninnewmexico on Mon, Aug 4, 14 at 23:27

They resemble each other, that is why I think I ordered the wrong one. I wanted Summer Wine. The Wine 'climber' I think may have more pink to it with burgundy stamens. Mine got a good 10 feet when I grew it. It was a very sweet looking rose. Dainty and charming. The Wind, non climber, I think has more orange in it, and yellow stamens. Both are a large single petal blossoms. Darn it. I was really hoping I had the climber! I guess I need to pay better attention to names!