Another fiori di Sicilia fan. Add it to your sweet dough recipe (1/4 to 1-2 teaspoon) and make cinnamon rolls with it. Instead of topping the dough with cinnamon/sugar, use a very thin coat of orange marmalade. To go along with fiori di Sicilia, I'd also recommend the European Candied Orange Peel. When I make a recipe from the Kansas Wheat Commission - 100% Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies - I add 1/4-1/2 t. fiori di Sicilia plus finely chopped European Candied Orange Peel. Both are "secret" ingredients others can't duplicate. I'd also suggest the Pain de Mie (Pullman) Pan with Lid. Make your own square loaves of sandwich bread. -Grainlady

Posted by Toomuchglass: Every Christmas I end up giving out a few Gift certificates - but I HATE just handing a plain old envelope to the person. Do you have any creative ways to "wrap" one ? **My one & only creative wrap job was a plastic soda bottle with the certificate & irridized easter grass in it.** I'm just not creative when it comes to wrapping ! Posted by Red_Confetti: I've seen a pop-up card with a hand inside into which you can put money (or a folded up gift certificate). Of course you could make the hand with a man's dress suit sleeve and shirt cuff showing, or a lady's wrist with jeweled bracelet, etc. When you open the card, the hand swivels up (or out, can't remember which) with the 'gift' in it. Posted by Sewbeit: I have used Mylar balloons from the dollar store. Just cut the opening larger to accomodate the gift card, fill with air and seal up with a small rubberband. I have also recycled Mylar balloons for this purpose. Attach a ribbon and Voila' - it's different. Laura Posted by Toomuchglass: I'll tell you the Creative ways I got gift certs --- maybe this can get your creative juices flowing to think of more ways! (1)Certificate Inside a jar of pennies that was glued so tightly shut that I couldn't get it open !! (2) I got money once ... it was $10 worth of quarters rolled up in a strip of masking tape .... (3) A gift certificate really well sealed in saran wrap -- inside a jar of jelly .. (4) A gift certificate inside the biggest wrapped box inside of the Big Box--a Smaller box--and an ever smaller box -- then the tiniest box .. there was the certificate inside ! Posted by Red_Confetti: *Roll up the gift certificate and slide it inside a balloon. Inflate the balloon and tie off (certificate will be visible inside balloon), along with a few other balloons. Use the balloon bouquet to decorate a wrapped box. Inside the box is just a (straight sewing) pin to use to pop the balloon to get the gift certificate. *Carefully open the bottom of a box of Cracker Jacks. Put gift certificate inside plastic bag and place inside with crackerjacks. Reseal bottom. Gift wrap the box. *Slip gift certificate into plastic sandwich bag. Carefully open box of cereal that usually has a surprise or toy. Reseal bottom. Gift wrap the cereal. Posted by chinacat_sunflower: my favorite trick is to use the gift card as a book mark- a Home Despot card in a home repair book, an Icky Vicky's card in a bodice-ripper, one for a restaurant in a cook book... sometimes, they're so thrilled with the book that I get a phone call several days later to the effect of 'I didn't even notice the card until today- it was like getting two birthdays!' Posted by LoganHogan: This isn't as great as the others mentioned but every year I recycle the Christmas cards I've received. I buy the craft bags at Dollar tree, ETC and hot glue the the card front to the bag then I attach a really nice handmade bow that could be put on a wreath etc. I've used small cards on small bags with gift certificates and I usually included a new christmas ornament too. Susan in Bama

Thanks, NHBabs. I made two trips to Bluestone's retail nursery this fall and their clematises appeared in good shape overall. I picked up Rhapsody and Rouge Cardinal.

Thanks Sam !! What a bargain . I’m going to get a small one for myself and try plum perfect again for sure . I accidentally killed one here giving it fertilizer in 100 degrees and it was a band ! Lol yikes . Should know better but guess not !