I think the amount of seeds one sends in this swap doesn't matter too much since it's not a one-to-one swap where we're making sure everyone gets back the same amount they sent. Some people may get more than they sent, some less, and people may get multiples of the same kind of seed.

In a regular swap, they usually give guidelines on how many seeds is fair.

My personal thoughts on the matter: I've gotten small amounts of seeds in swaps before where none of them or only a couple of them made it, which was disappointing. With that in mind, I like to send people enough seed so that they can mess up at planting them and get another chance, because that's how much I would like to get, especially if it's a seed that's tricky to germinate. The only seed I put up on my Have list are seeds I have in enough abundance to do this.

But again, in THIS swap, I say send whatever you can. People are generous and I got TONS of seeds last year, so I'm not worried about not getting enough. Shucks, the pretty cards were enough even without the seeds in them!

Neohippie makes an excellent point. This is not a swap in which you send the same amount you get. This is a swap based entirely on giving, and I think most of us realize that. That being said, the basic rule of thumb for a swap such as this is one really boils down to this... give what you would be happy to receive. The kettle/bushel gourd seeds I have to share came to me through a swap, and I received about 3-4 cupsworth of each type of seed. Yes, I was happy with that many. It meant that I could plant plenty of seeds to make up for my mistakes, AND be able to further share some with others. I've also been very happy when someone shared just 3 seeds of an uncommon type of plant with me.
All I know is, when I see a card in the mailbox, I'm pleased as punch that someone took the time to think of me long enough to put a card in the mail. As for the seeds that come with the card? That's pure "bonus", and I'm happy with whatever amount I receive or don't receive.

And now I'll get off the soapbox and let someone else speak...lol!

Here's hoping y'all are having a great weekend! I know I am, and I've still got 2 more days off after this one's over! YEE-HAW!!!

...and now I'm gonna go sort some seeds into some envelopes. I got the envies addressed and the cards signed last night. This is sooooo much fun!

-Santa Dan

Here's a picture of my favoritest elves, Stella and Bump. They absolutely love to help me package swap boxes and seed envies!

Alot of cat there Dan!
Kym, hows Princess? dd

which kitty is which? and do you know the breed on the darker one? (looks a little like buffy but buffy like neveer sheds compaired to angel)

Bump and Stella are both Maine Coon Cat mixes. Bump is that handsome fella on the left, and that's Her Royal Highness on the right...lol! And you're right DD, that IS a whole lot of kitty! Combined, they weigh close to 35 pounds. And neither of them is overweight! If you've never had a Maine Coon, I heartily recommend the breed, I'm addicted! I used to have another male who was just a bit larger than Bump, but sadly had to put him down because he was too ill to live.

STAND
TWINKLE
YULE LOG

dirtdaddy thanks for asking !! I am seeing small improvements , she is wanting to jump up and do things and doesnt understand why she cant...which is making it a bit harder to keep her in one spot. I think that is good, she will be determined to get around. She has a bit of movement in her back-right leg.

I left her for a short time today, for the first time, and I came home to a bathroom covered in poo...wasnt a fun afternoon..but, as I try to stay optimistic, I smile and say "atleast she went" ha ha ha !

Her pain , seems to be less finally now too..was very hard to see her shake and yelp when I would try to take her outside.

I am still hand feeding, and getting water in her with the syringe. Have to help express the bladder..but each day is small improvements.

I, again want to say thanks for all the support !

I added a link to a photo of Princess

Here is a link that might be useful: princess

Well, my husband and I have been working all night with Christmas decorations! I finished a bush outside in 27 degree temp. with about a 5 degree windchill, but it is done! (Took 1100 lights to cover it)!! He is working on the artificial tree that we put in the sunroom..we put a real tree inside, but closer to Christmas.Is anyone else decorating yet? Once Thanksgiving is over, I am ready for Christmas!! Dan, I agree...Maine Coon cats have large bone structures, so look large, even though they aren't overweight. They're beautiful cats!

It took a glass of riesling wine, but I have sealed the last envelope and stamped them all! Now I just have to wait for my "send" date! Now it's time for another glass of the grape, some relaxing music, and some time spent simply "existing" before going to bed.

Kym, I am so glad to hear Princess is improving ! What a sweet face she has ! I hope she will soon be up and running around 100 % recovered !

We're thinking about getting a tree this weekend, we don't usually get one this early but I just love a real tree ;-)

Dan, it was nice to see a pic of Bump and Stella again , they really are beautiful kitties ;-)

I just love dogs and cats ;-)

Iris

Everyone had extra thankful day, is overstuffed and tired?

Thankful almost all of my family was here and heard my son and son in law on the phone. Bonded with the new pup, smile.
Daughter worked a bit on this pc and now can access things faster, like these messages!! She deleted some things I couldnt, you know how you learn from your children!!
Kym, so glad Princess is doing better, hope she improves quickly. You sure need a relaxing weekend.
Dan, Bump and Princess are beautiful!

back in a few, we all have been extra busy and weekend is here...have a great one, take care all.

Bea

Hi,
I received my first christmas card today from flowerfirl34.
She included love in a mist, hibiscus and blue flax seeds.
This is starting the holidays off right. Thank you to Vina and everyone.
Merry Christmas,
Faye!

Dan - I love your maine coons!!! We have a maine coon named Tobor - he is a bundle of fun :)

Tabor is quite the handsome fella! I don't know how many times I've seen that pose...lol! I keep telling Stella it's not very ladylike, but how do you get a cat to change their mind? Silly question, eh? Because the answer is... you don't!
Thanks for sharing that picture of Tabor! I'd show my two, but they're both napping, and when that happens I don't disturb the peace!
Hmmm, a nap sounds good, maybe I'll go try one on for size...
-Dan

Hope I haven't waited too long to post a list:

1. Coral vine
2. Carolina Jessamine
3. Star jasmine (confederate jasmine)
4. Black-eyed susan vine
5. Pride-of-barbados
6. Duranta (brazilian sky flower)
7. Firecracker jatropha
8. Salvia
9. Yarrow
10. Texas Lantana
11. Victoria perennial or garden phlox
12. Hibiscus martianus (Heartleaf rosemallow, heartleaf hibiscus)
13. Viburnum rufidulum (Rusty blackhaw viburnum, southern blackhaw, downy viburnum)
14. Stiff greenthread
15. Rock Daisy (Blackfoot/Plains daisy)
16. Western white honeysuckle (Texas/White honeysuckle)
17. Coastal indigo (Scarlet Pea, Texas Indigo, Western indigo)
18. African daisies
19. Dewberry
20. Texas persimmon
21. Mexican plum
22. Fig
23. Any veggie
24. Any herb
25. Anything you've had success with in a dry, deer-loving environment with limestone/alkaline soil or think might have half-a-chance in south-central Texas. I'd especially love to find more natives.

Happy Holidays!

Kym, Princess is beautiful, I am glad things seem to be improving for her.

Maine Coons are just gorgeous; calendar cats, every one of them. Our Odin looks like a Maine Coon, but he is not super-sized the way they are. Unfortunately, he does not like being brushed, so when the mats get bad, he has to be clipped.

Here he is, our (currently naked) mini-coon.

I am thankful that I have a DH who loves me in spite of all my eccentricies, and who, as a confirmed dog-person, obligingly fell in love with the two kittens I insisted on getting 4 years ago. I am also grateful for seed exchanges, which make me feel like a kid again at Christmas.

what breed is odin?

also both bump and tobor look like buffy in atleast general facal markings SAME eye color as her --d thewy both have racoon stripes on some of there tails? how badly do they shed? (buffy is a larger cat or larger then angel atleast buut she isnt known for her shedding tho she does get matted --both can-- and im the only one brave enough to chop it offa the cats im the only one that dosent mind getting hissed at or scratcheed lol)

im thankfull apart from my first trade that like every trade has gone amagingly im thankfull that buffy can tolerate me that i have angel and harley im thankfull that apple will help with old issues unlike hp (apple a week or so ago helped with my out of warranty iphone 3gs) im thankfull that with mac os my non-networked printer makes a better networked printer then the networked one thats plugged into vista

hmm i could proubly think of a few more things (yes i am happy for them some were just mentioned because they are true and make no sence)

Evening everyone.

I received a card yesterday from flowergirl34. She sent me some sweet pea seeds! Thank you ~~ I can't wait to plant them!

Love the pics of all the cats -- I had a farm cat growing up. She was pure white with blue eyes and named Crisco :) Can't have any indoor cats though -- because I am terribly allergic. So instead we have Elli :)

(she loves to play catch with apples from my mom's tree)

Hope you all have a nice evening!

crisann

I sooo was not expecting it....and...I GOT A CARD!!!! Thank you so much Vina aka flowergirl34!!! Such wonderful seeds of hollyhocks, sunflower, hibiscus! THANK YOU again, it was so fantastic! I'm was so excited that I came home and decorated my house for Christmas so that I could proudly show off my card :)

i have our buffet (house from the 20's has natural wood and mirriors) semi decoed with 2 cards from previous trades and 3 cards of mine (there from the ones im sending just so i have extras myself) and our lil x-mas tree

i need to make orniments (think ill do oragami or something) or something for the tree

hmm what else would you add to it? hmm we cant do shredded paper snow (too messy with 2 cats) theres flat areas semi above the tree and outher areas there too soo lol any suggestions may be good for multiple people

our tree is from wallmart i think its a norfolf pine if the cats start digging in it i know how to stop them (papeertowel over dirt keep moist) but it should be sufficient as a tree

Wow, I strayed away and finally realized I hadn't check on this activity in a while. I had to spend quite a bit of time catching up and viewing the pictures of all the adorable pets that you guys have.

Wow, cards are already arriving, that's great!!!

I started out slow on the Bingo words but started picking up on the last couple of lists. Still only have 8 of the words.

I can't get up the energy or enthusiasm to get the tree and start decorating. My husband did an artificial tree in our front room. It has wooden seashells with white lights. Sounds weird but it is beautiful when lit. He also got the lights on the house. I am in charge of the tree we put up in the family room but that one is a live one and it is just to cold to go walking through the woods to find one we like. I will try during the week.

I want to get my daughter to help me post pictures of our menagerie of critters. They are a lot of fun.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Smitties

Hi all!
I passing along the well-wishes for early cards to hubby.
He'll be thrilled! I think little mistakes like this do happen for a reason :)

Those cats in the pictures look EXACTLY like my Apple and Kiwi.

Dan, Bump could be my cat's long lost brother :) They look identical.

I never thought much about there breeding since they were just kind of "found" for our family. But Apple weighs 22 pounds and Kiwi (the smaller one) weighs only 18 pounds. Other than the size difference, which this time of year you can't tell with them fluffing out all over the place, there eye color is the only way to tell them apart.
Kiwi's eyes are almost a darkish yellow, like a dark mustard color. And Apple's eyes are a dark green.

I love everyone's critter pic's and Ellie chewing on an Apple looks like she has a big smile on her face. It must be GGGOOOOOOODDDDDDDD :0)

Happy Sunday everyone!
vina

I do love this swap! Even though it is not a 1 for 1 swap I got a lot last year. I probably got at least as many as I sent out. Plus I have some pretty common seeds on my list and I think that helped.

This year I am sending more just for the fun of knowing people get my cards. I like knowing I brigntened someone's day.

Also, for people that do not get many cards Kym has some elves that help and send them seeds too. This way everyone is sure to get some. I was an elf last year and even though I may not have had something from their list at least they got some seeds and a nice card.

(I suggest if you have lots to share or have trouble sorting through the lists volunteer to be an elf, then you know you are sending to someone that might be getting fewer cards. )

I think it is great your hubby sent the cards Kym. Sounds like he is thoughtful! I am sure no one will be sad if they get cards early !

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! I just finished my christmas decorations and will be happy to add cards! I hang them across the bottom of the stairs railing.

Karen

Well I have all my cards ready to go. My mail out date is pretty
soon...
Everyone's cats are so pretty. I would like to get one but
my 3 little dogs would not tolerate it.

Linda

Just got back inside from stringing the lights outside.... Karendee, I love this swap, too! My goal is to be able to send more seeds to people every year. It's taught me to save seeds from plants I never thought anyone would want seeds from.

bustani, Odin is just an ally cat who had a long-haired dad. Odin was the only long-haired cat in the litter. Although he is smaller than a Maine Coon, he seems to have other Maine Coon characteristics, such as: affectionate but not a lap cat, kittenish mew as an adult, plays in water, head-butting to show affection, very smart. Male Maine Coons are the most likely type of cat to appeal to "macho"-type guys.

COOKIES
GIFTS
IVY

(I am having a hard time logging into the site the past two days ...)

Loving all the photos of your furbabies..thanks for sharing ! Ill try to show you my cat :)

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend !!

bustani, Odin is just an ally cat who had a long-haired dad. Odin was the only long-haired cat in the litter. Although he is smaller than a Maine Coon, he seems to have other Maine Coon characteristics, such as: affectionate but not a lap cat, kittenish mew as an adult, plays in water, head-butting to show affection, very smart. Male Maine Coons are the most likely type of cat to appeal to "macho"-type guys.

hmm tho buffy likes to sleep under the covers with my mom (not kidding) she playied rough to the point she had to get her front paws declawed she nibbles some too --my mom at times dosent know annoyiance from playing LOL

angel on the outher hand looks alot like the popular golden furred cat (think 9lives has?) on cat stuffs she is the first kitty to like me acttually she purred when i first picked her up i think the say shees persian or so? meh lol my mom has said the papers from the humane society said she was a stray (as a kitten!)she is i swear the sweetest kindest BEST cat ive known (and sence any outher cats have hated me and only dogs had liked me i thinnk thats saying alot) she has accidentally broiken skin before but most of the time she knows the power of her claws and she only uses enough to get the point across

now i feel like i have to share my baby too but i have no idea how to post a picture LOL. any help anyone can give would be appreciated!

so glad to hear princess is doing better and totally loving all the pics of the pets. we had maine coon too, but he passed on this year-- made it to 16, and he had a good long life.

rosemctier ~

I upload my pictures to Photobucket -- then just copy the HTML code for the picture and paste it in your message where you would like the picture to appear.

maybe someone else has an easier way, but this works for me :) Hope this helps :)

Good luck!
crisann

rosemctier,

Here is the html code:
<img src="">

Here is the link of bingo pic for example (this type of link should go in between the quotation of html code. http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o251/darla1020/CompletedBINGOCard.jpg

As Crisann said you need to upload the picture on photo bucket or some othe site then you need to right click on photo and in properties you could find the adress (url) and paste it in between the quotation of html code. This method is for Internet Explorer browser.

For Internet Explorer: right click on photo -Properties - Address (URL)
For firefox browser: right click on photo - view image info - Location

Then when you put this entire code here in Gw it will show the image.
Hope it might be helpful.
Jasmine

bustani_mama - Tobor actually sheds a ton less than other cats I've had that were short-hair. We hardly notice him shedding at all! He is a maine coon mix - not pure bred or anything. Also - I'd love to hear what kind of ornaments you're making - I am a HUGE crafter!

I have 5 Bingo words, woohoo! I think I check this thread 5 times a day lol.

We set up our tree yesterday and we're trying to get up the courage to brace the cold and decorate more outside.

I hope people post more animal pics! I'd love to see 'em!
I am thankful for Tobor keeping me company all day since working at home, for my awesome husband, and for Garden Web swaps for giving me something fun to do since I can't go outside!

I got a card today!

Thanks Flowergirl134
2 kinds of daisy seeds and a neat coneflower!

Now I need to get my cards out!!

Also, I found a nice photo card site. I plan to use this for cards to my family so they can see the kids photos

Site http://h30393.www3.hp.com/printing/app/us/en/consumer/greeting-cards.aspx

Here are my Kitties
Taz Almost 6 years old {{gwi:1314020}}

Smokey Almost 6 also {{gwi:1314021}}

Simba 1 year old(He has brown/orange eyes not a good pic)
{{gwi:1314023}}

Got my first card. Flowergirl34. Thank you so much for the beautiful card with the horses on it. The seeds are already burning a hole in my seed box wanting to be planted. I got hollyhocks, Alaska Daisy, yarrow, oh shucks, something I forgot and I dont't have them with me. Thank you soooooo. Much. I love this. My cards go out in a couple of days. Vicci

thanks for the advice everyone!

Flowergirl34,
Got my first card. Thank you so much for the beautiful card with the horses on it and the seeds specially Asiatic lily wow!, Sweet peas and Clematis jackmanii. I can't wait to try them.

My cards are waiting to fly.

Wow, I am loving the animal pics! Such beautiful pets everyone has!
Already getting cards, how nice is that!
Hope everyone is well. My grandson (who lives with me)is ill. Has strep throat and a regular virus on top of that! So, I have alot to look forward to! Poor fella! (I'm going to think that when I get it! LOL!)
Anway, have a great evening all and happy mailboxing! Some of mine are going out soon!
Melinda

After a 10-hour day at the post office, it was absolutely fantastic to come home and find a card from Vina/flowergirl34! She gifted me with some gaillardia, zinnias, morning glories, and eyeball plant! Ho Ho Ho! The eyeball plant wasn't on my list, but it sure was a pleasant surprise! Thank You Vina!!!
-Dan

I think that, ironically, long haired cats actually shed less than short haired cats.

Ginger (the cat I had who passed away last year) was a Persian mix (we suspect). She had lovely THICK, long fur and a short, round face (but not smushed-in like a purebred Persian). When she shed, or when we brushed her, it came off in cotton-ball-like clumps that were easy to clean up.

That wasn't nearly as bad as my fiancee's Siamese. She gets little white hairs EVERYWHERE. You just pet her and the fur flies, and it doesn't stay together in clumps either, it just blows around. She's a sweet cat, but she's an allergic person's nightmare.

I've never had a dog before, but I've heard they're the same way.

LOVE YOUR KITTEHS KARENDEE! :D So cute!!!

dan_the_mailman - Ooooh... eyeball plant! I looked that up and it looks AWESOME! Unique plants rule!

BETHLEHEM
GREETING CARDS
VIXEN

ONE MORE DAY to get your initial SENDING to, lists sent to me !! So, I can make sure everyone will recieve..so keep sending me your lists !!

12 days of Christmas game, will start soon !! Stay tuned..

this is little dog, the beagle the vet said would last two days. two years later, she is still kicking! today is our anniversary :) she is wearing her "pennsylvania pee hound: pee free or die" t-shirt :)

i hope you got my send-to list kym? i sent it a good few days ago

ok onto my pictures (because someone said how to do it LOL dont think they have watermarks? please excuse if they do they ARE older pictures as well)

thats my angel i easily have TONS more pictures of her from me messing around with the flash and such i love taking pictures of her but shees just soo camera shy!
--if anyone knows what breed she is im ears all i know is to me shees like perfect soo kind soo loving the first cat to llike me and really aware of her claws

was taken according to its statistics (the website these are all on is an art site) in 04 i know this was before "taming" her at the time i think i took a step closer and she bolted so its OLD--anywho thats buffy who my mom thinks may be a coon

also in fox on 7 i right-click "copy image location" to get the url it works on xp and vista i think it also works on mac os (may require a control click on the thing in question an image here) yes i am geeky

oh! lol aas for orniments i dont know yet i have hemp paper some atleast basic skills could prolly make something from them alone (thinking a square knot variation of a bead thing i made at the camper was the only 3d option ive done bead things and tho most were like gekos or so fairly common to find) hmm if i can find some wire thats soft enough i could prolly hammer out some design and all from there

--hint the JOKE with me in high school was which art classes i HADNT been in so i think i understand the basics of some few things --ohh! ohh! i need to get our blowtorches over here! i could make real glass orniments (we have stuff for glass beadmaking which i rarely get to use)

what does everyone concider "basic" matereals? (oh plus i have ALLL my 2d supplies and i think i could dig out some paper machet paste/powder/stuffs some add water and let dry sort of thing) thinnk ill start basics try to go from there? know theres an oragami star that i could make for the top i think it uses 4 like "strips" of paper and i did have the pattern to make it memorised at one time

hmmmm not sure why my pic came out so big :(

Hello everyone,
Have you guys noticed that most gaden webbers are cat people.
Don't get me wrong when I had a dog I loved him but there is something special about cats.
Last December when my dad was dying of cancer, when I did get any sleep my cat was right there with me, hugged up to me in the bed. He actually stayed with me as much as possible. He is the only cat that has ever slept with me.
much less stay with me. I think that is special.
I think us garden webbers are cat people which makes us special.
Faye!

Morning All,

Nice to see cards flying already, can't wait to get mine out. They are staring at me begging to be put in the mailbox!

Faye, I hate to be Debbie Downer BUT I'm not a cat lover. I think some are pretty BUT I'm highly allergic!

here are my babies saying goodbye to the breeders.

{{gwi:28474}}

All grown up!

210 pounds of fun!

Kym,I sent you an email the other day, did you get it????

Have a great day!
Lisa

Morning everyone!
So glad everyone is getting there cards!***smile*****

Dan, I went back and checked your thread about the Eyeball Plant, and you wanted "my favorite annual"...that happens to be it. It's so easy to grow my kids grow it every year, its compact for container growing or growing in the garden, and everyone asks...."What is THAT?" when they see it :) I think you'll like it too...and a bonus if you get a toothache (okay a bonus IS NOT a toothache, you get the idea) its like novocaine...that actually works I tried it last summer. Mouth was numb for about a half hour, and I only tried a small part of a leaf.

I am loving all of the animal posts, and those 2 210 pounds of fun are absolutely gorgeous!!

We lost our Noah ( a rottie/lab mix) a few years ago. He was 14 when he went to heaven. He took some of my heart with him when he went. He weighed 122 pounds when he died. When he started to get older the winter started to get to him, so I had to order him a blanket from a horse catalog for a mini horse. Fit him perfectly! :) I haven't had the heart to even look for another dog yet...maybe when my kiddos are a little bit older.

Have a great Tuesday everyone. Try to stay dry and warm!
vina

Vina,

I'm sorry about your Noah, you only know the pain of that type of loss if you have been there before.

I had to put my fifteen and a half year old lab down just 6 days before christmas a few years back.

I wanted to get another right away but hubby felt like he was cheating on our Lance...I felt that he would want us to love another! We waited about a year for these two goofs!

I also had a pure bred rottie before my children were born, over twenty years ago. They just have such a short life span that I decided to not get another. He was only six when we lost him to heart disease.

I say "go for it" you obviously have love to give and so many animals need a good home!!

This is my lance,just a few days before we had to let him go.

I'm such a dork! This pic still makes me cry!

Lisa

oh lisa i'd be bawling too! so easy and natural to love a pet. i still get teary over pets i lost in high school :( nice to see this little tribute to them all!

i was more of a cat person before i got involved in gardening lol. now all the cats seem to think my garden is their litter box and all my plants are catnip!

My cats think the gardens were put there for them as litter boxes too but there is nothing funnier then being out there weeding and I reach inside the foliage to see one of my five furry critters staring at me.

We lost our first family dog when she was 16 and I was so lonely at home, I adopted a dog from the Humane Society on my own. When hubby and the kids came home that day and spotted her, they couldn't have been more thrilled. That was 12 years ago and she is still with us. She loves the kitties too and it keeps her exercised chasing them around.

Temps were in the 50's yesterday and today it is snowing. Just flurries but they are lightly coating my world. Brrrr

Smitties

ive caugght angel nibbling and rubbing aganst pepper plants last year even nibbling on them some