DH has been working too hard around the homesite lately. With his bad back and painful gut he doesn't need to be laying rocks! But he's doing it, because he loves to play with rocks and is good at it. The muddy morass between the back of the house and the old rock wall which contains the flower bed will be all ROCK. Spring is trying to be here..the dogwoods are just coming into bloom. The daffodils are all gone, the creeping phlox is going wild, the rhubarb is up (pie, soon) and maybe..just maybe..the berries will do something this year if we get enough rain. The peonies are full of buds. I hope we've had our last freeze. I need to mow the grass. That's my job, by my choice, because I don't like the way DH does it; and he's hard on MY lawnmower! I love driving the mower around, with the suicide knob on the steering wheel, and amazing all onlookers with my sophisticated pattern which leaves no blade unmowed without ever stopping and backing up. Tomato and pepper starts are living under the fiberglass leanto outside now, getting strong before moving to the garden. We've had too much wet in the past few days, so the garden area is untillable, and it's still really too early to plant. I planted two rows of Swiss Chard in the middle of the newly-cleaned out strawberry bed, with a row of radishes between the berries and the edging. Why not combine? It's close to the house, and I might even water it. I have rhubarb in the front flower bed, with the butterfly bushes and forsythia. The weather has been weird! A couple of warm, dry days..then two or three days of rain. The plants love it, that's for sure..but it cramps my style when I have to work on the only days that are sunny and dry. Planning a trip in August to the west coast to see kids, grandkids, and old friends. Haven't checked on prices yet, and am prepared for sticker shock. Haven't told DH I'm going, either, but he will support me in my need to connect with family and friends. It will be a busy, busy, trip; I dare not stay with DS and family for more than a week, or we would certainly NOT stay friends! Just too different! I just walked around the yard, and some asparagus is up! Spears the size of my thumb..but not enough to make a meal. I hope they do better this year than they have done in years past. I am getting creative urges..so it SURELY is spring! Replaced a wicker seat in a bench for a friend, and have been looking at my old basket books. Another friend wants me to paint an old window for her for her exercise area, so she has something to look at besides a blank wall. I have the window, and the paint, now all I have to do is do it!

Here is a reference for Helen Curtis. It is probably your best choice. Evergreen Azalea: 'Helen Curtis' (R. 'Desiree' x R. 'Rosebud') Flower white without markings, widely funnel-shaped, semi-double with 10 frilled lobes, 2-1/2" across. Inflorescence 2-3 flowered. Blooms late midseason. Leaves broadly elliptic, acute apex, rounded base, 1-1/2" long, glossy, yellow-green, retained for 2 years. Upright, rounded habit. Reaches a height of 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Bud hardy to -20°F (-29°C). Hybridized by Shammarello. Here is a link that might be useful: Helen Curtis

Hi Catherinet, I know you are in the USA and I am in Europe, but I saw the other day in the UK newspaper an entirely white, albino robin. I am interested especially in robins as I had a little, slightly deformed female who visited me for 2 years. No more, alas. However I have noticed and marked down that they have arrived here in the south of France, nearly a month early. I usually reckon Armistice day, 11 Nov. Is this a sign of a hard winter to come, along with masses of berries on the trees?, Jacqui

Thank you yillimuh! That house in the pics i posted is not my house...it's the seller's pics, so maybe her house? I also have an mcm home though that I am in a constant state of remodeling. I cant get over those upper cabinets, I just love the look of the wood and orange and blue. I want them somewhere in my house. I am still working on my house and I wonder if there is a way to incorporate similar cabs into my home. I'm thinking of adding a walk-in pantry. I wonder if it would be crazy if it doesnt totally match the kitchen? Or the built in credenza? or laundry room? I guess that would be a separate thread lol.