Thanks guys...itÂs good to know that there are people that like me...even if I *am* a little wierd! ;-) LOL! V...are you tym tin me? :-) Guess itÂs only the right thing to do to stop and get *mom* (yea thatÂs the ticket) get *mom* some St. JosephÂs Day sweets! :-) LOL Cynthia...no that isnÂt mom...that *is* me, with my newborn son. Though, I remember at that time I felt *older* than my mom. Colicky babies cause sleep deprivation and I would literally pass out the instant my son would fall asleep! :-) Betcha T can probably relate to those dark circles; huh? Yes, how are those darling little twins doing? I bet they keep *you* and their mommy & daddy hopping. But, they sure are adorable; arenÂt they? :-) Sue I was so sorry to read about your insurance woes...but I give you all the credit in the world...I admire your strength and tenacity! Keeping positive thoughts that *everything* goes smoothly. ItÂs been cold here, but sunny...the snowdrops are blooming, daffs and tulips and other small bulbs starting to pop up. Cut the hellebores back yesterday and they are all full of fat flower buds! :-) Also cut down all the OGÂs....what a job! Has me thinking IÂm going to remove all but 2 of the miscanthusÂ...they are the messiest to work with. But keeping the panicums, calamagrostis, and the helictotrichons (even though they re-seed like crazy)...been cutting the flower heads off in fall and thatÂs helped. I will definitely try to pop in more often...itÂs been pretty hairy here and this week isnÂt much better. Mom has started the "day care"...we call it the "Senior Center" (more dignified, I think). Everyone there is great and mom seems to like it so far. And, I may be imagining it or wishing it, but I really think I see some improvement in momÂs alertness and verbal exchanges...there may be hope. Still waiting on her last set of tests. Tomorrow I take Scout in for x-rays. WeÂre pretty sure itÂs arthritis, but theyÂre doing x rays of his whole left side, his neck and left shoulder too. Want to see if there are arthritic changes or if there is a possible bone chip causing his pain...keep good thoughts for my baby! Well, gotta go...after I drop Scout off at 7:30, I tutor from 8:30 Â 09:30 and then meet Dottie at the track to *walk* (we arenÂt up to running yet):-)...so I've got to get to bed. IÂll try to write a proper post at Idyll 310. I know IÂve missed lots of things, including birthdays...Happy Birthday Honey!...Happy Birthday Chelone....Happy Birthday Ryan! Ei

Vala, those are really pretty! My mom used to make crocheted roses. She gave us (her daughters) bouquets of long stemmed red roses, and also birthday cakes (totally crocheted and life size) with roses on top. I'll have to get a photo and post it one of these days. I have two of the birthday cakes on the settee in our downstairs office.

Thanks Christopher. I like that when you and your wife designed your modular home you you put a lot of intentiality into making it easier for her to get around with her RA. That's another good thing about modulars and MH. The smart layout of MH is already designed for efficiency, making it easier for folks like me to get around with a walker. And if you're buying new, you can customise it for the needs of your disability. Some of the older ones have pretty narrow hallways, but there are always ways to get around that. I would venture to guess that it's less expensive to customise a MH than a stick built. I'll eventually need a ramp, and that won't be any cheaper, but I've seen pictures of some pretty neat designs for ramps that can be incorporated into the landscape. Is your wife able to navigate the stairs with your basement, or do you have a work around for that?

Sabbath if you look closely you can see the front penguin's head behind him - I think he's scratching! Oops, just had another look, I don't think that's his head, I think it's the wing from the other penguin. And about the fox, that's how they catch prey in the snow.