In 1910, my great grandfather and all his children except his first born who had already married and had a family in Warrick Co., In, left Indiana for eastern Colorado. There, some 10 - 12 families homesteaded. My grandfather stayed for two years to help his father and mother, then headed back east to marry a little brown eyed lady he had met in Illinois when the family visited with other family before getting on the train for colorado. His sister married my grandmother's brother, so two of the families were double cousins, a shared life and closeness that still holds even for the last few still alive. In due time, he and my grandmother had their own homested. There were few trees, no lumber, houses were block and soddy, or imported wood. 180 acres, so even though they were family, they were not close. All my growing up years, my dad talked of his life on the prairie, growing up and loving it until the dust bowl years hit. He told of prairie dogs, hawks, sickness and quarantines, isolation with no Drs., crops that failed, snow so deep they tunneled to the barn to feed the stock, going barefoot in summer until their feet were so tough they could kick catcti, of driving a team of horses to make lister rows at age 7, of the Drs house that was so small they moved the beds out during the day so they could cook and eat inside; then moved them back inside at night; of riding familiar trails between the family farms at night; of ice cream socials, and cattle drives. There were 2 daughters and 8 sons in due time. My grandparents clung to the sand until there was little left on which to make the trip back to Illinois. Only one great aunt and her husband remained, and in time they purchased all the family land as one large cattle ranch. We visted now and again for family reunions while my dad was alive. Part of the entertainment would be a caravan of trucks traveling old roads long since abandoned, to see tiny little houses, sand blasted, desolate, that were 'home'to this family or that. Once I found a rattlesnake under a sage bush, ripped apart by a badger...reminders that we were interlopers there. We would return white with alkali dust, and memories sparked that would be the conversation for the rest of our time together. My grandparents did finally build a big 2 story house with room enough for all the kids, but it was part of what had to be left behind. It still stands, and all the brothers and sisters did go see it, once knocking on the door and introducing themselves and being made welcome. Even though they are not my memories, my dad's stories of his childhood were part of my childhood, a part of him always wanted to go back to stay. I can go back, find the house, visit with the cousins on the ranch, and be made welcome, but its just as well that it always be a memory.

Plantermunn What a stroke of luck to find at a garage sale, huh? And it sounds very much like something I could use. I'll keep an eye out for one. And Ezzirah.. girl, I NEED a couple of those tools they have there. Thank you! When I get paid, I'm looking forward to getting me three items. I thanked them profusely and asked them for a catalog hoping they have more, but no, just what's online. I did have a chance to peruse the accessibility forum. I really love the spirit of some of those gardeners have - especially those in chairs. Wow! There I found a few more ideas, but not as good as these were. :) Mostly, I was reminded to plan ahead while building this garden of mine; keep things level and plan for accessibility with crutches or wheel chair. It would be pathetic to build it and need to restructure it later. So, I should start now. Mostly, I think the raised beds (3 foot or more) got the best reviews for accessibility.

Please use the new posted list, thanks.

Please use the new rose list, thanks. Ron. S