Thank you guys! I'll tell you, I'm planning a new building for a garage and workshop and the space I want to devote to the violets just keeps getting bigger and bigger im my mind! I'll post some newer photos soon - Quint

Bob64,I do the same thing.It's very hard to walk past a GM colony without harassing it especially when they're so promenent this time of year, and sometimes I find myself on my knees with my noise to the ground pulling up as many plants as possible.But I try to resist the temtation.The problem is that many roots don't come up whole,even in the softest soil,and whats left behind,sprouts and set seeds in the next season.These resprouts are slightly delayed in flowering and become out of sync with the rest of the population.I think the most efficient use of effort is to wait till the end of the flowering cycle,when the plants still stick up above the surrounding vegetation and are still flagged by their white petals,to attack them.I usually spent the greater part of a month at the end of the spring exculsivly involved in this task ,yanking them up when the taproot is at its woodiest and most likly to come up whole.Then its possible to pull and collect thousands quickly.Also waiting till spring takes advantage of winter-kill.Not all the plants will survive the cold and there's no reason to weed something the winter is going to finish off anyway.I try to confine my efforts to a particular time period,since there's so much else to do the rest of the year.But waiting for a plant to set seed before weeding it is a strategy I only use on biennals,woody plants are fair game anytime[although beware of poison-ivy vines without leaves].Bob64 it seems we are involved in simalar efforts,I enjoy comparing notes.

Thank you so much ladies!! I'm so pooped I took today off...I think I would have gone cross eyed if I had to do one more. Most all my jewelry is done, it's the other gift items that will be the death of me I think. Gift Baskets, Candy Bouquets and such. I thank God my hubby is a good delivery guy he always takes Valentine's day off to help me and my sister well she seems to be my biggest sales person..but she picks up,delivers and collects too. God bless them both! thanks again you guys are way too kind!! ginger

I was going to come on last night and do some moaning - I was working on finishing the last 8 blocks, and, I RAN OUT of the fabric! I was piecing ever piece together that I could, and it just wasn't enough. I was so down - it was a fabric I picked up at an estate sale this summer so it was older and I was sure it would not even be carried by stores now. I was sooo grumpy though, that I sent myself to bed to get a better perspective. Well, had to go with DD#2 this afternoon for fabric for her halloween outfit (Lafonda - it's probably the last one I'll do for awhile, will kind of miss doing the dress-up costumes) and guess what, guess what! I found the EXACT fabric that I ran out of last night! There was just a little over a yard so I took the end of the bolt. It is a silly thing, but I was so thankful. Cindy - what is the OSU wallhanging (college team?)You make me tired just thinking of 200 pcs of applique! Do you and your mom work on alot of quilts together - I mean, do you complement each other with what each prefers to do, like one does piecing and the other applique? magothyrivergirl - You sound like me with giving yourself a tight schedule on taking on a painting project - I need to tackle a couple of those, but it will probably take a big event to move me into action. My house really needs a deep cleaning - I usually do it in the fall for when my parents come to visit, but this fall we went to see them so I am really behind. Jennifer - it's Wednesday night. I'm thinking of you as you work on those 3 bindings! Oh my! I hope your night is not too late! (I hate having to do things 2x also) toolgranny - I know what you mean about needing to wait for the bug to bite. I can slog through some things when I don't really feel like it, but it goes so much better when I'm in the zone. Sandra - I think you are very smart to keep it simple till after Christmas - I'm such a procrastinator and it is tiring. petalpatsy - What does it mean that you're still working on the same projects? It means they are some of your masterpieces! Well, I still can't find my missing fabric, but I'm so thankful to have the fabric I need to finish the blocks - off to the cutting table! Karlene (I'm tired too! It seems to be a theme for most of us - do you think it's the time of the year??)