WOW, I"m impressed just with the fact that you typed all that!!! not to mention that it's a very nice offer, I know there will be many who will really appreciate that. America is surely a better place with folks like you in it :)

Kirk ... BEAUTIFUL pic of a BEAUTIFUL bird...I've never seen a Tanager either...but it certainly reminds me of our Iowa state bird, the American Goldfinch. TFS! That's why our GJ & gardens are so satisfying...sharing with Nature like this pic you took! Jeanne S. Here's a pic of the grape/orange Oriole feeders that my DH makes out of old barnwood...this is a catbird that likes to feed at it, too. In the last couple wks, we've had Baltimore Orioles, Catbirds, Hummingbirds, Purple Finches that have eaten at this feeder! A beautiful reminder of Spring!

Wow, two handsome beasts! :) I think it was great that Niels was able to meet up with you FH. Super picture of both of you. Wow, I must say that was a nice bright sunny day. We do not see too many of them here this time of the year - yup, a lot of rain, but mild temps. What a really nice place you have their Doug. Niels, though it was so nice to hear from you, I was really saddened by your story. That must be pretty hard. One good thing is you are in the right kind of job for you and I am sure you are very happy doing that. I hope the green card business for you may be resolved some day, maybe it will not be as difficult as you think to obtain one. If not, would there be any point trying to emigrate to Canada, then crossing the border frequently could be managed to see each other more often?? Any how you seem a happy guy and I am sure you are managing the best way you can. Good Luck. I think it is a great thing what you suggest about forum members getting together and I look forward to meeting up with some one of these days. Any regular poster here is more than welcome to visit us when coming to the island. I have heard of some meetins on the east coast between members, but love to get something happening over on the west one of these "summers" rose time! :) Veilchen, nice picture of your hubby with his catch. Something my husband did for years, but gave up his boat and fishing a few years' ago. I sure miss the fish though and canning and smoking the salmon. We still smoke it now and then, but now we buy it! Pauline - Vancouver Island

I had been thinking about Doug & wife, too, had been to their place to pick up my Mills Magic and got a tour when his lovely tree peonies were blooming. So I know how high up on the hill they are. So I called him just a bit ago, he said they are fine, the creek has widened a bit but hasn't gotten as high as when they first moved there because the channel has deepened. The water is really flowing fast but hasn't risen to affect any of his plants, just a little water in the basement. It's really bad in parts here, and you've probably seen it on the national news about Cedar Rapids. Many other towns and areas along waterways in eastern Iowa are having serious problems including us. River is expected to crest at Lock and Dam 15 (crosses the river at Davenport and Rock Island at Arsenal Island) early Monday stretching through Tuesday at 21 feet. They are calling for people to fill sandbags, wish I could help, could fill one or two but not be able to lift them, would just be in the way. I live about 3 miles as the crow flies from Doug and am on high ground. On the perennials forum I posted some photos I took yesterday of a huge sinkhole in a street that caved in and high terraces collapsing onto the sidewalk and street 6 blocks from me, detours everywhere so didn't try to get near the flooded areas, except Duck Creek which had receded by the time I got there. I don't remember mudslides here in my lifetime. It's on a thread about how you do your watering, I got too chatty there so had better quit now.