I would like to assure Cynthia that there are plenty of us who "still work for a living" who have no trouble at all with EST and have little difficulty squeezing the limited sunlight into our physical activity routine. Sounds more like a scheduling problem to this girl scout. ;) Hope your sister's recovery is moving along in the proper direction and doing so predictably. Is she home now? Good to hear that warmer temperatures are assisting in ice removal. Our driveway is pretty slick and I worry about Rex slipping, sliding, and wrenching something in the process (only to protect our investment, mind you). "Dog bowling" helps and directing him over the snow covered lawns after a day-glo tennis ball limits the risk. In his "frail elderly" phase I'd be worried about Monty, IF I didn't hate dogs, that is. Did Cynthia take both Dannie and Hope "on the road" yesterday (excellent suggestion, Woody)? Why does Chloe have wear booties, Cindy? is it protection against the nasty stuff they lay on accumulated ice to get it to melt? I imagine that at her size ingesting even a little of it by licking off her paws could do some damage. I understand today is the Superbowl... like I care? I suppose the pre-game show will start by 10 AM and the post game wrap-up will linger into the predawn hours of tomorrow... . Sounds like a PERFECT day to get out and tackle errands, if you ask me! Do trials greatly increase your work load at the awfice, or is it just that the work load changes character? The Camellias are beautiful! I have to admire them from afar, I'm afraid, even many of the beautiful Hydrangeas don't perform well here, too often nipped by late frosts if not securely bundled up. Interestingly, the winter lows are not what zaps 'em, it's those late (May) frosts that do 'em in. It will be some months yet before any thought of getting out and working in and around the yard begins to invade the space between my ears. But is sure is fun to read about the exploits of others. Any chance you'd take a closer shot of the foliage for me? we had an arrangement at work that I THINK may have used Camellia leaves... very pretty. Power to you on the decluttering, Kathy. It's sometimes hard to get started but once you're rollin' the feeling of accomplishment is great. V., I heartily recommend tackling the basement! I haven't enjoyed a project as much in a very long time. Sure, it's a ton of work, but it's the sort of thing that's right up my alley; requires good planning, mastery of some new skills, and methodical execution. Best of all, I've refused to be daunted by a helpmeet whose partipation can range from downright sullen to wonderfully inspired, and THAT'S made a big impression. It's gratifying to see a new, useful space emerge in "glorious living color", too. I'd say you guys are due for a bit of a "spruce up" and a wedding seems like a perfect reason to do it. VERY exciting about your new ring, any chance we can get some more information on that? I have all the "family jools" from Mum's side of the family, nothing terribly valuable, but some interesting pieces. I'm absolutely amazed at how tiny they are... several won't make it over the second knuckle on my left (smallest) ring finger! Did "Luck Be A Lady" last night? (listening to lots of Billy May arrangements lately and it reminds me of your DD and her trumpet). Julie, you were clearly on fire yesterday with respect to one-liners, I'm not sure you overlooked one opportunity in your inspired post. :) Yes, the mopboards will be pickled to match the window trim and the stairwell railing. The "new" rule in this house is that nothing is put in the 'frig. without a cover and all vegetative matter is to go into the crispers. I found one too many cans with contents identifiable only because they had labels on them. Dessicated tomato paste with mold on it is so "yesterday". ;) Mercifully, we have the ultimate recycling opportunity; fully mobile, and sporting a snug-fitting fur suit. I've been thinking of you Woody. Every time I look out the windows and survey the winter landscape I wonder how you arrive at the spacing for shrubs/trees in your fantasy landscape plan. Do you plant with mature size in mind or for immediate effect, relying on future thinning/pruning/limbing to keep things in order? And I have to do some "scale" drawing pretty soon, too. Only this time it will be for the upcoming floor project and will be pretty easy... just simple geometry. How's your printing progressing? Hi to Eden (has she been outdoors in 2 weeks?), Michelle (who we know will slog through drifts to get to the compost pile), Jerri (the purple footed one), Sue (who's either working or lying about it to cover her Facebook tracks), and so many others... and also, beleaguered Marian, holding down the fort in an ice-coated world. Camera back yet, Deanne? While shingles may be itchy and uncomfortable I won't start worrying about your unhappy condition until you begin dragging your backside over the carpet... hang in there! OK, time to think about what could be the final assault on woodwork, you guys...

miles, in my climate zone I can keep them in pots for a long time. The red one had been in a pot for more than 5 years and I could have left it there even longer. But I had this empty space in the front garden and it filled it up nicely with the years. When they are tiny I take them inside and keep them in a cold room and give them a little water from time to time. nicholsworth, I would also like them to stay tiny, they are so cute! My poor Fire Island had a bad year. It got a late frost when a lot of leaves were already out and had brown spots after that and to top this a slug found it's way into the pot and had a feast on the new leaves :-( Is yours in a shady bed? It is quite dark... Golden Tiara is one of the hosta I have started with and it is such a good grower that I have divided it often and gave big chunks to friends. I bought Grand Tiara, Emerald and Platinum Tiara this year and have Royal Tiara on next year's list :-) I hope they grow as well as Golden Tiara... Grand Tiara Emerald Tiara Emerald Tiara

Now that I am home again, I had to post this lily. It is Voila Francois. No doubt, the most perfectly formed white I have. I don't think I have ever had an ugly bloom on this one. The second is Stardust Dragon. (I don't know this new trick Houzz performed in putting my photos together! Not my intention. It bopped my narrative below it and I have to edit.) New this year. But it multiplied rapidly and bloomed and then rebloomed. I think I will like it . Kate

Cardinals do a late evening feeding up to darkness to tank up for the night. Most other birds have already retired for the night. This behavior is more noticeable in winter. Cardinals prefer sunflower seed over any other. At my feeder, they ignore the small spherical seeds such as millet. Experiment to discover what food your doves prefer, and then set up a separate feeder with that food for the doves in hopes the doves will leave the cardinal feeder alone. But then, that might attract more doves! As an aside, the city of Milwaukee had a severe pigeon problem. These birds were fouling manufacturer's products that were temporarily stored outside, for example, pickup truck frames made by A.O. Smith. Peregrine Falcons were imported and nesting sites set up with cooperation of the power company. After about 3 years, a breeding population was established and pigeons began to disappear. The pigeon is a favorite prey of the Peregrine falcon. Today, there are barely any pigeons in Milwaukee, and a breeding population of Peregrines have been established. Peregrins were threatened 40 yrs ago.