Ok Jan, I'm no complete expert but I do know a little bit about this, and I had a feeling the answer to your question was a little bit more involved than just "plant this." The reason is, one plant isn't going to control erosion, it takes a mix of plants at a mix of heights. One aspect of erosion control is stopping the rain from ever hitting the ground. Trees and shrubs are most effective at that. Then there's covering the ground, but also a network of deep and shallow roots that knits the soil together. Your best long term bet is a mix of trees, shrubs, and perrenials. Below is a really good Web site I found that explains the situation. It's written for CA, but the same principles apply to SC. Also, when I took a look at the size of the area we're talking about, I realized that your instincts are correct to think in terms of a mix, for aesthetics as well as functionality. Here's a quote: A planting can stop nearly all erosion and hillside movement in a landscape. The planting needs to be a mix of groundcovers, shrubs, trees, and perennials with the areas between plants(if there are any openings) covered with appropriate mulch and/or boulders. A varied planting is FAR more effective than a monoculture on a slope. Why? When you have a mixture of plants you have layers of vegetation that the rainfall will hit and when it finally hits the ground the force of it hitting the ground is much reduced. Generally the bigger the plant grows to, the deeper the roots. There are exceptions; pines and some manzanitas have shallow roots; you can use them within the planting but not as the total solution. Some of the pines (Pinus spp.) and manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) can grow on one foot of soil. If you only have a foot of soil on the slope this is VERY useful. If the soil is deeper, a mix of deep roots are needed to tie the top soil(s) to the bottom rock, but the top 1-2 feet of soil needs to be tied tightly together. The shallow rooted plants like monkey flowers (Diplacus spp.), Penstemons (Penstemon spp.), Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), sages (Salvia spp.) or some manzanitas do this well. Also, the type of mulch you use is important. Do not use compost, rice straw, hay straw, large chunks of bark, etc. A mixture of deep-rooted California native shrubs, and trees, mixed with shallow-rooted shrubs, and perennials, mulched and with no weeds, will control erosion on the slope. Why should you plant a California native plant community on the slope and not grass or ice plant! Because the native plants connect with each other underground, and the microorganisms that live in association with them produce tiny threads that ramify through the soil, coiling around particles of sand and clay and holding them, and also producing glue-like compounds to hold the soil particles. This interconnection, I guess you could think of it as a natural microorganism community underground living in cooperation with the plant community aboveground, which the grass and iceplant, and other alien plants do not possess, is why it is critical to plant California native plants in a spaced plant community to control erosion on a slope. Here is a link that might be useful: Simple erosion control for a hillside or garden slope

Ivamae, I am keeping you in my prayers.... I am still numb and just finding it so difficult to come to grips with losing my beloved husband.... I have a wonderful suppport system with my church family, but the crying just seems to come and go and I don't know how to get it to stop. I wrote this tribute to him that a friend of mine will read at the memorial service on Valentine's day.. ********************************************** It seems like such a long time since yesterday When Bob was right here with us. Though growing old and sometimes struggling, He brought us so much cheer with his hugs, and little kisses of love But now as we stand upon this shore, We cannot trace the path Christ leads him down, We only know that since yesterday He sees his Savior's face. His first day home since yesterday! We wonder at that thought! One day we will know that special joy That moment must have brought him No clouds, no mists, no rain since yesterday, No pain, no questions, "Why?" Unshadowed now he sees the sun and time has passed him by. We miss him so since yesterday, Each memory rises up in our minds, And for just a moment he again is here alive. How we long to share & see his smile, And feel his special love�.. Yet, could we call him back again, To leave the delight of his soul?? To leave the gladness of the morning For one more pain filled night? Ah, no, we release him to the Lord, To let him go with joy, Because we will meet again one day and We would not want to take away the joy he's known since yesterday. We cannot deny the special gift the Savior had to give? For he who struggled so for life, has just begun to live! I am relieved that he is no longer in pain, but my selfish side wants him home with me again.... but one day we will be together forever... As for weighing, I have no idea, and I eon't really care right now.... I have no appetite, so my interest isn't on food.. but I eat to stay alive.. anf that's about it... Maybe I will have more to offer after this is all over and I can get back to som semblance of normalcy again.

Good Sunday Morning~~~weeeelllllllll, it's STILL morning in my part of the world! I had a really fun small dinner party last night with some friends---YES, I do have some friends-lol. They brought over the most delicious Greek tomato soup: ingreds included tomatoes (duh!), sweet potato, onion, chicken broth, and a buncha other yum stuff. I'm getting the recipe, but man, oh, man, it was SO good! They also brought Greek salad--she's from Greece, can you tell? Anyway, my contribution was marinated lamb shish-ka-Billy-Bobs (my own style!) with olive oil, pressed garlic, Emeril's meat seasoning, Zahatar (a spice from Israel I use frequently---VERY good!), then threaded cherry tomato, sweet malasian onion, and red sweet pepper chunks and then ovenized them at 350 for about 12-15 minutes. I served it with homeade tzatziki sauce. It turned out really nicely! For dessert, I had strained vanilla yogurt with Oregon bing cherries with Baklava my teens and I made. The guests ate the Baklava and sneaked into the kitchen and ate some more! Anyway, I just love when people appreciate food---it makes it so much more fun! We had a little champagne and a Chianti or so. We hadn't seen them in so long--about a month and a half!; it was a real celebration! I didn't do too much damage, as I kept my portions small and ate very slowly. Amy- I HAVE A DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA and I will tape EVERYTHING! (Veiled threat to all attending.) I'm glad you are enjoying the Perfect Man. For those who haven't seen him, he is a GQ-looking guy with a WHITE smile, carrying a rose, who says stuff like, "Thinking of you is the best part of my WHOLE day!", "You're perfect just the way you are; I wouldn't change one thing.", " Darling, take just as long as you want to get ready. I don't mind waiting one bit.", "I don't need sports to make me feel complete; just you by my side to love.", "This evening, let's just lie in bed and talk all night.", plus some other nuggets! The voice sounds like Casey Kasem. He's a cutie! Too bad about "Far Cry"--sounds bad. I've got one for you---Virtual Emeril----you run a restaurant, have to install a dishwasher, hire kitchen staff, figure budgets, deal with customers; I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!!!! I am sending the article on it to JOHN! DeeMarie: I'm dying to know what the Italian occasion was----SPILL! How many points did it cost ya? Did you use all your your flex points? Maddie!!!!!!! 10 pounds!!! OMG, girl! That's terrific! Are you doing a jazzy little jig about that? I would be! I won't recognize you in May if you keep on at that rate! Pilates tapes are at Target for 19.99, if you want to learn the moves before class....How did jury duty go???? Good luck on your office party---maybe invite everyone and put a funny legal disclaimer on the invite! How was the comedy show the other night? BTW, I just TOLD my DH about the stories about the engagement chicken and he started talking about a 10th year aniversary diamond, so WHOA! Does it work? Do bears like berries?????!!!!!!! What would happen if I actually COOKED it for him? LOL!!!!! NHSuzanne~ I'd go anywhere to meet you guys, but the state of Kentucky is a barrel of fun for girl parties! And throw in a horse farm tour! Raeanne: It hurt my feet to read your post! But it sounds like you had a great time. Now, GO SOAK! I have a lot of laundry to finish today. All my ironing is done though! I love to iron; so relaxing. My mom used to let me iron, beginning at age 5, and I remember I would starch the hell-k out of my dad's shorts and handkerchiefs! My mom must have had a beef with him when she let me do that. I'd use about a whole can of spray starch on his laundry! Patti! So glad to hear a ray of sunshine in the image of American Legion has come your way---it's about flippin' time you caught a beak. I'm am concentrating on a positive outcome here----three cheers are coming your way! (((((HUGS)))))) And good luck on your liver tests; stay calm and balanced. Has Dave been tested for auditory dyslexia? My friend's kid had it--he misinterpreted what everyone said to him. We thought he was doing it on purpose, but he wasn't. Besh: The tourist-in-your-own-town game is so much fun. I'm always amazed at what an area has to offer when I start looking! I wish I always had more time to enjoy the arts, nature parks, and other good stuff! I'm going to check out your link tonight. Hi Jen! Good to see you checking in----do you still love your new house? Hope your babies are getting better! Hi to all lurker and MIAS! I'm taking Marci's advice and chillin' today...after I mow my lawn and move a wood pile! Cheers!

You're not the only one, FlamingO!! In that very same Question of the Day, I posted that we bought our washing machine in January 1982, and I had bought the dryer in July 1971. Our laundry room is downstairs, and my "office" with my 'puter is upstairs, so there's no way my laundry appliances could know what was being said about them... Four days later the dryer decided that it would "air dry only" and no longer give out any heat... So, we did some online research to determine what we wanted to get to replace it, and finally went out and bought one. Set up a delivery day when we could be here... That night, after we bought the new dryer, I had to wash a load of underwear and socks. I figured I'd run them through the dryer on the air dry a couple of times to at least get them to the point where I could just aim my (hair) blow dryer at them to quickly finish the drying. Yep, opened up the dryer after the first cycle and the clothes were DRY. The dang thing decided to start working again! Hubs decided it must have been because it knew it was about to be replaced... Here is a link that might be useful: Question of the Day - January 12, 2008