HI,all! This is my first time posting myself. James ususally does it. Granny we will be bringing some of the Gold Nuggets Lamium with us. Allison we should have a few starts if your friend wants some. It is gold with a white stripe down the middle and has I think pinkish purple flowers. It stays nice all winter. We got the original from Franklin Park Conservatory. Bev James doesn't remember bringing that type of tomato. The poppies and lavender sound good to me. We have been out potting and weeding this morning. We have ready to go... golden tiara hostas bressingham blue hosta stilletto hosta un named varieties of hosta centuria montana zebra grass dwarf zebra grass gold nuggets lamium anne greenaway lamium lilacs(white) ostrich ferns japanese painted ferns vinca minor varigated stargazer lilies crimson pixie lilies crimson pirate daylily and probably a few more things. We have a small swap in Stasburg the week before. I also sent the swap info to my brother who had some people from his church interested. Can't wait to see you all... Michelle

Good morning! I've RECEIVED!! :) My super box from Shirley! In my MOM was: C: Candy: Jolly Rancher Bites...the kids LOVE these!! Columbine: Pink/White Cleome: Pink...THANK YOU! Mine fizzled out this spring :( late frost...now I can start again AWESOME! Cards, handmade by Shirley, of course! I love your cards! You are so talented!! A: A pack of 4'O Clocks :) R: Roses..these are going right out in my ceramic container the kids made me for mother's day. I've been trying to get to the store to put some flowers in there...and here they are! :D O: OOOHHH BOY! Life Savers..Right up there with CHOCOLATE in my book! Terrific! L: Lint Roller, lol! How did you know...piggy hair is very sticky :) F: Magnet Picture Frame...I just, and I mean, just yesterday, went and bought one of these for Taylor to put the boys picture in her locker. This morning Billy wanted me to put his picture in a frame to do the same thing...YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER!! LOL!!! life saver...see 'O' :) Shirley also included a beautiful hand made card for me, and one for my mom. I won't open her's, but, I just know she'll be so tickled you thought of her. THANK YOU!! Zackey, the iris' names are written on the leaf and I hope the daylily made it there okay too. "S" Strawberry Candy Daylily...lol! It bums me a little to think the box was open :( This was such a super fun swap! Thank you Shirley for having such creative and fun ideas for us... YOUR AWESOME!! Have a super day!! vina

Today is an absolutely beautiful day!! Not a cloud in the sky. There is a nice breeze and the temps are in the 60s. Hard to believe that just yesterday, there was water, water and more water everywhere. I ran errands today and saw lots of remnants of the flooding. Gravel and mud on roads, water still laying in low spots, creeks running over their banks, and lots of hillsides with furrows and water still running down them. But we are supposed to have nothing but sunshine for the next 5 days, so hopefully everything will dry up. Our electricity did go out last night for 2 1/2 hours, but I curled up with some candles and some crossword puzzles and passed the time. All I had were scented candles though, and I was burning 3 different scents upstairs and DH was burning a 4th scent downstairs. The combination made a rather unique odor though and I was getting slightly nauseous by the end of the night! LOL QOD - Once. I had just graduated college and was working as a store manager in the mall (I majored in Fashion Merchandising). The district manager and I didn't see eye to eye on something and I mouthed off to her. I was subsequently let go (big surprise - lol), but maintained that it wasn't my fault. Of course, the adult in me now knows that I was completely wrong and had every right to be fired, but my pride wouldn't let me admit that then. I have been doing a program by Prevention Magazine called, Firm Up in 3 Weeks. I have walked 20 out of the last 21 days and either lifted weights or done Pilates 20 of those 21 days. I have eaten sensibly, snacked on healthy foods and even splurged occasionally on "Indulgent Treats", and I can say I never felt deprived or hungry. I slipped into a pair of jeans today without using a shoe horn and I feel great. The program was designed to be done for 3 weeks and then can be modified to fit one's needs or even repeated for another 3 weeks or as long as needed to reach one's goals. I am going to continue the sensible eating (I like having my food choices laid out for me) and will continue to walk 4-5 days a week and do weights and Pilates as often as I can so I can maintain. I loved SSing when I first started, but I just couldn't get back to basics again. I tried over and over again to get back the momentum I had when I first started SSing, but it just wasn't there. With this program, I am eating more carbs, but I am making sure they are whole grain carbs. I am eating nuts, peanut butter, honey and some sugary treats but all in moderation. The book lists hundreds of options for meals, healthy snacks and "indulgent treats" and I can always find something to eat that satisfies me. I tried to stay away from sweets while SSing, and I always ended up eating something "illegal" and going on a binge afterward. Then the whole cycle started over again and each time it was harder and harder for me to get back on the wagon. But I think I have finally found my "groove" with this program from Prevention. I'll post the link to the book in case anyone is interested in taking a closer look. Later, Marci Here is a link that might be useful: Prevention Magazine's

Dear Ilene, I am very sorry to hear about your mother and know how sad and difficult it must be for you. I also recently lost my mother and my mother in law. I think that your mother would have wanted you to have any money that she had remaining, and if you need it for something or simply want to spend it on yourself, I think she would like that. My mother also liked angels. If you want to, pick out a pretty one that you think she would have liked. You can use it to think of her and have it to remind you of her when you look at it. I have an angel that I put outside in the garden (my mother loved gardening) in a sort of peaceful spot. When I look at it, I think of my mother and it is comforting because it is in such a quiet spot. Robin