Debi and Debbie, I have planted seeds outdoors also. I got behind in the winter sowing in containers so I figured I would just try direct sowing on some of them and see how they do. I have noticed larkspur and love in a mist coming up from last seasons seeds so hopefully some of these I am putting out will take off too. My daffodils are starting to open up all over so it is starting to look like spring here. Also the Bradford pear tree is budding out. Of course Oklahoma has a lot of last minute freezes so I am hoping that the cold doesn't get everything. I plan to finish off the last of the winter sowing I was going to do and then I guess I will start planting seeds indoors on window seals. I really do like starting the little plants myself. I know that it doesn't really have a lot to do with me, but I feel just like a proud parent whenever my seedlings turn into plants and bloom.

Gullible-- The maroon base is that new "Fusion" paint by Krylon. (It's supposed to bond to plastic. I guess it works, since the planter was finished in June and spent the better part of the summer in the sun. So far, no peeling or anything.) As for the ivy, I stumbled on a bunch of sets of foam stamps at WM for cheap-cheap, then I just used that indoor/outdoor acryllic paint that you can buy super-cheap in the crafts dept at--where else?--WM (got a set of 24 colors, or something like that, for about $7). And I did the ivy tendrils freehand with the same paint. The hardest part of the whole process was rasslin' with that d*mn tire until I got it turned inside-out...wish I had a picture of that to share!!! Well, on second thought, maybe not *grin*. Rainbow-- I don't really do anything special for my plants. I guess the only thing I consider "special" is make sure everything gets a drink of MG on a regular basis (every one to two weeks, depending on what the weather is like). I have a daily routine, whereby, nearly every living thing around here gets watered first thing in the morning (while it's still *relatively* cool). First, guins and chickens are fed and watered, then keets/chicks if I've had a recent hatch. Make sure the float in the cattle trough isn't stuck and they have plenty to drink. Proceed to the greenhouse, water everything and pinch as necessary. Go to the screened-in back porch, water and pinch if needed; then work your way around the house, watering and pruning or pinching or deadheading as you go...'til I've gotten everything just so. I think the biggest thing, though, is getting everything watered early in the morning, when the plants are most able to take up the water. Most of my plants--except the ones on the back porch and the north side of my house--get full-blast Texas sun literally all day, from sun-up to around 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening. Even the things on the east side still get what is considered to be "full sun". If I'm just a few hours late with the water, you can tell...and if I'm not here for some reason and watering gets skipped just one day, I have to go into emergency mode to keep from losing everything... Thanks for all y'all's compliments...I'll be sure to post pix of my new bulb bed if it gives me the show I'm so hoping for. Best to all, Cheryl

Good Morning, Ladies! And Happy 2017! Well, I checked thro the posts and I'm thinking that everyone who signed up to send cards for this swap, has done so. THANK YOU - Nicole, Katie, Mandy, Alana, Heidi, Jessica, Margo, Amy, Annie, Beth, Jeanne, Faye, and Shirley! Once again, Ladies, you have helped make this special swap, very special for me. I really appreciate the time you take to send the cards. Thank you! Now, if you have received a card and haven't posted yet, please do so. This thread will always be open, so if you have cards you haven't acknowledged, please let us know. I'll be posting the January Swap some time this week. Haven't got all the bugs worked out yet! And Ladies, we need a hostess for the March Swap - any volunteers? Have a great first day of the New Year! Shirley!

I think we are finished here. THANK YOU ladies for being such fantastic elves! SWAPPING HOLIDAY Cards FOTESS style this month..... Annie ** SENT 12/10 Alana SENT 12/9 Jeanne ** SENT 12/5 ALL CARDS REC'D THANK YOU! Breanne ** SENT 12/26 Margo ** SENT 12/12 ALL CARDS REC'D THANK YOU! Shirley ** SENT 12/11 Amy ** SENT 12/18 Mandy SENDING 12/14 Urooj **SENT 12/14 Melinda SENT 12/10 Ruth ** SENT 12/10 Heidi **SENT 12/12 Jayeanne SENT 12/7