Well, here it is March 25 and I have "bragged" (excitedly) about this project all the while we have been travelling the I 5 corridor here in Oregon. Think I may have recruited a couple of friends to look us up. Did Alisande decide to give up because of so few participating? (We left home March 9 and have not always had a WiFI connection or many down days) I have really found that writing (also journaling which I have done sporatically) just takes me to places and memories I have not expeced. That must be the Catharism" that folks talk about....facinating details of long forgotten events. Mind blowing at times. When we were in Alaska two years ago, the community of Palmer just " spoke" to me, I wanted to stay or return or delve into the background of the place. It was one of President FDR's programs to "grow and populate" the wilderness and I was completly hooked. So, in my writing I was so very surprised to find that I too was part of one of his "programs" to better the lives of such ordinary people who were right off the farms of the mid=west, willing to work and educate their children. I knew where I had been....but I didn't KNOW what it had been. Quite astonishing, really. So Thank you, Susan! And, I haven't even begun to explore those events in history that I have been so very close to and thought that I would just write those down so my kids would remember them thru my eyes. We will see, as I do plan to continue writing. Thank you again Nanny PS forgive the typos...love my mac, but the keyboard is just not compatible to me and my long fingernails, I think.

Thanks everyone. I think I might forego any assigned seating at all - there will be no wedding party, and the only parents left between the two of us are my mom & stepmom. My two moms might feel awkward being stuck at the same table, and choosing one to sit with me would hurt the other's feelings. I also suspect that I won't sit in any one place for long. Lots of circulating (and too nervous to sit still anyway), maybe I'll grab a salad plate & eat that somewhere, then get some lasagne and have that somewhere else, then a piece of cake at another table... Good point about not everyone eating at once. That's kind of how I imagine it. Gellchom, you bring up something I hadn't thought of - someone clearing tables. We've had a good number of parties at my dad's place (he died at the end of last summer, and I can't help but think of it still as his place), and generally, we just have a few large trash cans so guests can clear their own places. Is that really tacky to do for a wedding? I think there will probably be between 100 & 150 guests at the wedding, but that includes some babies & very young children. I just came up with another (unrelated) question about his/my families. Will start a new thread. Thank you again. Carrie

I guess I've been very lucky as I've never had mildew. Must that they're mostly outside in the fresh air, same thing with Lucerna which I know is usually a mildew magnet. I'm not sure I heard about Brad passing, might have if it was years ago and I've just forgotten. I obtained a plant of cane White Ice this summer and noticed this evening it is on the cover of a 2005 Begonian issue with hybridizing credit going to a Charles McGough. This name rings a small bell, do you know where he lives and anything about his hybrids? Caribbean King continues to amaze me with its size, strength and durability. Several have rooted in the ground thru drain holes and become very large, sprawling rhizomes rooting directly in the ground. Next spring I'll find a place in the ground for popenoei as I'm tired of moving it to ever-larger pots, I'll take a chance on freezes. I do love these big rhizomatous types, in spite of the room they require. Thanks, Russ

Thank you so much for all your ideas and suggestions! After some research DH and I settled on an Eddie Bauer gift card. Eddie Bauer honors its cards both in the U.S. and Canada, regardless of where the card was purchased. The brand definitely fits the young couple's active, outdoorsy style. Eddie Bauer also sells luggage and outdoor gear which is a big plus. Need I add that my friend and her man chose to have an outdoor BBQ wedding in a nature park? Casual dress - T-shirts, shorts and sandals are fine. Besides, I liked the message on the gift card!