Hi All, I appreciate your wisdom. :-) Even though I may have sounded nuts (and I was!), I realize "Rome wasn't built in a day." I'm glad I've gotten to the plantings this year and think they will help a bit in time. Heaven knows that's the truth for the house--there was *nothing* here when I bought 4 years ago. So, it's come a *long* way. But, I'm a school teacher and during Aug-May I have *no* time. Honestly-none. So, I do what I can in the summer (although we have work on prep and admin. now). While I enjoy the product of gardening/interior design, I enjoy process less--esp in the garden where it is physically hard for me to work (due to an injury that makes walking/digging painful). Soooo...I'll admit I'm looking for something that works the first time, if possible. That said, I'm not beyond moving things if I have to and next year will move 2 laurels--somewhere--as they don't work where they are. And, I do enjoy it at its core. All this reminds me of the "what I learned from gardening" thread. I do need to learn patience and to enjoy the modest things that the garden brings. :-) So, resalesally--you are right that I should just "go" and stop obsessing. HA! :-) Nell- Thanks for your comments, too. It is a great door that they have. (Wonder if I might be too lazy to clean those panes?? Hmmm....) Memo- Thanks for the awning suggestion. Trouble is, I just don't like awnings. I know I'm getting away from the authenticity of the house a bit...but based on my completely crude "paint" experiments in WORD, thing something raised a bit will help give me what I'm looking for. But...you might be right about the awning being so tiny compared to the stoop. (Man, I have *got* to learn photoshop to test your theory out.) As for the lattice...so you're saying to post it in the ground *perpendicular* to the stoop? Is that right? Hmmm...possibly. Hadn't thought of that. What do you think about covering the concrete w/ wood and a railing and giving the house a more "cottage" feel? EVERYONE - Paint trim vote for the bottom of the house?? Thanks, ya'll! Keep those ideas coming.

I live in SE Oklahoma, and we have enough of a frost to kill off all the pepper and tomato plants... However I dug up three of my best looking Bhut plants, potted them and took them to the office. They have overwintered nicely, and I even have 10 peppers currently in various stages on the plants! I open the windows on the warm days to let pollinators in, this was after my attempts at hand pollination failed. They continue to flower with no signs of slowing down. I think I am going to go this route more often. this being said, I still have about a dozen Bhut seedlings going...

This is my first year with my SFG. The main thing that I've learned that I'll do different for next year is to put all of my 'leaf' crops in the same box and cover it with row cover as soon as the seed is planted. I'm getting destroyed by leaf miners and cabbage loopers despite ninja assaults with Neem and BT.

Good Morning, No school today because of Good Friday. I slept until 7:30! Very late for me. When I woke up though, I was so confused it took me a minute to figure out what was going on! Maddie, congratulations on the car. I am so happy for you. I know that it is something you have wanted and how great is it to not have a car payment!!!!!! QOD: Candy, anything chocolate. I have to agree with Maddie on just a good old fashioned Hershey Bar, or Hershey kisses. I love to just let them melt in my mouth. OK, I am going to stop talking now. LOL Dee, how are your arms? That is great that you have access to a nurse to come check on you like that. We also had a nice little storm here this week. The snow stuck, but didn't last. It is gone now, but still only about 35 degrees and I know that it will last because it is Lacrosse season and the games are all outside! Suzanne I can't believe that you got so much snow. Is it still on the ground? Raeanne, very cool about the watch. Suzanne how thoughtful. I love to come home and find packages waiting for me. I remember one day the UPS driver came to the door and I must have looked excited until I saw that the package was for DH. I didn't say a word but my expression must have said it all because the driver said "They can't all be for you". LOL Lynn, I am sorry to hear about DH wallet. I also had my bag stolen (a long time ago), but the aggravation and anxiety that goes along with it is terrible. I hope things are ok. QOD: Any thoughts on this weeks American Idol? I love bringing this up, ;-) All I have to say is I was sorry to see another talented singer go and a mediocre one stay. I also need to retract a comment I made before about all of this attention "at the expense of a 17 year old boy". I think that he and his family have embraced it to the point of being obnoxious. Someone needs to guide this boy (and his family) back into reality. He is going to be a joke for a very long time. I got a million errands to do today so I am signing off. Have a great one. If I don't get back on here before Sunday, Happy Easter to all of you that celebrate. Love, Besh