Some good suggestions here. Let me add a bunch as well (warning, this is a long one): Aerangis luteo-alba var rhodostica (aka A. rhodostica) Schoenorchis fragrans (if you have high enough light) Phals of all sorts Paphs of the Maudiae variety (any coloratums, albas, vinicolors...) a lot of Oncidium species and hybrids (NOT talking the intergenerics here); SHARRY BABY :) Angraecum didieri Howeara Mini Lava Burst 'Puanani' Sophronitis cernua and everyones favorite around here: Haraella retrocalla (aka H. odorata) A really good suggestion I've been wanting to follow myself but could never seem to remember: Bring some books with you. A lot of books (at least the ones I have) will list whether or not they are easy plants to grow, or if they are suitable for windowsill culture. This way if you find a plant you like you can look it up and find culture requirements to see if its suitable for you. Some general rules for impulse buys, assuming you're just growing on a window sill and nothing more: 1. THIS IS A GENERALITY AND DOES NOT APPLY TO EVERY SPECIES IN THESE GENERA!! [had to get that disclaimer out of the way] Stay away from anything Pleurothallid: Draculas, Pleurothallis, Restrepia, Scaphyglottis, Trichosalpinx, etc... They all tend to be cool-intermediate temp/high humidity types. There are a few species in these genera that are warmer growing and easier to grow (like arthurs suggested Restrepia cuprea), but for a neophyte I'd suggest stay away from these all together until you get to know individual tempermants through other growers here 2. Research Oncidium intergenerics before you go, and draw up a chart to bring with you of various/common intergeneric names and their parentage (i.e. Beallara=Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Cochlioda x Brassia). A lot of them are pretty easy, but others lean heavily on cool growing parent (most odontoglossums, miltoniopsis, cochlioda being the biggest culprits), which could make them a little more difficult. This chart will help you weed out the latter hybrids. 3. Complex Paph hybrids tend to be a little more cool growing than their Maudiae/Multifloral counterparts. 4. Find out of the plant you want needs a cool winter dormancy. If you aren't able to provide that kind of dormancy, you want to avoid any plants that require it (like Nobile type dendrobiums. Nobile types derived from Yamamoto Nursery breeding are exempt as they dont require the cool down). Some plants, like cycnoches, need a dormancy but it isn't a cool dormancy so you can just stick the dormant bulbs in a kitchen drawer. These suggestions are from my own experience as a warm plant grower who grows in a windowsill in the winter and out on a balcony the rest of the year. Being a windowsill grower, I've never had good experience with plants that need more intermediate-cool temps. Over in Chicago, you might be able to handle slightly cooler growers a bit easier. But this is at least one place to start, from one windowsill grower to another. Our conditions are different, so it'd also behoove you to throw out all these suggestions and just experiment, see what works for you :) I have a non orchid-savvy friend who is growing and blooming orchids he really shouldn't be having any luck with, so take all the suggestions you're getting here with a boulder of salt and don't be afraid to try new things. Most important suggestion of all: Just have FUN! :)

Here you go gloria, got this in an email a year or so ago. 15 Things to do at Wal-Mart while your spouse/partner is taking their sweet time: Get 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they aren't looking. Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals. 3 Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the rest rooms. 4 Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone, 'Code 3' in housewares..... and see what happens. 5 Go the Service Desk and ask to put a bag of M&M's on lay away. 6 Move a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area. 7 Set up a tent in the camping department and tell other shoppers you'll invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department. 8 When a clerk asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' 9 Look right into the security camera; use it as a mirror, and pick your nose. 10 While handling guns in the hunting department, ask the clerk if he knows where the anti- depressants are. 11 Dart around the store suspiciously loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme. 12 In the auto department, practice your "Madonna look" using different size funnels. 13 Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, say "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!" 14 When an announcement comes over the loud speaker, assume the fetal position and scream "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!" ( And; last, but not least!) 15 Go into a fitting room and shut the door and wait a while; and, then, yell, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!" Now you've hurt yourself laughing AND wasted time reading this...shame on you!

the Cherries down to 2... Hi boo, On the cherries, BlackCherry gets my unequivocal nod. And you should consider SunGold or SunSugar as a candidate for your cherry selections. Red and Yellow Pear I have grown. Some really like them for taste and for reasons of appearance and nostalgia. But for me, I will not plant either in my plot (may grow a few seedlings for others). Taste of each is really just so-so (IMO) and fully ripened YP's have a high propensity to split (more than ½ in my experience). Reg

Hi Ladies, Sorry I didn't respond quicker but my home computer got fried the other day so I can only post at work. Glad you love the mice. They are really fun. Mimsic raisins sound good. Or how about making them out of the melted chocolate. Take the wax paper or parchment draw on the opposite side the size the ears you wish, flip the paper over and fill in the shape with melted chocolate. Regarding the parafin, I didn't use it. I never do because I am not a fan of adding wax to my foods. Michelle, Can't wait to hear about the police reaction to having mice in there baskets. As for my list, I really need to start one. Kids are clammering for cookies lately and I really do want to do cookie exchange party this year. Was going to do one 2 years ago, sent invites, etc then got stricken with kidney infection (of course after 1st being told it was a virus). So if I play my cards right this year, I just might get around to it. Heidi