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A lovely evening--with forum friends!

16 years ago

North Carolina Phil, and his lovely wife, Diane, made a stop in our neck of the woods on their way north and came over this evening

and so did our buff24! How nice it was to be together in my little garden! I really enjoyed meeting Phil and his wife and wish they lived

closer! She is into doing stained glass and I'd love to learn how to do that myself. I feel we would get along really well! Thank you, Diane,

for agreeing to stop in for the visit! I know it's hard meeting people you know nothing about other than that they love hosta like your husband does!!!

Phil also brought me a seedling from his 'Cinnamon Sticks'! It is the cutest thing!! Thank you so much, Phil!!

Do you ever think about what we are like in person? With Phil, he is just what I expected! I feel like I already knew him, pretty well

before we met and I was not diappointed! I hope we can do this again, sometime!!!

It has just occured to me, that he probably won't get to read this thread--since he won't be back home while it is

still on page 1, I expect!!!

And, Buff--it is always so good to see you, and Chad and now your ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE Maekenna! Folks, I have to tell you, the photos

Buff has posted on the conversation side do not do her justice! She looks so much like her Mom--and that is a good thing! Dad is in there, too--and the combination makes for a real doll!

I just had to share what a great evening I had--and how much fun it always is to meet our forum folk!!! I wish I could meet you all!!!!!!

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Comments (27)

trilliumway
16 years ago
Hey J- Sounds like fun. Wish I could meet some of you all "in person". The forum is great but not quite like the real thing.

I have a mind pic of how you all look, which you just destroyed the other day by telling us your age, lol. Boy was I wrong (-:
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regattagirl
16 years ago
hey_j

Didn't you take any group picture when you had the chance?????

R
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
I know-----I forgot all about taking pictures--I was having so much fun. BUT, Buff took some,
and so did Phil, so we'll see what they may have--maybe!

All I ask--is that they Photoshop all of the ones I'm in--airbrush me to a size 8--okay??? :O)

Wait a minute--I just hollered (three rooms away--we hate that when we each do it to the other)
and asked hubby if he took any and he said he did. I'll check them out and hopefully will be
able to post them.

I wonder, though---if I shouldn't clear it with Phil first. In the interest of privacy--I need to know!
Hubby (Steve) just walked in and showed me what he has--and there are some GREAT shots of Buff
and Maekenna and Chad and Maekenna and the one of Phil and His wife is wonderful. I hope it will
be okay to post it!

Hey--I still have Phil's cell phone number--I'll call him!!!
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buff24
16 years ago
Yes, we had a LOVELY evening over at Janice and Steve's house... as always, her backyard (and new front yard beds) are AMAZING! I commented on just how little grass is left in Janice's backyard... Once I get the photos uploaded to photobucket, I will definitely come back to this thread and show everyone what I got to see in person! Of special note was a division of Sum & Substance that we photographed. That hosta had leaves that must have been 2 feet long by 2 feet wide, just HUGE!!! I have never seen leaves that big, truly amazing.

And it was very nice to meet Phil and his wife Diane... Phil also gave me a very cute Cinnamon Sticks seedling. I love those red speckled pets! Thanks Phil! And Janice was kind enough to give Phil and me a division of a hosta she had recently purchased. Thanks Janice!

I should also mention that Janice gave my daughter Makenna a gift... some new outfits! What little girl doesn't need more clothes? Makenna will be wearing her new swimsuit to swim lessons tonight! I will try to remember to take a picture and send it to you, Janice...

And another highlight from the evening was the delicious dessert we had... We had italian creme cake topped with strawberries, raspberries, and homemade whipped cream! I'm drooling right now just thinking about it. :-)

A very lovely evening and I can't wait to do it again sometime! Thanks again, Janice, for hosting us!

Buff
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buff24
16 years ago
Ok, so here are some of the pics I took over at Janice's house the other evening. She has some magnificent hostas, and I envy the dappled shade she has!! My apologies in advance if I "mis-name" any of them. Janice, please feel free to correct me! Hope you all enjoy the pics!

Buff

One corner of Janice's yard

Blue Angel

Parhelion

Sum of All

Dick Ward

Earth Angel

Jewel of the Nile

Guardian Angel

Here are Phil and Janice checking out Janice's Sum & Substance with HUGE, HUGE leaves

And this is what they were looking at... Sum & Substance

And here is my DH and DD standing on the deck in the middle of Janice's yard
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regattagirl
16 years ago
GREAT pictures! We can almost see what Janice looks like! But none of you or Phil! :(

(cuuuuuuute kiddie by the way)
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
Awesome camera, Buff! What good quality pics.! You did good!

I have some of them all---is it okay Buff, if I post them of you and Chad and Maekenna?

I still need to get in touch with Phil for his permission!!!
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talynnp
16 years ago
Janice, I'm green with envy!!! What a gorgeous setting. And the S&S, to die for!!! As well as the rest of garden. And what cutie patooties you had for visitors! And Italian Creme cake? The best, I just love it. And that Dick Ward......quick,fan me......that one is DEFINITELY on my list.
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regattagirl
16 years ago
hey_j,

What is the thing with holes that's to the right of the wind chimes?

Your hostas are gorgeous. You have a fabulous eye and I love how you use height.

R
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
LOL, Lisa--that started out to be a bird condo, on the end of our detached garage,
but the squirrels quickly turned it into a low-rent district for themselves and loved
to chew the face of the garage above it.

So, I moved it down to top the fence next to one of the designated squirrel boxes
on the post! It also serves to give us more privacy from the back of our sloping yard!
We have another whole half of a back yard behind that fence designated to the grand
kiddies! We have a playhouse with slide, climbing wall and tunnel across the top of the
swing set to the upper level playhouse. There's also a tree swing and lots of room to run
and leap over doggie bombs! :o)

Our upper yard, is completely private! I love the sense of being enclosed in a garden!
It's my peaceful place, for early morning coffee, quiet time/devotions and all being done
in my jammies without offending my neighbors--or scaring them or embarrassing myself!!!!
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hostamanfred
16 years ago
Buff, your pictures and Janices gardens are absolutely marvelous. In those lovely suroundings one must wonder how she gets any work done LOL.
We all been waiting.. and here she is
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay--here it is ME!!!

Oh, wait--that was taken in 1978! Wow--what a difference a few years can make! LOL
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regattagirl
16 years ago
WONDERFUL!!!!!! You'r gorgeous!

(and very funny)

We should all post a photo from 1978!
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mctavish6
16 years ago
More - More - More - PLEASE! - PRETTY PLEASE!! We need more pictures. We need ones of more than Phil's elbow and Janice's cheek and hands. Buff, your hubby and daughter are great but we need You too. Pretty please with sugar on it!!! McT

ps. loved the garden and plants but then I alway love Janices garden.
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greenguy
16 years ago
i was 10 in 78

really a great pic of the whole yard

does your burn barrel have stars cut into the side??? if so i know someone that has one just like it lol

your yard looks so great that you should feel bad and come help me out lol
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buff24
16 years ago
Janice, I don't mind if you post a picture of me, Chad and Makenna... as long as it's a good pic!!

And by the way, I was only 1 in 1978.

Buff
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
You guys sure know how to make a gal feel REALLY, REALLY OLD!!

I need for hubby to upload the pics. off his camera! Hurry,
honey--I'm getting older by the minute!!!!
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay--here is a great one of 'Buff' and their darling daughter, 'Maekenna'!

{{gwi:1069860}}

And--I don't have one from that evening, of me--but I do have one from a couple of weeks earlier.
I cropped it from a pic with daughters and grandboys (that I love btw) to protect their internet-privacy!

What a difference 30 years makes--sigh!!

I have a great one of 'Phil' but I need to get his permission first, to post it!!! :o)
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mctavish6
16 years ago
Awwww!...... Buff, the picture of you and Maekenna is wonderful. I have clothes older than you (in fact, most of them). Janice, that's a great picture of a happy grandma. I'm looking forward to more but I'll try not to beg. McT
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hosta_freak
16 years ago
Just got back and I have a few pics to share of Janice's garden,as well! Here is one of her S&S leaf,which is even bigger than Van Wade's huge plant!
{{gwi:992324}}
...and here's another. Sorry,all you can see in the other pic is my elbow with the bandage. I had surgery on it just before we made the trip up north. Nothing serious,just removing a calcium deposit. I will post more pics later,including one of Janice,Buff,and me all in the same pic. Phil
{{gwi:897427}}
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hosta_freak
16 years ago
Sorry Ya'll, but I don't photograph well in my 'advanced age',but here is a pic from our meeting in Janice's garden,taken by my wife. Don't expect much! Phil
{{gwi:1069862}}
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buff24
16 years ago
WOW! Great pics, Phil! Your Sum & Sub pics turned out MUCH better than mine did. Great job! Hope your trip to MI was great :-)

Buff
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Janice
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm not bumping this to get any further attention to pics. I don't like of myself--except maybe the one of 30 years ago (gone are the days..) but,
I was out watering some of my hosta today, and caught sight of that S&S pictured above and realized, that due to it's remote location, in a large pot
in the ground behind a swing-set, getting very little if any sun (and the fact it is very difficult to get to)--it never gets watered!!!!

What in the world??? I have several others that do get watered and probably more sun (one a lot more) and they are not even half the size of the leaf of that poor neglected one!!!!

Anyone have any thoughts on this strange phenomena?
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i_dig_it
16 years ago
I'm glad you did bump this up Janice. I don't know how I missed it first time around, but I sure enjoyed hearing about the visit and seeing the pics!
What a great time you all had and I just love the last pic with all three of you hosta pals just entranced with whatever you all are looking at.

It really is nice to be able to put some faces with the names we've become familiar with.

That pic from 1978 was great! LOL. I was married in 1978. Seems sooo long ago, and yes I have changed a lot too.

Anyway thanks Janice, Buff and Phil for sharing your visit with us!

Janet
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hosta_freak
16 years ago
Thanks everyone for indulging our "face Pictures"! Here are a few more pics from Janice's garden.
{{gwi:1069863}}
{{gwi:1069864}}
The first one was Abiqua Moonbeam,which Janice says isn't,but it looks just like mine,and about the same size.
And the second is a view of part of her garden. She has more hostas crammed into that little place,than my whole garden! Phil
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loveofmylife680
16 years ago
These pics are mouth watering of the Hosta's.
Jill
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mctavish6
16 years ago
Thank you for posting the "people" pictures. It is so nice to see a face to attach to someone you get to know on this forum. You all look so in tune with each other. It's such fun to be with other hosta nuts. The only time I have done this is with my sister when we obcess completely.

The garden is really wonderful. You've done such a great job. Have you measured that Sum and Substance leaf? It does look enormous. I'm with you on crowding things together, using various heights, objects of interest. I feel right at home and wish I could have been there too.

McT
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