I'm still working on things:-) Here is the painted window so far: I also have started working on this window. I nailed the picket planter to the window and hope to find some small shutters. It needs another coat of paint. I think I will just use fake flowers in this planter: I can't finish the metal bed until it's ready to place in the garden, have to wait for winter to end:-) I have been painting the bed spindles with the same color I painted spindles to make garden tools to hang from the side of the bed. Got that idea from a poster here who made the tools hanging from a old rake:-) Thanks for that idea!! Also in the picture are 2 insulators that I'm making into hanging candle holders. I need to find something to put on the wire to jazz them up:-) The other white spindle holds a sign that says 'This Way To Mom's Garden". It needs to be painted with another color.

Oh Steve, no relation to the Ducommun Steel people, they lived close where I lived, but in the high-end part of that area. The name Ducommun has a history, it was taken by a group of people who settled in the Switzerland, in the French speaking part. They were Hugenots, Protestants, fleeing from persecution by the Catholic majority in France. They are not all related, it's more like a Clan, Du commun means "the commoners", so even that Francois of the clock may not be an ancestor of the Ducommun family.

Hi again, rose friends! Just popping in to say 'thank you' to all of you for your enthusiasm, kind words, and for appreciating roses like I do. That 50-degree day was short-lived. I guess I shouldn't have gotten so excited. Tonight it is down to 17 degrees.....tomarrow it will struggle to get out of the twenties. Winter is hanging on. melva....,my Duchesse de Buccleugh is about 5 1/2 feet tall; she is only a couple of years old though....not sure of her mature dimensions. (I'm not sure if it will get the same size in your warmer climate or not.) york rose.....believe it or not, with over 350 rosebushes I still water all my roses by hand, by myself. We live out in the woods so we have our own artesian well (very deep) so I never have had to worry about running out of water, just time and patience....lol. Watering all those roses is probably my least favorite rose-chore, especially getting all tangled up in the extra-long hoses. Krista....its good to know you see what I see in 'John Hopper'.....he's FINE. Carla....Thanks for your sweet comment! organic....Yes, she is a DIVA, that Gloire des Mousseux...lol! Gean....so glad you are getting something out of my posts...thanks. I like 'introducing' you all to the roses, because I am so enthusiastic about them. aroidgardener....Excellenz is a wonderful, charming rose. You were SO smart in getting that one! I forgot to mention that the blooms last a very long time on the bush and are great for bouquets. Mark....Happy Spring to you as well....thank you for taking the time to read my post and for letting me know you enjoyed it! Tammy....Pinks are my favorites as well. I have way more pink roses than any other color. Eric....careful of those roses....they like to whip out a thorny cane when our backs are turned! Centifolia variegata is the sneakiest of my roses....I swear she waits for me to turn around and hooks me like a big fish and reels me in...lol. (but I love her still) Deb....I think you are right....roses do need that extra caress and a few 'sweet nothings' once in awhile. My neighbors can attest to the fact that I am in love with my roses....quite a few times I have gotten weird looks from them when they hear me talking and there's nobody there....lol. twohuskies.....I know what you are going through....I placed all my rose orders early and yet I am still pining away for yet more roses that I don't have room for! I am running out of land, time, money, etc. but I can't stop myself! Luxrosa...Pink or white Albas...there is nothing more beautiful. I am glad you know this too! And I can well understand your wanting to marry Long John Silver. I have him too, and he's a charmer. He can make you weak in the knees, can't he? Rose-fever is one 'sickness' I hope I never recover from....lol. Thanks, everybody! Celeste

FYI, coots are waterfowl similar to ducks. Up here in northern MN, they feed primarily on wild rice and the meat has a decent flavor. They can taste fishy if they come from a place where fish is their primary food. DS brought home a package of coot breast fillets from a co-worker and asked if I'd make soup from them. I simmered the breasts in some boullion broth, onions, and celery until the breasts were good and done. Then I removed them to cool. Continued to simmer the broth and added carrots, more onions and celery, when almost done I added a package of frozen green beans from our garden (for color), but I think peas might have been better. While the veggies simmered, I diced up the breast meat and added to the soup. Let it all simmer some more and served it up. It was pretty good, if I say so myself. I've never made soup from coots or ducks. Always roasted them and served with dressing/stuffing. DS and Dok liked the soup, I guess.