I didn't bush-hog today.....DH thought my tractor sounded funny, so I stayed and got semi-caught up in the yard and garden. This was the year I mulched almost everything in the garden, even the sweet corn. You should have seen me (no, you shouldn't!) I crawled between the corn rows on my hands and knees to weed and thin the corn which is now about 36 inches tall. I kept thinking of snakes as I crawled along......We have seen so many this year. I am now watering and have been since 7 am this morning. It will take me 5 days to get everything. Christie, I finally planted all those old flower seeds I had and the zinnias came up overnight practically. I finished today with marigolds, more zinnias, cosmos, rudbeckias and whatever else I had. I am trashing the rest and starting fresh next year. The zinnias are saved from last year. Be interesting to see if I get flowers by planting so late and so hot. I know I will have to water them to get germination. Blooming now, more daylilies, a few shastas, larkspur almost done, two clematis (I think Polish Spirit and Etolie Violette), zinnias (seeded themselves from last year), gaillardias, petunias, stokesia, Annabelle hydrangea, melampodium, salvias, feverfew (I love this plant), monarda Marshall's Delight (and the delight of the hummers), a few geraniums, a few lilies, russian sage (I trimmed it this year and it looks pretty sad), asclepias, and who knows what else! Oh, I forgot my pride and joy: very dark blue delphs. These are from seed and I didn't know for sure the color. Hope they make it through the winter. Something came in during the night and pretty much wallowed my pumpkin patch....I could see dog tracks or something of that nature. Ruined some plants. I wish the garden was fenced. Yolanda, when you get to Ozark, you are pretty close to me. We live just northwest of Springfield. I have often told DH I would love to tour the old southern mansions in La. So far, he hasn't taken me up on it. The 1800's are my favorite period in history and my favorite novels are of the south during that time period and earlier. I sometimes think I was born out of my time. I could have lived the pioneer life. Let's hope for a cool down and more rain.... GD

Donna - I have a lot of confidence that you will find some time to "play" next week, enjoy the time off! Besh - I agree, don't get frustrated, we have all been there and if you keep behaving it will only be a temporary gain. Suzanne - I love tarragon too, also rosemary. Dee - one of our closest friends is a dentist. I always ask him how it feels to have so many people afraid of you. He is one of the nicest men I know and I can only imagine that he is very gentle and compassionate as a dentist. He lives over an hour away or I would go to him. Marci - I have my gyn appointment in a couple of weeks - I dread it too, but necessary. How is DD doing (and you)? I can't wait to see DD#1 in a few weeks! Patti - if you are reading, we miss you, hope you are having fun being a grandma LOL. My MIL had been visiting since Sunday, she was suppose to leave on Sunday but became very bored and left today. I guess my BIL's house is more exciting (thank goodness). You can't even believe all the things we did with her and she is still bored. She had her hair done, we took her shopping, out on the boat, out to breakfast twice, out to lunch another day and out to dinner one night. DH went into work late so they could spend time together and 20 family members were with us Sunday and Monday. I wish I had time to get bored. QOD - No agenda and I hope it stays that way. I haven't had my house to myself since last Friday and it feels good to just be home. As much as I go out I am really a homebody at heart. Friends are coming up from FL tomorrow evening, so we will probably go boating if the weather permits. Enjoy your weekend.

[[[[[[[[[Besh & MIL]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]...I hope she finds some comfort, Besh. What a sad time for all of you. I'm praying for the family. NH Suzanne, I really admired Julia Child, but I was always annoyed watching her shows. I cook exactly the opposite of her!! I clean as I go along, and she always made the biggest mess! I felt like MONK when I watched her show! (Let me know if you don't know MONK, so I can explain!) Raeanne, I've been thinking all week about French Lick next year. Our friends wanted to plan a cruise to Alaska, and we had to tell the cruise planner to work it in AFTER April 23! LOL!! I think we leave May 28! Well, my nieces are off to play minature golf with some friends up here. I have soooo much respect for my sister, especially with her younger one (14 years old). She uses every towel in the house, and they are ALL in the guest room! I've told her a hundred times to keep that door close, because it's a mess in there! Her older sister is sharing our guest room with her, and she keep saying "Aunt Donna, I TOLD you she's a piglet!" I have a hard time keeping up with her because I like a neat house...this is one of the reasons I'm glad I made the decision not to have kids. I'd drive them or myself nuts over this stuff! LOL!! Maddie, it's so good to see you happy! Are we gonna have fun or what next April?!! Hello Patti & Dave; hope you guys are safe. We are supposed to get very bad rain up here in Jersey tonight and tomorrow morning....nothing like Florida, but bad enough to suit me. I'm having about 20 guests for luncheon tomorrow to celebrate my youngest DSD's graduation. I'm tired of cooking!! Gotta run and watch Big Brother! Take care, eat healthy, and NEVER NEVER GIVE UP! DeeMarie

Hi Everyone, I'm finally home! And can I just say that coming thro Toledo on Interstate 75 was the same miserable experience it has always been. Never changes. These people need to work on their detour skills. Had a great visit with the granddaughters. My daughter and her husband just bought their first house, so there was a lot of packing, sorting, running back and forth going on! It's a nice little house in a great neighborhood, same school district and Tabitha is so excited - she gets to ride the school bus! Where they live now is only a block away from her school, so she had to walk. And I got to meet my grandcat, Aurora. Very pretty cat, American Tabby mix, quite nice and it only took her a couple of days to get used to me. Okay, let's take care of some swap stuff! First of all, a huge Thank You to Jeanne for covering for me. And at the last minute too. This visit was supposed to happen next weekend. Jeanne, I owe ya one! Thank you! Robin, Beth and Heidi, thanks for sharing the pics, your flower beds are just beautiful! Great Haiku, Robin! Congrats to Katie and Emily for guessing #s 2 and 5! Erica, how great it would be to walk out to my back yard and pick lemons! Margo, we got rain 3 nites in Kettering. The girls drew a picture of me with their chalk, on the sidewalk, and were really bummed that the rain washed it away! Breanne, so glad your sister had you to retreat to! Saying prayers for the flood victims. Melinda, hope all is going better for you. Please post when you receive. Here's an update on the Swap: Erica REC'D Katie REC'D Emily REC'D Margo REC'D Breanne REC'D Heidi REC'D Robin REC'D Beth REC'D Amber REC'D Amber sends to Melinda Amy REC'D Shirley REC'D Faye REC'D Okay, I'm going to finish unpacking and get some dinner. Got to check out Katie's swap too! Later, Shirley!