I keep record of the number of containers of ingredients are needed for the solid volume of my projects. I use a 3 lb. coffee can as my unit measure. for example: I know that ten cans of ingredients will make a container with 900 cu. in. volume in it's walls and bottom. It is a reasonable way of knowing how much to mix. It works for me, and I usually have only a small amount left over. My unit of cement weighs about 6.5 lbs. and a trough made from ten units of all ingredients(3cement,3perlite,4peatmoss for example) will weigh about 22 lbs. One bag of cement will make 4 or 5 troughs of that size.

Believe me that I'm no grass expert and it might be because I don't follow directions to the teeee. If the Fert was mine, I'd use it if the grass looked liked it needed it. The only thing I would do it put it down at 1/2 the rate as called for. BTW, I just fertilized my front lawn again 3 days ago. I water it in real well after it went down and for the past the days, we got about 10 mins of rain in the evening. Now my grass is really perking up and getting deep dark green.

Good Saturday afternoon from not-so-warm SE Texas. It's only 30 F. right now and the sun is shining brightly. It got down in the low 20's during the night. BRRR! I know it's nothing compared to what most of y'all are experiencing, but I admit it - I'm a weather wimp! ;) Maddie, congrats, girl, on being your skinniest! Now to modify your food to healthy! I know that you can do it because you've conquereed so many other things. Jan, that's quite a daily walk, and I'm so impressed. I'd also love that soup recipe. It's actually one I DON'T have. lol Suzanne, bless your heart - having walking pneumonia is no fun at all. I'm happy that your dh was home to take over though. What a blessing that was! Hope you're feeling much improved by now. Tikanis, about this time last year, my dh was told to give up caffeine because he was suffering from neuropathy. Well, he had us go cold turkey without telling me about it, and I had sick headaches for 3 days in a row and didn't know why. He had switched out our regular coffee for decaf which he makes every morning. On the 4th day, we had an early lunch where I ordered a Diet Coke, and after the first sip, I felt almost human again, and by the 2nd refill, I felt like a million bucks. Once I understood what was going on, I adjusted my coffee intake with half & half caf/decaf, and my headaches disappeared. I gradually cut out the caffeine slowly, and now I'm fine with decaf. I wish you well in weaning yourself from the cokes! Donna, I'm excited for you about your renovations. I'd love to see the photos, too. Congrats! Dee, how did the reviews go? It must be a nerve-wracking thing. Helen, I like it cooler than the temps we usually get around here - especially in the summer. And I agree that the Michelin man comment was hilarious! Raeanne, once long ago, my preacher gave an entire sermon on saying "NO". I only remember what I want to about it, but it stuck with me that the kindest thing you can do for yourself and for others sometimes is to turn things down if it can't be done with your whole heart involved. Now, when I try new things around here, I preface it to myself, and to the ones involved if it's necessary, that I want to make sure I'm the right person for the job or if I'd be good at whatever it is. I'm much improved now. I think it's been the huge change in the weather lately giving my sinuses fits. I don't have a headache today, TG! I'm going over to my friend's house this afternoon for a 'girls' day out' of movie-watching/knoshing/solving world problems. Susanne is hosting us and wants to fill her empty home with laughter and human warmth. It's a beautiful day to get together with all these great women friends I've been blessed with in the past 2 years. Wishing everyone a wonderful Saturday!

It's really a toss-up which method is better. I try to do carry-on only for most of my trips but it's worth $25 to check a heavy bag or when I have a long wait before the flight or between flights. I thought the best case scenario was when they took the carry-on at the gate and you didn't have to pay the fee. However, they made my elderly Mum gate check her bag and they didn't have it when she got off the plane. Somehow it went to Puerto Rico when she went to Oklahoma! It didn't catch up to her until 10 pm the night before she returned from the 5 day trip. Naturally, they didn't have an explanation of how that happened. You think they're taking those bags right from the gangway to the belly of the plane, and I'm sure they do 99% of the time, but that didn't happen in this case. I swear on her little white haired head that it happened. They took it when she was on the plane and they ran out of overhead space. I'm sure it's less likely to get lost when many people are leaving bags at the door of the gangway. The downside to a carry-on is you're stuck lugging everything through the airport, including into the ladies room, while waiting for your flight. And then possibly fighting for overhead space once you get on board. I've always wondered about those people who get on a plane with just a purse. How do they do it? I need a purse, electronics and other valuables, books, snacks, water, and a large scarf. You may carry-on and still have to wait for your hotel shuttle if they time it assuming people waited at the baggage carousel. Or when you're traveling with a group and one of them checks, you'll have to wait for their luggage. The advantage of buying a new, smaller piece of luggage is they make them so lightweight now. My newest carry-on is 5.9 pounds when empty, over 2 pounds lighter than my older carry-on. Even if you don't carry it on having lighter luggage is a bonus for when you do handle it.