Delph, how do you remember those things, LOL...I don't dislike them ...only in my house! :) They are very cute to look at...Some might feel that way about my 4 little gkids! And thank you! OA, I don't think the dishes are older than the napkins...she didn't always have them...somewhere along the line she acquired them....and she really didn't want to give them to me! I kind of twisted her arm...:) One of my other sisters got her good china and gorgeous china chargers when we split up her house.... And no way could I make any of you look bad! Maryanne! How nice to see you..I wanted to email you, but you have no email.. Thanks for your comments and visiting my little blog too! Thanks Luvs, Betty, pdg, dd, dd50, mo, magpie..and Prosperity..I appreciate you kind comments.. DD, I did them 3 diff days..don't want YKW to go ballistic! PD, they were 5 each...same by you? NCnana, I never ask anyone to pick..like with dessert, one of each please! LOL Lynne I wish!! I have been trying to improve my skills, but I would love to take a course. Food is difficult, and the lighting has to be good... But thanks..:) Jane you are so sweet. You and so many of the others here do a great job on your tables..we all inspire each other...

Thanks for commenting, punk, sorie, kathleen, marlene & purplemoon ... punk..blizzards are over & "sunshine" just makes all the diff in the world! Very cold yet tho...but do-able! I'd love to visit your home...from what you share, it's just downright SWEET! sorie ... that print is by Robert Duncan called "April Storm" ... by his signature it says 1980 ...but I bought this print at an frame shop & had it framed 7 or 8 yrs ago...it is one of my favs! kathleen...no, the tree I bought on an after Christmas small town shopping trip...at a specialty store...they had used it in their display decor...& had it for sale...I was in heaven! I'd been wanting one for some yrs since I saw the grapevine handmade ones at a craftshow that sold for lots of $$$. It would be fun to try to make a "small" one. PM...hey, next mo (March 20th) is first day of Spring...so maybe you can decorate for that! You'll be bringing out all those beautiful bunnies!! You've got alot going on right now, woman! Thanks, gals! Jeanne S.

Ellendi and Lyfia, You are both so right about the mental illness issue here. I think that is a much tougher problem to address then some of the "common sense" curbs on gun ownership being proposed. I'm not an expert on the history, but as I think it was back in the 60s that many mental institutions were shuttered and we revolutionized how we treat mental illness. I know some think the pendulum has swung too far, but I really scratch my head as to how to help these people and protect the rest of us with minimal impingement on their rights? While Sandy Hook was the "tipping point" for my own personal involvement in gun control (and, to some, extent, shame on me for that), the point of gun control is far broader. Of course, and as I already have said, no law can prevent every tragedy. But IMHO the are several aspects of existing gun control laws that are indefensible loopholes, for which there is simply no rational argument. These loopholes exist because people like me have not had the interest or political will to follow this issue, while the gun manufacturers and fringe survivalist groups have had the will --- and the means --- to force their agenda. I simply believe that sometimes the rest of us, the silent reasonable majority, has a responsibility to get involved. Shame on me that it took the pre-holiday grisly point blank murders of dozens of cute little white kids before I got involved, while lax gun control has quietly taken others' lives every day. Newtown is pretty far down on the list of reasons to want gun control, even if it is the impetus for some. Preventing accidents, suicides and crimes of passion all loom much larger than school shootings, even if they tug less at the emotions. There are three main reasons the NRA seeks largely unfettered access to guns. None of them justify the state of gun control today. 1. As a sport, a tradition, a hobby, and for food. I don't think there is anything wrong with guns for these purposes. But, if that is the intended purpose, then the design of the weapon should reflect that purpose. And, moreover, in weighing these gun uses against the risk of fatalities, we should accept some restrictions. For example, there is no reason any functioning gun should be sold to anyone ever without a background check. There is no reason a gun needs to shoot dozens of rounds without reloading. 2. As a means of protection. Again, fine (although all the data shows this is totally illusory, if people feel safer with a gun they should have one). But they might feel even safer with a tank, but they can't have that. Be reasonable about the types of guns. 3. In order to prevent tyranny, eg allow private citizens to form a militia. This is totally out of date in times of modern warfare. It no more fits the modern world then does the 3rd amendment. (quick, who knows that one). All I want to say is, if you think that we should have better gun control, make sure you speak up. Take the time to do it, or the agenda will continue to be controlled by narrow and moneyed interests.

Well this has been a long time for an update. I have been doing great and really enjoying life. It has been months since I had any contact with her. I have started to explore a relationship with a new woman. Two weeks ago my ex-GF calls me out of the blue. She hurt herself in a fall, her life/job/world is falling apart and she needed to talk to me. I listened politely and gave her some encouragement. We stayed in touch on and off thru texts for the past 2 weeks. Just very casual messages as I really want to see where things can go with my new lady. Today I sent her a message that one of our old friends from high school lost her dad. This old friend was her rival for my attention back in our HS days. But that was 30 years ago. Her reply was cold, " It does not surprise me when people in their 80's die" I wrote back that she was cold and is that how she would reply to me when one of my parents die, and she really needed to get over high school. She accused me of being insensitive because her father died in 2004. Umm.. I lost her train of logic there??? Thats when it hit me. Having her back in my life was not making me happy. It was making me uncomfortable and depressed. My final text message to her... "You are not making me happy to be around you anymore. You only need me when things get rough in your life and that is why you called me 2 weeks ago. You need to move on with your life, I dont want this anymore." So that was the end of that. Some people just carry so much negative energy that the only thing you can do is cut them loose or get dragged down with them.