Apologizing profusely for being late in thanking the following for such pretty cards and seeds - Debby_1 - an old-timey Christmas tree with old-timey ornaments within white cameo on green - generous pack of pink impatiens and Pennisetum 'Purple Majesty', even though the envelope was only hanging together by 2 corners - looking forward to finch conniptions so much near a big pot of pink impatiens. NikkiNeel & Sarah Kate sent a cute home-made card with a snowman and Dwarf Blue Curled Kale seeds, so I can give next winter's snowman a green, ruffled hairdo heehee. He'll have red eyes from overdoing eggnog from seeds saved (hopefully) from Sunflower 'Prado Red' and eyebrows from seed saved from Sunflower 'Autumn Beauty'. Clitoria Double White (love white flowers so much) might lend a winter viney necklace from which to hang icicles. KatKni - On an embossed, cut-out card, Santa is walking down a snowy slope, with a red-capped songbird perched on a snow-laden evergreen, conversing with a toy clown and horse in a brown sack on Santa's back. The murky, dark purple of the hyacinth-bean vine, together with white lace flowers of Cilantro, will wonderfully complement the orange of Calendula and earlier brilliance of moss roses in my garden next summer. poisondartfrog - A 19th-century homestead opened up into an awesome treasure trove of seeds. I don't know what it is about color shadows on flower petals, but they fascinate me. Papaver somniferum "Giant Double Cream", "Impatiens scabrida, Helianthus 'Italian Green Heart', Mirabilis 'Lemon Swirl" & Tagetes 'Alumia Vanilla Cream' all involve blushes, specklings and swirls of palest yellow shadowing white petals that hopefully will delicately spread blazing deepest gold from Callistephus 'Princess Hilda' to a pale yellow gold dahlia. Agastache mexicana 'Champagne'' will catch a few glitters and Nasturtium 'Alaska Raspberry' will thread its way up through them with darker tones. There will be sky-blue in the vicinity from Blue Woodruff, Nemesia 'Aegian Sea', Viola 'Miniola Heart Aqua' and Platycodon 'Axminster Streak.'. Portulaca 'Happy Trails' will strew its gem-colors at their feet, and Datura 'Purple People Eater' will hulk over the entire ensemble making sure everyone minds their p's & q's. Earlier in the season, Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian; will lurk in tree shadows, and over a sunny, dry wall, pink Lavandula angustifolia 'Pink Elegance' will waft its scent down to passers-by. Well, obviously I'm not speechless, but I can't thank everyone enough for all the amazing, thoughtful cards and seeds they sent to me. I loved participating in this swap and hope to do it again next Christmas. ps - I sent 4 additional cards along with the others on 12/21 and hope they made it to where they were going.

Wow, Nancy! You really went all out, homemade bread and everything! Looks fantastic! I like your idea of using the bacon press for a weight. I am making mufulettas for Sunday, as I know many are. I have to drive to a markt 45 minutes away today to get mortadella, tho! Ah well, it will be worth it. Cathy, I do the same as you with the bread. I don't think there is a wrong or right, just personal preference. Linda

Well, I could start keeping a tally... 1. 1st batch of cupboards arrived Nov 07- list pages long of omissions and mistakes. 2. KG attempts to make OTF cabinet on his own- had to send it back, and have uncomfortable conversation about his lack of carpenter skills. We agree he will not attempt any more carpentry. 3. KG hires a carpenter in Jan 08 to make all the missing pieces and to trim and restain all the doors that don't fit properly (doors were 1/16" too wide). This takes several months instead of the two weeks carpenter promised- doors get trimmed, but no sign of crown molding or new cabinets or new doors. 4. Pullout shelves and drawers are delivered- plywood construction and stapled, instead of solid maple and dovetailed- make him take them back. Luckily KG had the proper specs written down on contract. 5. Crown molding gets delivered. 4 lengths 9 ft long. Doesn't give any room for error- since we're DIY, I'm worried about the consequence of DH making one cutting error. (Not to mention the cost of renting a compound mitre saw and a pneumatic nailer/air compressor, etc) Oh yeah, and it is NOT a shaker style like promised, but just regular, normal everyday CM (but in solid maple and stained correctly at least) 6. OTF cabinet gets delivered, veneer trim is wrong colour-(no doors, just the cabinet with dividers)- make him take it back on the truck. 7. OTF cabinet gets delivered- still no doors, and outside veneer right colour, dividers still wrong color- carpenter says it doesn't matter, doors will hide it- ironically, there are no doors! Make him take it back on the truck. Tell him not to bother delivering it until doors are made. 8. New shelves and drawers delivered- 7 pullout shelves and 4 drawers arrive- everyone the wrong size - all too big! 9. Next batch of shelves and drawers arrive (batch #3 for those still counting), improperly sanded, and carpenter is taking them to be resanded and finished, but comes by just to check that these are the right size! 10. Finally, July 04, 08, shelves and drawers arrive, and DH can begin installation. 11. July 09, 08, OTF cabinet, corner shelf unit, drawer fronts, and replacement doors (still missing one door though) arrive- beautifully made (much nicer than my existing cabinets- :>(, but corner shelf not made to specifications- supposed to be neo-angle, just a simple triangle- so too small to support the items I had planned to display, AND the nitwit put adjustable holes all the way from top to bottom- rediculous, Oh yeah, and they're ALL the wrong colour!!! My kitchen place (who hired this guy- and are ready to cut his ..... off- their words not mine) has lined up a replacement carpenter to finish everything that I can't accept, DH and I have decided doors need to match, if new carpenter can't make them match, then I guess we need all new doors- the whole shebang...cripes... Oh, and haven't listed my granite woes...my new granite (whole kitchen being replaced) supposedly in today, and they're coming for the check measure July 15. When I said originally that I wanted my kitchen (ordered May 07) ready by Christmas, Like an idiot I neglected to mention which year!!! Anyhow- it has been a journey... bit by bit, things are getting done... today I got to start putting things into the drawers and pullout shelves in my pantry- celebrated by making brownies...OK it was a mix, but still, first thing I've baked in my new kitchen!!! :>)

Wow Vanessa you are good!!!! #1,2,4 are correct. You narrowed down #5 to two and English Sunrise is it. #6, 7, 8, & 9 are correct - Why did you pick Minuteman over Patriot? #10 I'm not sure about. I had thought it was Inniswood but after looking at those on the Forum I figured I had it wrong. It could be one of the two you suggested. I'll post a couple of pictures from later in the season last year and tell me what you think.