In Central Illinois- usually only see a few towhees the whole summer and have never seen them in the winter. There must have been a small flock of them that spent their days under the feeders in the yard this past weekend. Really enjoying all the photos.

I just got off the phone with my folks. They are all for our get together at their house. So the date is set for Feb. 10 in Naples. I was thinking about 11AM to start. How about instead of going to a restaurant we get some food from Boston Market. My Dad said they just had a dinner to go for 4 with plenty of food for about $25 so the cost wouldn't be too bad when divided by how many of us are there. Or we could order some pizzas. Just want to keep it simple and no work for anyone. If this is alright with everyone I will get the paper plates and other things that we would need. I will also need to know what everyone likes to drink ahead of time so I can get that also. Joan I asked my Dad about having someone stay in their motorhome in the driveway and he said they can't do that in Naples. He said there is a WalMart not far from his home where folks stay overnight. Hope that would work for you and Kenny if you can come. Gazania, my Dad has Post Polio and understands about the steps. He said he could have a ramp made and was very concerned about your comfort. I am sure everyone will love my folks. They are in their 80's and very outgoing people. You will also get to meet my son, Shannon, as he will be there for my Dad's 87's birthday. I am really looking forward to this and hope you all are too. Please contact me at runvswing@hotmail.com to get directions and also phone numbers you will need. If there are any questions I will be happy to answer them as best as I can.

I am so tired tonight but still want to ask for prayers and hugs. The week before we came down, I had four days of extreme pain with an infected tooth which was removed the day before we flew down. Morning of our departure we had 12 inches of snow and had a difficult time getting out. Wait, you have not heard it all. Got here, happy to be out of the snow belt. Tooth thing really good but get a cough and cold. After two night of not much sleep, go to a doc. He gave me the wonderful codeine cough thing and an antibiotic for the rest. Wake up next morning with my face twice its size. Allergic reaction or drug interaction - I had told the doc down here that I had been off of another antibiotic for only three days. He said not problem. I guess it was. So, off of the new antibiotic (duh!) and onto prednisone and benedryl - I could have done my own diagnose on this one. That was Fri. Sat and Sun were horrible but not nearly as horrible as Monday. Monday am, hubby comes into family room and does not look good. Tells me there is something not right. I have my hand on the phone to 911 - I know he has had a stroke! The paramedics were here within 15 minutes. 6 of them! I will tell you I was so scared for my DH. DH spent almost the entire day in ER, doing tests, being observed. The docs and nurses and assistants were wonderful. Finally saw the neurologist at about 5 in the aft. He had seen all of the immediate test results and had confirmed stroke. It was in the lobe which affect speach and fine motor control - a nasty one for an attorney to have. However, no cognitive harm. He has done remarkably well in the last 24 hours and we are confident that he will continue to improve though it will take work. He has already stared with a speach therapist (I love her) and will have therapy for fine motor control. He has no problem with walking - we walked the entire hospital this aft. so tired tonight - drove home through an amazing storm with close to zero visibility. Amazing to look out the balconey toward Miami at this hour and see the lightning stikes-the entire sky lights up. I am on Marco, BTW and I am going to bed. MK

No one can keep "weeds", unwanted plants, from growing mostly because Ma Nature does not like her soil left uncovered and exposed to the ravages of the sun, wind, and rain. "Weed barriers" can stop "weeds" from growing from the soil, but they will not stop newly seeded unwanted plants from germinating and growing and since those seeds come onto your property via birds, the wind, and wild animals you will have a difficult time stopping that process. Mulches, properly applied, can help with unwanted plant control but are not the total means of control some would tell you because mulches may provide a good bed for those plants to germinate and grow in. In a discussion about mulches with someone yesterday I told them that materials such as wood chips are quite dense and would block unwanted plant growth if laid down at 3 to 4 inches rather than the 6 to 8 inched something like straw would require. However this person will be getting many bales of straw, free, so what to use is not in question. An article in an issue of Fine Gardening magazine on the results of a 9 year study of mulches by two researchers at Michigan State University would be worthwhile looking up at your library. kimmq is kimmsr