Thank you, Laura... such wonderful sentiments! :-) Our weather has been crazy, too... but we half expected it. Last year, we were already laying out soaker hoses and starting to water...and this year, we've gotten so much rain that we're completely saturated! We're just now able to get in and cut grass, and talk about tall! It's hard on the mowers, I'm sure, but what can you do?! If it's grass, it has to be kept mowed at least semi-regularly... and if it's garden beds, they must be kept weeded or the grasses, thistles and other nasties take over! So, we're darned if we do and darned if we don't! Mother's Day was nice... calls from my kids, and the husband made a nice dinner... while I spent the day relaxing, for the most part. There are certain chores that must be done regardless of what day it is, like cleaning and feeding dogs and other animals, but that's no big deal... I have it down to a science! ;-) I finally got the old guy to help me get photos off my camera, so I thought I'd share a few this morning... Here's a mama and her twins... My very best mouser... I call her Vixen! The next generation of excellent mousers... one of Vixen's 3 little ones... Walking from the shade garden area toward the new rose arbor... A young Peony Tree in the dappled shade garden... notice the rambler rose runners everywhere on the ground! Closeup of the flower from the Peony Tree... Another Peony Tree in the front yard... north side... And this is a Trillium that opened white and is turning a pale pink shade. It's among a patch of purple flowered hybrid Trillium I planted several years ago... you can see the mottled leaves of the hybrid... I didn't plant the white one, though... And finally, the first of the Irises are starting! I hope you enjoyed a walk around the yards with me... stick around as all the roses begin blooming and other perennials begin to color the gardens a wonderful rainbow of scented color! Thanks, Al... I can finally view Youtube, but the monitor I'm using has no sound on board... for a girl with a technological genius as a husband, I'm always the last to get upgraded! Would you believe I'm still using Windows XP?! I desperately need an upgrade to Windows 7, which should be coming shortly... when he has time to upgrade me. :-) It's kind of like being the plumber with the leaky toilet handle that sticks, or the barber that doesn't have time to cut his own hair... when you're in the business, you're last in line! :-) It looks to be another gorgeous day... sunny and hot with strong humidity... I may spend some time weeding and edging today, instead of killing myself cutting grass! Hope everyone has a lovely day! And... Happy Gardening!

Ok, ok..I am givning in! I am on the prowl for either those birds or a couple of green singing finches. Jojo, you just made me realize how much I miss hearing the singing of birds in my home.lol It made winetr go by so much better than the dead silience in my home. I think I know who named those birds..lol. Such cute names that only a kid or two can come up with. I would love for you to raise them along side of us, all the way to the brood, hatchlings, and babies. I would love that Jojo since I have a thing for birds. Just love them and you have yourself such a beauty of a pair! Hi Al, Jodi, Josh, Jodik, and Laura! I missed all while I was sick.;-) Laura. I have been sooooooo sick and now that I have got better nergy, it's time to catch up onmy e-mail. I am sorry about the delay bust just know that I appreciate you and the rest of the bunch here. I am SO BLESSED to have such great friends as you all. Love you all! Mom, says to send a group hug to you all! Mike

The rescue volunteer said that she could be very successful in raising them if they are at least 2 1/2 weeks old. The thing is that by the time they are old enough to be safely raised there, I'm sure they will have left the nest here and be munching away. I knew I would never eliminate the rabbit problem with the net, but I thought if I could thin the herd it would help (plus it provides entertainment for the neighbors---NOW I know why my neighbor sprayed brush killer and wiped out a big portion of our privacy hedge---he wanted a better look at the insanity over here). And it has helped. I even have pansies with actual blooms....but the idea of leaving nests of little bunnies without their Moms never occurred to me! Of course my Dad, farmer and practical, said I should just take the bunnies and put them out in a field too.....NOOOOOOO! I guess you have to develop a hard heart when you are having to live off what you grow, as he did when he was a child, but I'm nowhere near that point. I've seen photos of Morels and have heard they are absolutely wonderful. The only "wild gathered" foods I remember here are little berries we called dew berries that were tiny, but so sweet and delicious. Sort of a wild blackberry taste. I am so envious of the raspberries my Mother-in-law grows in Iowa. They are probably the best berries I have ever eaten in my life!!

lindiver, I had similar problems a few months ago. When I contacted GW for help, adding that my problems coincided with forum changes (needing to double click to go back, among other issues), they said they were unrelated and the problem was at my end. However, nothing we did to fix it helped (my husband is a software engineer, too). When GW finally fixed the formatting problems, my problems went away like magic. Sorry I can't help you but I wanted to let you know that I was similarly frustrated when I asked for assistance. Hang in there!