Oh, Sandy, the heat is awful! I just came in after watering a few things. Just planted out my A. purpurescens, so keeping a close eye on them. The others haven't done too well, to be honest. I think the early heat wave that began in May has taken its toll on a lot of plants and people. I still have to plant a few but I am trying to wait until fall to do a lot of them. The A. variegata is just "hanging in" there for now, but this heat has intercepted any significant growth on a lot of my plants, except for the tropicals I am raising. Finally getting my first blooms on Night Blooming Jessimine (Cestrum nocturnum), which is said to attract the sphinx moths in droves. We'll see. Eric, I am also growing the tropical A. physocarpa, aka Oscar, aka Family Jewels, etc., and usually it attracts as well if not better than the A. curassavica. So, I was kinda surprised they hit the Tropical first. Ya just never know. :) I don't know, Sandy, about the drove of Monarchs. I just haven't seen it yet. But perhaps. I saw the biggest Red Admiral this morning I've ever seen. She had to be almost equal in size to a large QM. She's probably gonna lay eggs on the Boehmeria cylindrica. The early heat in May and the rain we've had seems to have caused an explosion in the insect population, too. Lots of predators out there, and the wasps are numerous. Are you experiencing the same thing? Susan

Just a quick note....well maybe not as all of my other posts have been quite windy! Luvs....so good to see you again! I am so glad that you are coping and at the "acceptance" level. While reading your post I thought about the change that are happening here at home. I am only 3 years younger than DH, but I am starting to notice small things, not major as you have, but just the "old age" things that creeps up on one. DH driving not quite as skilled as it once was, more "rest" time and the old "early to bed" thing. And I guess I am to be really truthful....I forget things and have a slower time with most everything, except sleep....never seem to be able to sleep through the night and I am just to darned stubborn to take a nap...waste of time and then I sleep less at night. Ah! Here I go getting long winded again! I have been using my Cricut and what fun. Can't wait for the show to be over and then I can really learn what it can do, I still haven't gotten the Design Studio to work, just not willing to take the time to figure it all out. Made the cutest little flowers that use a Tootsie Pop as the center, found the idea on YouTube and added a few touches, such as a green leaf. And with using scraps of paper I have on hand from bygone projects, they cost almost nothing to make so I can keep the price down so that kids can buy them. Do you all remember you allowance? Mine actually got up to,as I remember it, a dollar a week, then I was babysitting and making my own money and the allowance ended. That was really "back in the day" when an allowance was more of a gift than an it is now. Thanks for the pictures...love the "Uncle Sam," might try to do one..might not! But he really makes me smile and that is good. I actually thought Summer had arrived, we had two days of really beautiful, sunny, warm weather and now we are back to the rain.....will it ever stop raining? Gosh! I am complaining while so much of the country is underwater, how sad! I really do know what they are feeling, although our water came up and went down all in 24 hours, not staying around for weeks and weeks. I sure hope FM and Punk are doing well....I miss them! Guess we all have to take a "time out" once in a while. Gotta get with the painting thing.....gosh its almost fun! Doing a Santa by Chris Haughey in Q & E Dec 2010. Was leery about the lettering but it went smooth as cold butter on warm toast. The face is done and now working on the beard, so many base coats, maybe only 1 or 2 more. Everything else should go quicker. Do you paint the back when it will hang on a wall? I usually do the primary color, but what a waste of time and paint. Well, Santa won't paint himself...silly man! so I'd better get at it! Please take care! Belle

Good morning Sal, I have bought a couple issues of "Create & Decorate", but they usually have more stitchery and lots of Prim things (which I like, just don't really use much anymore) I subscribe to Quick & Easy Painting and Painting magazine. I always look at any Painting magazines that I happen to see, and will buy it if there are projects I really like. Seems like the ones I like best always end up going out of business! I usually look for "Crafts and Things" too, but don't have a subscription. Oh, and I'll buy a "Pack of Fun" if I see a cute pattern for pavers or something with flowerpots to make. I used to love "Country Marketplace", because they had good painting projects, but then all their patterns started to be Prim style too. Actually, I call myself a magazine "addict", but I am doing better about it now that I'm not working--trying to make those retirement dollars stretch! Ha ha Come on girl, you know you really want to paint something! Lots of good choices in that Dec. issue you just bought--go for it! Luvs

Thanks to all of you. I am delighted that you like the table and chairs. The mosaic around the umbrella pole base is something I did as the bricks were laid. I left some triangle shapes and then measured them and made a cardboard template. I then cut them out of 12 x 12 floor tile and mosaiced the backside of them. I really wanted those spokes so to speak to pick up the colors on the table. I am glad it is done because it makes me happy when I see it. Thanks again to all of you Carol Calamity- you just better get urself on down here. We are waiting for you.