thank you everyone! its funny cuz I didnt think anyone would reply to this cuz it wasnt in the gallery, so I had put another post over there, and forgot about this one, lol. Joann, lol..yeah I already have my next pond planned out, an above ground extension to the bigger in-ground pond, connecting via a stream. Hope to get a bridge or build one to go over the stream..so the money for that project will be my Valentines day gift, easter gift..hopefully it wont extend beyond those two holidays, but I am sure that any money he gives me for our anniversary & mothers day will go toward the ponds as well, lol. I am SOOOO excited and can't wait to start all the fun!! BoTann, yes I did all by my lil lonesome. my son took pics for me as I was going, thats the only 'help' I got. LMAO my hubby didnt help one bit, except for the money. He doesn't 'get' my gardening and ponding. Actually I prefer that he doesn't help me..I like to do things my way, by myself..it's terrible I know, but even if by some miracle he offered to help, I'd say no, lol. I just love working in the yard, digging and making things happen, like the pond. Nothing else gives me the feeling that I get from doing yard work..love it! This stuff keeps me SANE!!!! Kristy! girl! how ya doin? lmao..yup, pj's and boots and started as soon as I woke up that day..can we say impatient? lol! I can't wait to see more pix of the progression of the GH. I'm glad you got GH building supplies for Xmas, lol! DH still thinks I'm nuts I want dirt for Xmas, Mulch for Mothers Day, lmao. He thinks its such a waste of money, phooey! yay, you're gonna do more ponds? SOO addicting isn't it?? I wish I could h ave my whole yard ponds and gardens...seriously now come on..do the kids & dogs REALLY need room to play? lol. Bradley, thank you, and thank you for looking :) I'm sure I'll be posting more once I get my extension going! O the plans I have in my head!!! I hope it all comes out as nice as it is in my head... thanks again everyone :) Daniella

an aside for newbies .... not freaks ... lol ... black or dark mulch ... absorbs and retains heat ... which can cause browning.. from cooked tissue death .... or death from cooked roots ... increased heat on the mulch can also cause drought under it.. instead of retaining moisture.. which is the whole point of the mulch in the first place. .. mulch is a benefit to the plant... not simply something pretty for the house ... i learned this lesson the hard way ... cocoa beans shells.. with that magnificent smell when newish ... nearly killed everything in it.. in full hot sun ... and the more i watered.. them more it molded .. etc.. what a nightmare ... lol.. live and learn ... all that said.. what works in your location.. with your plants.. with your soil.. all the power to you ... just think about mulch color as a variable in the whole scheme of things... ken

Hi Again Gang, Quick couple of comments, otherwise, I'll come back for set-up later in the week (thx for yr. patience). Kerstin & Vickster, thx for yr. lovely comments. It's especially nice to know one's comments are helpful, that's definately my intent & of course, to help share the pleasure that Hoyas in particular have given me. Kerstin, if you haven't ordered yet, may I recommend H. Obovata. One of my favorites, really handsome, roundish, unusual looking leaves. A good grower yet entirely trouble free (for me anyway). Water roots readily & every time I make a new cutting to add to its pot they thrive; it's got new growth on every tip right now, really pretty, check out a pic to see if you like it. hasn't bloomed yet, but have only had it for 2.5 yrs. I'm confident it will when ready! Wire hangers are a great old trick, I have too many plants to spend money on accessories (180+ at least count 2 yrs. ago). I just open a wire hanger, fold it in half, form it into roughly a U shape & stick the ends down into a pot (using a pair of pliers). I save this for the big or heavy ones. Currently have wire hooped a Pubicalyx, the Obovata, my larger Lacunosa, my larger Bella, & a Findlaysonii. I'd say the bathroom Kerrii varieg. is next as it keep trying to grow into the shower stall. Orchid supports are also good, I have my Imperialis on one as tho' it's still small, it's quite heavy & I see it wants to get big. No Kerstin, I don't overlove them, tho' I see them every day 'cause they're in the kitchen, I really don't fuss at them much. Learned that lesson a long time ago. More for next time, but broadly speaking, I think my Lacunosa problems were mostly from drying out a bit too much, the current one is on a wick & so far, so good. Earline, what a fabulous display, & yes, I saw the blooms, while blizzarding no less, woo-hoo just marvelous! Makes me think I should bring mine over to the 'puter so they can see what they should be doing. My Tsangii buds should open in the next day or 2, wish I had a camera.

Hi guys! Just a little update that I'm very happy about! The wood stain arrived today (the sanding paper and top coat haven't yet, but should by the end of this week). I had just about enough sanding paper to really sand one of the drawers to perfection so I did a test on it with the stain... and the colour I picked is really close to the original! It's still a tiny bit more orangey, but overall I'm super pleased. I took the pictures 20min after painting so I don't think it's completely settled yet, and it still needs that matte clear water based topcoat, so it's not the final colour/finish yet. Just very happy I haven't ruined this piece and will be able to restore it to my liking :) Sanded, new stain, original (it looks more orange on the picture.. in real life it's almost indistinguisable)