There are advantages to small pictures, I suppose! I'm not sure why Photobucket is reducing them quite this small...something I am undoubtedly doing/not doing. That's allyssum, Mantis. I always intend for it to be all the way around, but haven't made it yet. :) There's still 2/3 of a flat on the driveway. Good intentions. Last year I alternated the small creeping white zinnias with the allysum. Have a couple volunteer zinnias this year. Thank you, Rita. High praise from someone with a wonderful garden and hardscaping I love! It is tough, Kay. I have said for years that I would reduce, but I find now that I must. Oh well. At some point, I have to return my yard to something that someone else can care for...most likely very simple. When the time comes, I hope to move a number of things, but realistically, who knows.

David, our last frost date here is May 15th. I'll probably start putting them out the third or fourth week of May, but if the weather doesn't cooperate it's no big deal since they're out in the greenhouse anyways, and I'll just keep potting them up until it's safe to plant them out. I really wanted them to get a good head-start this year which is why I started so early. Last year we had to wait until August before any of the tomatoes even put on fruit...so this year, we decided to get a head start, and see if we couldn't get things producing a bit sooner. I planted out small seedlings at the end of May last year, so I thought maybe if I had bigger plants ready to go out at the same time this year, we'd have fruit earlier. Hopefully that will work. I'd really like to have tomatoes to enjoy *before* the growing season is almost over!

Good Friday morning all!!! Crunch,crunch, crunch......really enjoying my celery. Thanks! Thanks for the accolades! I hope I didn't jinx myself for posting it here since I have at least 10Lbs to go.... I have 4 5LB bags of sugar on my counter to remind me of how much I have lost.......... Marci, I had no idea this child was so bad that she needed intervention. Wow, sorry you have had to deal with that but I am glad it's you because she might not get the care she needs otherwise. I hope things go well and I hope you get some rest this weekend. Losing sleep over it is not good for you. Are you able to do some yoga to help you unwind in the evening? Just a few minutes of breathing exercises and a few relaxing postures may help you sleep better. Try these breathing exercises: 2-to-1 breathing This breathing pattern relaxes the body by subtly stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby inducing a state of relaxation. As you lie in bed, gently slow down the rate of exhalation until you exhale for twice as long as you inhale. You can coax a longer exhalation by contracting the abdomen slightly. Dont try to fill or empty or empty the lungs completely you are simply changing the rhythm of your breath. In the beginning it may help to count to six on the exhalation and three on the inhalation, or four on the exhalation and two on the inhalation (or any other 2-to 1 ratio you find comfortable). Focus on the smoothness and evenness of your breath, gradually eliminating any jerks and pauses. Counting Breaths Using the effortless 2-to-1 pattern described above, lie in bed and pay close attention to you breath. It should flow smoothly, evenly, and continuously. When the pattern is well established, take: * 8 breaths lying on your back * 16 breaths lying on your right side * 32 breaths lying on your left side Very few people complete this exercise. Sweet dreams! Try the 8 poses in the link below. I do the child's pose each night and it helps immensely. Raeanne, I know I can't do anything about it. Ommmmmmmmm but I want to find a comfortable place with her. I know it will all work out just the way it's supposed to! Beside, alot can happen in 9 months!! Maddie, you should try those breathing exercises and yoga poses too Sister! Night sounds very like very painful reading to me. Let us know how it is. I am glad you are writing the note.......it will help you go through the grieving process. BJ, thanks for your words of support. You sisters are all great! Besh, I know, I AM such a loser! Have you watched the Biggest Loser? IT's a great show. Today I am leaving at noon to go to the ride/drive that I host in my town of Hancock, NH for my driving club. It's going to be a splendid weekend which is great. Unfortunately, due to drought, the foliage is mediocre at best right now. Plus we haven't had a hard frost yet which is an essential ingredient to fall color. Sweet Pea will be styling as her cart is back from repair and actually looks brand new! It's much lighter than the old cart which we've had to use so she will be very happy with the lighter load. If I don't get a chance to check in again............I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.

Edge the pool with a wide strip of concrete or stone paving (much of the existing paving is going to turn out to be too narrow) and put a wall in to provide an adequately sized, paved seating area on the house side. If it gets too hot out there use patio umbrellas or install structural solutions like arbors or lath. Make the basic garden layout shrubs (or hedges) around the perimeter with grass in the center. Forget about a flower/herb/vegetable bed unless and until you are sure you will be willing and able to keep up with it. And then make a small, rectangular one using only variably sized rectangular groupings of multiple specimens each* of small, tidy clumping plants like chives and Coreopsis. Put it in a natural spot for a feature, with shrubs providing a backdrop - and near the house (I would have also put the pool near the house and not all the way at the back of the yard, sitting up high and exposed like an Aztec pyramid - but too late now). *Approximates general visual effect of interlocking drifts in a flowing informal border without nearly the same level of difficulty