I agree with luis.....leave it alone. I am remembering sometime about 7 years ago, a hosta loving friend brought over to my house several "chunks" of Antioch in a 5 gallon plastic bucket sometime in early July. I was leaving town for 2 weeks the following day, for sure didn't have time to plant them....didn't even know what Antioch WAS....and tossed a bit of bark mulch into the bucket, added a little water and got on the big bird and flew away! When I returned, there was water in the bottom of that bucket, the bottom of the hosta roots were sitting in 2 inches of water, and the "cut edges, where the root ball had been sliced with the knife were all sprouting 2 inch long roots. I planted them and they BOUNCED out of the ground the following spring and have been moved and divided several times since. Water and TLC is better for hosta then digging and messing with the roots.....but even if you do they will survive....if the Voles don't get them! Linda C

This looked so festive. I have always wanted to "do" pretty table, but year after year we eat off of disposables due to the number of us and the work. I have a set of china (not expensive) but one that my parents bought me in a whole set when I got married 36 years ago. I had registered a nice set of pottery at that time because it was more practical. We enjoyed it for many years. Since so many of my friends had registered both china and pottery, my Mom wanted me to have some. My set came from Montgomery Wards and is a service for 12. I think I have used it once. I vow to use it this next year some. I have been on a binge since Christmas to buy some pretty tablecloths and napkins. I have found some awesome deals and will try my hand at some tables. (But, I am not really creative.) I just love looking at all the tablescapes here, I have been so envious of all the pretty dishes and the variety of them. I don't have a clue of where I would store more. But, tonight it hit me that I could pick up only two or maybe some in sets of four and have a variety. It is just DH and me at home, except that DD (adult) is living with us at the moment. Betty, I was in CVS today and saw those blue snowman, snowflake dishes. They are adorable. I may just have to go and pick up a few tomorrow. Also, if you have a Kroger in your area, check them out. Ours has glassware that is clear and has blue and white snowflakes. I saw them a couple of days ago and they had a lot and they were cheap. However, I don't have anything blue. Now, I realize that I could pick up a nice set of dishes between there and CVS. Thanks for the inspiration. I also have a set of holiday dishes I got last year at the Salvation Army TS and some more at a church TS. They are both white and feature a Christmas tree in the center. They don't match, but do coordinate. I didn't even unpack them this year, but I will do so next year. I know have tablecloths and napkins for them. You ladies rock!

Hi Rosemary, I am sorry that you are feeling rather isolated from your young ones. It sounds as though they are either in process of, or on the verge of, getting more and varied responsibilities. As you realize, and a number have said, even the nearby ones sometimes don't visit a lot, though there are more opportunities of seeing the grands (even if for babysitting). And one can get a fleeting glimpse of them from time to time. Rosemary, do you find that you sit at home quite a lot? Don't sort of stew in your own juice, I hope. Have you found some social, church, sport, community, etc. functions where you can meet new friends? How about some volunteer activities? There are many people who find it hard to get around, or are lonely, who would apprciate a friend. In our area they have organized a goup of younger seniors who help some older ones do chores in their home, to permit them to live there longer. There's Meals on Wheels in a number of areas, and driving people dealing with cancer for treatment, etc. We've heard of Big Brothers and Big Sisters but I haven't heard of Big Grannies (Oh! Oh! I think I made a boo-boo!) but many families with children have the Grands at a long distance, so could use some substitutes. When we were in Korea, our children used to call a number of the other unrelated adults Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank. Our chilfren's mother was head of food service in major hosp. for 20 years and I overseas missionary for several years, parish clergyperson, liberal protestant, for a number of years, then a personal financial advisor for several. Our children were taught by both parents to choose their own way, and I've often said that it seems to me that one of my main jobs as a parent is to help my offspring prepare themselves for independence. Two children, both in their 40s, no grands. My daughter is rather footloose. She spent a year in Hamburg near the end of H.S. (2nd last?) and later a recent German immigrant, initially speaking German to me, thought that daughter spoke it so well that she'd learned it at home. She spent a few years in AZ a few years ago, then was connected to a S O 120 mi. away for several years, but now breaking up and she's moving to back to AZ - planning to buy a place and taking her stuff with her. So helping her move the last of it to storage on Sunday was rather bittersweet. Serious business. Bachelor son lived in Toronto, 120 miles away, for several years, and here in London for a number of years recently, and we have spent quite a lot of time together. He hasn't had a driving licence and I've driven him around quite a bit in rcent years. He'll be getting his licence back soon. Their mother died in this city about three years ago and they were busy for some time disposing of her assets and selling her home. I've always felt rather close to daughter (her mother and I parted when she was 6, son was 9). AZ is a long way away. I've done some long distance driving, going 1,600 mi. from here through U.S. to Sask. several times. But I'm nearing 80, and my son is making objecting noises about my idea of driving 1,600 mi. out there for family reunion at brother's farm in July. Would also like to visit former colleagues in British Columbia, and son doesn't like that idea. Also have some idea of visiting NC (former overseas workers' reunion) and GA (niece's family) at the end of July. Daughter is thinking of attending family reunion at my brother's in Saskatchewan in early July, I said maybe get one way ticket, we drive her home to AZ, then I head for NC. Son doesn't like that idea, either. This business of his vetoing my major travel is a new thing. So I am feeling rather bereft at the idea of "losing" daughter. We call back and forth and send emails. I have an old computer but may upgrade to one that will allow me to have a mike and webcam. But, living in the country and unwilling to use satellite, I am confined to landline and am not sure whether webcam works on that. M a y be sl o w m o t i o n! Rosemary, I hope that you find ways to alleviate some of the sadness and emptiness (empty nest syndrome?) that have been part of your experience lately. And not just some sort of stop-gap alleviation, but some ways of operation which will prove increasingly satisfactory over the long term. ((((((Rosemary)))))) ole joyful

Ooooh, pretty colors! I may need to head back to SW. Got a call tonight, the couch is arriving with the chair a week from tomorrow. I'm going to continue to investigate all suggested colors and get more chips. Then hopefully once the furniture is here it will be easier to pick! I need to focus on getting a closet system in the living room closet so I can clear some floor space this weekend for the furniture, but I will try to post a few of the suggestions with the suggested color swatches after I get some chips to look at. Thank you for all the great suggestions! More are welcome...