Snappers do not have the floating deck that the simplicity line does and the floating deck was the primary reason I wanted the Simplicity. The dealer I took delivery from also had Massey's but they were larger models. When I called the dealers on the simplicity site, all had switched to Snapper. I sent an e-mail to simplicity for help and they replied with an e-mail that I should try different zip codes in my area. I wrote back that it would be easier to input a larger search radius and that they should update their web site. They did not respond and have not updated their web site as of this posting. A friend who is a large user of Simplicity and Massey helped me locate a dealer.

Today at the Brandon MLRS lily sale I picked up a few more lilies. Of course, BJ gladly helped me fill my arms. We even had a young guy approach us while we were going through the martagons and asked us if we would be willing to have our pictures taken for one of the local newspapers. He asked what we were looking at...knowing nothing about lilies, he didn't know what a martagon was. He got a short, short version about why we would want martagons in our yards. He said he usually did the sports events. Sports and lily bulbs...hmmmm. no similarities. So, today's purchases... Redpath martagon Brocade martagon martagon seedling (Leafland Wine x Tarlton seedling with secondary buds) Mahogany Bells martagon Pink Attraction martagon 2000-11 martagon seedling (92115-3 x Hantsing) Northern Beauty (Oriental x Trumpet) Alabaster Rose asiatic Kansas asiatic Bicolor Ballerina asiatic from trading with Laurie (thanks!!) Tropical Dream AT (asiatic tetraploid) Royal Paradise LA Fangio LA Merry Spring asiatic Tinos asiatic And from trading with Shelley (thanks!!) Algarve LA Shirley asiatic Mount Duckling (pot or border lily) Think I have some planting to do now. The forecast looks great for the next few days, so I am hoping to get these all in asap. Brenda

Hi everybody, Sorry I didn't get these pictures posted earlier, 'puter has been acting testy and I still don't have email working, but at least I'm back to posting! Here's some pics... Margie, I brought the Chocolate Dip, just love the foliage. They come true from seed, I started a pack of 20 seeds over the winter and 4 came up but one died from overwatering and I planted out 2. It's an outdoor plant, supposedly perennial, full sun to part shade. I don't know how it will do with reseeding, I was afraid of the name Hawkweed so I made sure to collect as much of the seed as I could! Hope you enjoy it!

Hi! I am here, just in a funk and slowly coming out of it. DD moved last week to Lousiana and it hit home that I now officially have an empty nest. At least while she was at school, I knew she could come home any weekend she chose. Lousianna is just so FAR away. But they made it safely (in a U-Haul towing her car!) and I have kept in touch with her almost daily. So the comunication is there, but I miss her. I have been keeping busy reading, scrapbooking and cleaning out DD's empty room. It has been so HOT here, that I have been content to stay inside with the AC on. It is supposed to be nicer tomorrow and I am going with DH to a car show (he will drive his 62 Nova). Besh - I have read so many books this summer that I would have a hard time listing them all. I did read "The Glass Castle" and loved your comment about it being a "real" memoir! LOL I too thought it was an amazing book and marveled that she and her siblings survived at all. I am reading "Thunderstruck" by Erik Larson right now. I love his writing and attention to detail. I also read "Isacc's Storm" and "The Devil in the White City". He must do an incredible amount of research before he starts a book. I just finished listening to "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer. I have to say I cried. Other notable recent reads are, "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, "Left to Tell" (about the genocide in Rwanda) by Immaculee Ilibagzia, and "The Butterfly House" by Marcia Preston. Next up, "Lean Mean Thirteen" by Janet Evanovich. DeeMarie - I have been doing exercises to strengthn my back and keep the muscles stretched and it seems to be helping. I can't sit for too long at the computer, so I haven't been logging on as often as I used to. I can't even sit and read for too long without needing to get up and stretch and move around. I love getting books on tape at the library and listening to them where ever I am. I am considering getting an MP3 player and using my library's resources to download books. Have you read LM13 yet?? Jen - Poor Erica! One time my DS broke his finger and I didn't take him to the doctor's until the next day. He also needed 2 pins to reset the finger. I felt like the worst mother of the year that day. Glad to hear she is on the mend. Patti - Glad Dave got a good report and you can go forward with your trip to TX. I never did get to see those pictures of your DGD! If you get a chance, email me. NHSuzanne - We had such severe storms the last few days too. Trees down in the neighborhood all around me, but we didn't suffer any damage. I am glad you got the brakes fixed and were able to go to VT. I don't have much of a backyard, but I did get some pictures of our local wildlife last week. Can you tell what this is a picture of? DH's is letting me know he is hungry, so I am off to the kitchen. Later, Marci