Hi Everyone, I'm still a newbie at winter-sowing and gardening in general. I was very pleased with the winter-sowing results, lots of colors, especial with the annuals, and happy with my containers too. I will start winter-sowing later at the end of February, maybe I'll put a few containers soon with some poppies and columbines again, just to satisfy my winter-sowing craving. This year I want to do it right, so I'm checking all seeds for the right time to sow them. Unfortunately there are so many that needs warm only to germinate, that probably I will end up taking some time off from work, just to sow them all in April. About planting them in the garden, that's going to be another vacation. LOL Marcia, so far I received Veseys Bulbs Advance Sale, and their seed catalogue, Dominion-Seed-House, William Dam Seeds, and Stokes. I went overboard ordering bulbs from Veseys, and I'm working on my shopping cart at Gardens North. I want to be ready to order next year when they will have 50% off in April.

Thanks for all your sweet comments everyone. To answer a few questions. The area is our hay field in the back ground. The family still owns 100 acres behind our home. No water close by. These tall lillies have never had any real TLC so it must be the breed. I counted the one red one and theres at least 150 blooms on it. I'm so sorry to hear about the leaf beetles. We just had rain for almost 24 hours so that should bring things to life around here. Wish I had more time to chat with all of you fun ladies but I sure enjoy jumping on here late in the evening and seeing all the beautiful yards. Punk

You all are great! I am so glad this forum is here. I've been sewing since the 4th grade when my grandparents spent $200 on each grandchild with something that would invest in their future and that meant a Kenmore machine for my and my female cousin! And then 20 years ago I had a B.S. teacher offer to show anyone interested how to make a log cabin baby quilt. I had an infant at the time and it was so fun to find something creative to do. I've stuck with fairly simple quilts since I'm impatient and would rather have it done and move on to the next one, but hopefully have built some skills along the way. Life and circumstances completely affect my quilting - I'm either tempted to 'hide' in my quilting since it is simpler than dealing with people, or I can be so weighed down with situations that it saps my interest in quilting. I always try to keep people first, quilting second and cleaning is a distant third! I love that at the end of a project there is something to show for it - I hate cleaning because in 30 min. it can look like nothing ever happened! Okay, closing down the essay! Karlene

I seldom visit here this forum and why I'm here today I was looking for aprons. Seen this thread and I visited. I hardly ever sew anymore, fingers don't work well on fine details and close quarters. However...... Enjoyed Annie's story on her recent 50th anniversary Project. Good for you. I was never good at sewing anythink unless I had a pattern and lots of instructions, even tho I sewed alot for myself and daughter. Your story Annie took me back to my Mom who was a great seamtress. She could look at a piece of material and visualize it made up somehow. She could take 4 patterns and fit into one pattern, or even make her own patterns. My mind just never worked that way. One story she told that back in Depression Time, her Mother who worked at a Department Store in Detroit Michigan sent her two mens sale suit she got for almost nothing. Mother took them apart, make my two older brothers each suits consisting of nickers, coat and a matching hat. Her mother-in-law (my other grandmother) ask her where did those boys get those outfits?, (knowing there were no extra money to buy something like that) Mother said "I made them from sale suits Mom sent down" Grandma Bill said, "I should have known" My two cents helping to keep this forum ALIVE!! I'll see if I can visit here more even if I don't sew much anymore. Shirl