We have a 20'X24' chicken coop that is divided into 12 (4'X8'X6'H) pens. There is a 4' wide isle down the middle. Each pen has a 4'X36' outside covered run. We use 6 pens for 2 weeks (or until it looks close to bare) then switch them to the run on opsite side of coop. We use a mix of wild bird seed and oats that are heavely sewn and watered. The chickens keep it well fertilized. Twice a year it is limed to control soil PH. If you don't over graze it won't need to be reseeded (except where they dig/scratch it bare) until following spring. We also sprout (without soil in the greenhouse) in 1'x2'x3"h plastic trays this same seed mix (about 1-1/2 qts of seed/tray) for the caged breeders. They go 'nutz' when their 2pm treats come. We use about 15 trays/day. It only takes 8 days at 65F for the sprouts to get 5 or 6" high.

I'm behind on my record keeping (ouch). I have an Excel spreadsheet which badly needs updating, with roses sorted by class then by name, with the nurseries or individuals I got them from, and some other information. The Excel spreadsheet doesn't give enough room for adequate comments, and I've been thinking about a parallel text document with rose varieties listed in the same order as in the spreadsheet, but with unlimited room for text. But I haven't started it. I also have written and drawn maps of sections of the garden and of the propagation beds where I start cuttings, very important in case labels get lost, which they do all the time. I accept that labels will not be my primary source of identification of plants in the ground, and that their labels will need to be replaced periodically. About pots, by an evil magic they lose labels constantly no matter what I do. Recently I've taken to punching holes at the rims of plastic pots, threading ties through them, and attaching labels to the ties: I defy these labels to disappear! Labeling the pots is the only way I know to keep order in the pot ghetto, which contains probably a couple of hundred plants of every description. Currently we probably have 500-600 roses in the garden and 300-odd varieties, spread out over a couple of acres. Keeping track of them is difficult but important. I've learned I can't trust my memory--and I have an excellent memory--and that I need multiple forms of documention, so that if one source fails I have another. Also that I need to keep better order in paperwork like invoices: saving them isn't enough, they need to be accessible and in order, but hitherto I haven't succeeded in this. I have other plants I would like to keep better records of, including lilacs, peonies, and violets, none of which I have satisfactorily documented. Melissa

Oh I am so bummed...Any way of holding the swap time at 1:00pm and everyone can eat first. I have to work until 12:00 and then drive down from Lonsdale. I really want to come.

To everyone who has responded, thank you so much for your time and ideas. My dd loved your ideas and feed back. She has been trying to make a decision. She has been given a budget so she is being very thorough. Paint chips, my dd loved your ideas. She is using your ideas as inspiration for her room. The blue-grey paint you selected is very close to what she selected previously. She selected Eddie Bauer Shale paint EB32-4 from Lowe's. We haven't tested it yet. I'm wanting to get the other fabrics first. Jenny, I loved the picture you posted! I loved the valance in that room. I have looked all over for something like that for dd's room. So far no luck. Jim, I also liked Ralph Lauren's room. So clean and timeless. jynxed23, I would love to see a picture of your room. I have to agree the rug is making this more difficult. I'm assuming it must be easier to decorate around a rug if the colors are more muted. I may be incorrect about that. Update on dd's room.... She found this duvet cover at pottery barn kids. She loves the chamois texture. The only problem is that they are sold out of matching shams and will not be restocking since they are closing out this line. Personally, I feel that she needs a matching sham in addition to the fun decorative pillows. DD thinks we can go to the fabric store and find some navy fabric and whip up a sham. Do you also feel this is a deal breaker? I'm thinking that the color and texture should be the same. Any input? Bedskirts...DD has looked for bedskirts. Of course they don't have any to match the above duvet cover. So she was thinking about a white bedskirt because we have been unable to find an off-white bedskirt in twin size. The rug has ivory but not white. Would white look bad? If I can convience her to go with the denim duvet cover that paint chips selected, all my problems would be solved. That set has a sham and bedskirt that matches.