Thank you, Laura... such wonderful sentiments! :-) Our weather has been crazy, too... but we half expected it. Last year, we were already laying out soaker hoses and starting to water...and this year, we've gotten so much rain that we're completely saturated! We're just now able to get in and cut grass, and talk about tall! It's hard on the mowers, I'm sure, but what can you do?! If it's grass, it has to be kept mowed at least semi-regularly... and if it's garden beds, they must be kept weeded or the grasses, thistles and other nasties take over! So, we're darned if we do and darned if we don't! Mother's Day was nice... calls from my kids, and the husband made a nice dinner... while I spent the day relaxing, for the most part. There are certain chores that must be done regardless of what day it is, like cleaning and feeding dogs and other animals, but that's no big deal... I have it down to a science! ;-) I finally got the old guy to help me get photos off my camera, so I thought I'd share a few this morning... Here's a mama and her twins... My very best mouser... I call her Vixen! The next generation of excellent mousers... one of Vixen's 3 little ones... Walking from the shade garden area toward the new rose arbor... A young Peony Tree in the dappled shade garden... notice the rambler rose runners everywhere on the ground! Closeup of the flower from the Peony Tree... Another Peony Tree in the front yard... north side... And this is a Trillium that opened white and is turning a pale pink shade. It's among a patch of purple flowered hybrid Trillium I planted several years ago... you can see the mottled leaves of the hybrid... I didn't plant the white one, though... And finally, the first of the Irises are starting! I hope you enjoyed a walk around the yards with me... stick around as all the roses begin blooming and other perennials begin to color the gardens a wonderful rainbow of scented color! Thanks, Al... I can finally view Youtube, but the monitor I'm using has no sound on board... for a girl with a technological genius as a husband, I'm always the last to get upgraded! Would you believe I'm still using Windows XP?! I desperately need an upgrade to Windows 7, which should be coming shortly... when he has time to upgrade me. :-) It's kind of like being the plumber with the leaky toilet handle that sticks, or the barber that doesn't have time to cut his own hair... when you're in the business, you're last in line! :-) It looks to be another gorgeous day... sunny and hot with strong humidity... I may spend some time weeding and edging today, instead of killing myself cutting grass! Hope everyone has a lovely day! And... Happy Gardening!

My Wonderful MIL visited every yr. She had just arrived when my DD ran up to her & said, "Grandma, why is your hair blue?" I didn't know what to do & she grabbed my hand & said" is it?" I had to tell her it was,she asked if I would help her pick a proper color as she didn't want her GK's to be embarrassed. I wanted to cry!!!! I went right up to beauty supply & we redid her hair & she was pleased! She told me if she was doing anything else that didn't look right to tell her & I told her she was just fine & reason I didn't tell her about the blue hair was she was great MIL with any color hair or no hair for that matter!! She told me her hairdresser had talked her into it. She was best MIL ever!!! I really miss her! About kids, I taught 2 yr old kids & we were supposed to talk about Jesus dying on the cross. I told the elder I couldn't teach that to 2 yr olds as they would just get confused. He didn't think so. I said I would test them & see. I asked them what it meant to die. Little girl said, I know, it's what my mom does. I said OH,tell me about it. She said, Well, she takes a bottle of smelly stuff & makes an awful mess of her hair & when it gets washed off it's supposed to be pretty but sometimes it isn't! Another said that is what people do in movies until the next 1 & then they are OK again. They deceided that 2 yr olds were too young to teach about dying.Jan

You're probably pressing all the gas from the dough. Aren't holes in bread formed from gas? Try this recipe. Makes a great Chiabatta type bread. No Work Bread "...adapted from an adaptation of Jim LaheyÂs at Sullivan Street BakeryÂs No Knead Bread recipe...." and yes, the 1/4 teaspoon yeast is the correct amount of years. 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour ¼ teaspoon instant yeast 1¼ teaspoons salt 1 5/8 cups warm water 1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. 2. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees. And yes, the 1/4 teaspoon yeast is the right amount. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. 4. After 18 hours punch down the dough and transfer to a large bowl coated with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Flip dough over so itÂs covered with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise for about two hours. 5. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Dough may be stuck to the bowl so use a spatula to loosen it from side of bowl. [don't do anything to the dough like knead it, punch it or shape it!!!!] Then slide dough into pot. Dough may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 10 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned to your satisfaction. Cool on a rack. Yield: One 1½-pound loaf. This bread is as good as any you can buy from a bakery; great crust with a light and holey interior similar to Ciabatta .

caroline, Thanks for the chuckle I enjoyed them! Red