Hi luvbrugs and welcome to the forum! Before this year, I had only one brug that I have overwintered for 2 years. I always just cut it back a few inches above the soil line, piled at least a foot of mulch over and called it good. It comes back from the roots each spring. I used the bucket of brugs method to propagate the cuttings, some of which were 3-4 feet long. This is a great time to share or trade cuttings as well. The BOB (bucket of brugs) method was an idea that I read here, sorry, but I cannot remember who was the brilliant person that came up with this idea. It works like this, you use a bucket (any size you need) and fill with water...I used about 5-6 inches. Put the brug cuttings in the bucket and add an aquarium air stone attached to an air-pump. I still changed or at least checked and replenished the water once a week. You cannot let the water get a film on the top or smelly. Without the air stone, you need to change the water daily to keep it fresh. The cuttings should have all of the leaves removed to avoid bringing bugs into the house. I placed mine near a window so that it got some light. In the spring, they will be well-rooted and can be potted up and shared or placed in the garden. This year, through the generosity of Kylie (a super lady and local-to-us member here) I have increased my collection to 7 brugs (8 if you count the yellow NOID that I bought online). My plan of action for the coming winter has changed through reading the ways that others overwinter. I plan to dig up my brugs this winter and overwinter the established ones in a DIY greenhouse (my old camping tent) keeping the temp at a minimum of 50 degrees. This is to preserve the height so I will have trees (taller plants) next year. I will still take large cuttings of branches that are growing at odd angles and share them. The small cuttings and seedlings will be stripped of leaves and brought into the house to overwinter, because I have read that brugs that are not yet established or are less than a year old don't have the root system to withstand dormancy. Slow growers can also benefit from a warm winter inside the house or a warmer greenhouse. I'm still pretty new to brugs, so there may be other methods to explore, but this is one way to overwinter. Pam

Thanks! It helps that we are empty nesters and work partly from home so we can get outdoors. Besides, if I hide in a hotel I think I'm a "wuss" and subtract points. My husband is unusual..can't think of any man who would camp in freezing rain in the middle of winter and go swing dancing on New Year's eve instead of watching the college bowl football games. At his age (the same as mine-57) he's in great shape and able to keep up with me although he thinks of the outdoors as an exercise gym and often misses the point of my birding activities. For instance, while I was crouching in the underbrush photographing Green-winged Teals through the branches at the Ft Worth Center for Wildlife marsh his cell phone rock music suddenly began blasting (he'd waited for me on the trail above), then he began talking! The entire flock exploded out of the water was gone in seconds. I laughed and once again suggested he keep his phone on "vibrate" and move away from the area to answer From Christmas 2009

I'm loving this thread! DLM - I forgot about your possible move! We LOVE that area and have visited many little cities/towns in NC. Also enjoyed the quieter beaches up through the Outer Banks. Maybe one day we will run into each other! How funny would that be! LOL AWM03 - we also love small town America. Most place we go we will explore the area and surrounding towns. There is a little town in NC (can't think of the name) that is Mayberry, TN!! We love road trips and do not fly. I guess I should mention we are neither one really interested in international travel. So much here in the US to explore. We have been up through Canada and that is beautiful country. Bumble, you said, "I don't really like sitting doing nothing even with a spectacular view, unless I have a great book to read or at least moderately good conversion. The view alone enthralls for about half and hour then I'm bored." I don't have a problem with that. We both lead busy lives and vacation is one of the times I do make time to read. There is also great conversation as there is no one I'd rather travel with than my husband. We can talk about anything and everything - or simply sit in silence. As for the view - it's not just the view for me - it's the surroundings and the sense of peace it brings me. Water soothes my soul like nothing else. An inn where you can cook? I've never heard of that. Gibby - you are right there in my spot! Kiawah Island!! We actually prefer Seabrook - and through VRBO found a couple in NJ with a lovely villa and a private dock. We have rented from them several times. She and I even email. I have found several good rentals from VRBO. We prefer condos, villas, etc. to hotels. On the islands I mentioned, hotels are few and far between. Our small dog accompanies us many times, and last year we even rented a LOVELY little cottage in the Highlands (NC) full of antiques. It was heavenly. Same thing last fall, we rented a cottage in Mt. Pleasant (inland but near Charleston and beaches) with a fenced in back yard. We will probably be renting that place again next spring. Stinky, you are NOT peculiar. Different strokes for different folks. I understand about your cat (see above). I am very, very particular about who I would leave the pup with. She travels with us much more than not. Thankfully she has been doing that from day one, so she is used to it. If she were not able, I would not be going. I meant to say in the other thread though, that we are opposites on the big city thing. I am a country girl till I die, and while I have enjoyed visiting some big cities, I am not completely comfortable in big cities. I have visited NYC and loved many things, but the hustle, bustle, the crowds, etc. are so not me. Loved New Orleans, but felt unsafe there. Have visited DC many times and have enjoyed much there, but we have always stayed outside the city. I remember my first trip there and how weird it was hearing sirens so often! And to whoever mentioned vacationing at home - we did that two different weeks this spring! We did camp 2 or 3 days one of those weeks, but we enjoyed having more time to take the boat out, visiting sites in our own area, lolling around in our backyard, etc. haha I often joke that I work so we can vacation. tina

Hello everyone! I walked in the door last night at 11:00 p.m. after the flight from hell. I white knuckled it all the way home on the plane. Usually turbulence doesn't bother me. Charles didn't wake me this morning with his usual rustlings, so, I slept in and I'm well rested. That dough master named Teresa really cracked the whip and had me worn out by the time I got home ;-). I had such a good time and was sorry to see the get together end :-( Everyone at Paney Camp was a joy to be around and I highly recommend the get togethers. Looking forward to PFPP in Novemeber. When I got home last night I had a box from a CF friend on the kitchen island. OMG, I couldn't believe it! I'll start a thread as soon as I can. omg, omg, omg! Maggie is here and we are catching up on our time we spend together every week so I need to keep this short. I will be back tomorrow with a few more pictures. I'm running short on time today.