Thanks, Michael. I have remembered that you've mentioned that before for sandy soils and have been thinking about adding it into those beds. I think I read that someone has been using "nitrogen-enriched" kitty litter with good success. Do you know a reason why that's not a good idea? It seems like it would be a source of cheap nitrogen, anyway. Rosefolly, as I've looked at the nutrient availability chart related to pH there's something else that happens with boron at high pH. I think I understand that at low pH plants uptake too much boron but at high pH boron become inaccessible so you get a deficiency. But I don't quite understand because at pH 9 and above it looks like it uptakes well again. Here's a link to one of those pH nutrient-availability charts. Thanks for the birthday wishes! Here is a link that might be useful: pH nutrient chart This post was edited by harborrose on Thu, Sep 19, 13 at 20:34

A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

bp, thank you so much for your offer to help. You are not going to believe this but I got it to work. I just kept working at it, clicking here and clicking there until it worked. This may not be an accomplishment to those of the computer generation but I'm of the older age group (TV didn't even come along until I was about 9ys old) so this has been an experience for me. Just in case you want to know (although this may not have been the way to go about it) I opened my 'Sermon' file on the desk top and right clicked on the last one I'd downloaded, I went down to 'Properties', clicked and then clicked on the second tab, 'Summary' and renamed it in the top line, clicked ÂapplyÂ. Then tested it, by moving it to the MP-3 screen and from there to the player............. Does that make any sense to you, or did I go about it the long way? My player is a Samsung 2GB YP-U3. I don't know what software we have, I'd just click on the 'download' button on the site my church has posted. Here is a link that could probably tell you more than I've just rambled on about. http://www.livethecall.org/blog/ Once again, thank you for your time. Margaret.

Love the MCM vibe you seem to be aiming for, but I agree that leather is a great solution for dogs and young (as well as us older) people. Depending on the quality, finish & color, I've had leather wear well for decades. I'm not wild about having the TV face the front door so I'd consider placing it between the windows where the sofa currently resides, having the loveseat remain where it is with a console table behind it, placing the larger sofa on the original TV wall with enough space behind it for a low book shelf perhaps, and adding two small swivel MCM chairs or two rockers or a combination of the two styles flanking the FP so that you have conversational grouping and can opt for FP gazing. Pulling furniture away from walls invariably helps ground even very small spaces. This placement encourages multi-usage of your living space, and you can use your existing furniture until you find the more or less perfect replacement pieces over time. Since you like MCM, try to find vintage as the construction is almost always vastly superior to what is available today, across nearly the entire budget spectrum except for the truly high end. If that placement appeals to you, then my preference would be to bury the wires in the wall and hang the TV above the dresser. If for some reason you prefer to rest it directly on the dresser that can work as well, but try to hide all the cables and wires in a chase. They typically sell these cable chases at big box stores though you may find a better price one line. As far as a mantle, since your FP can be appreciated from your DR also, if you add any mantle you might consider a wrap around one. Frankly though, since the space appears small and you have young people who might energetically use the area, I'd be more than a bit worried about someone smacking her/his head on a projecting mantle. It is appropriate for MCM FPs like yours to not have a mantle but still have art of some kind (Jere style metal sculptures or more typical canvases) displayed 5' or so above the floor. Once you have the seating layout figured out, you will have a better idea of the type and style coffee table. Some unexpected MCM shapes such a a free- form kidney (which may have one length straight) or other non-right-angles geometric shapes may help soften the room. I'd be inclined to wrap that mirror in some lively and lighthearted colors and patterns even if just done as a temporary treatment that can be changed at whim. (Pullog's beautiful whimsical kitchen tile comes to mind. You can wander over to the kitchen forum and search to see if that appeals.) Lots of us GWers know that Ebay, Goodwill and estate sales may provide the perfect furniture solutions with a very high-end value at a reasonable budget but it requires a bit of patience to find your bliss as pieces are usually acquired over time. That's a great solution as it allows your vision to expand over time. Enjoy your new home!