Hey Jo - didn't you know acting out in front of an audience is noraml; looks like those handsome young guys are having a great time for Grandma's birthday!! Was that ketchup spread out on that plate - yummy, good for FFs! The grans are are adorable - well, I guess I shouldn't say that because they are aren't babies anymore. But they are pretty darn handsome - could break some young girl's heart when they get older. Was that pic at the table (the one in the house) at your house. It is so bright and cheery. BTW, thanks for explaining TSL. Oh, and you gotta share taht perpeller cup. That sounds like a pretty nifty toy. Hi eloise. I think you are right - Spring Fever is here for sure. I just bought a new grill and can't wait to try it out. Then I'll be out, right there with the grill. My neighbor was supposed to pick it up Friday but I think he was just plain tired and didn't want to say it. He told me he would pick it up early Sat but I went to a Prayer Breakfast for the United Negro Women's Conference and couldn't go until later in the afternoon(I take my 86yo aunt every year and it is such an enlightening experience being around so many empowered women so I don't mind having to leave the house at 7AM on a Satuday!! The food is good too!). My neighbor never responded to my calls after I got back but showed up early this morning. I was a litle disappointed because yesterday was perfect weather for grilling and enjoying the patio. It was a little cold to try to get it all set up today. Besides, even though I told my neighbor it would take 2 or 3 guys to move the thing, he didn't line anyone up to help (MEN, they just don't listen!!!). So it was just the 2 of us trying to pick that darn thing up over the side of a pickup truck. I was so tired after that fiasco that I really didn't feel like dealing with it. It's all put together, but hooking up the tank and leveling it, and learning how to use the contraption, etc, just wasn't going to happen today. If it's nice tomorrow, maybe I'll throw a burger or two on, after work. Here's a funny - we eventually had to slide the grill down a make-shift ramp. My neighbor tilted it to the side and I held it until he could jump down off the truck and help slide it down the ramp. While I was waiting for him to help hold it, ALL the wait was on my chest. Boy, I would rather have had the reduction surgery -- LOL!! That thing was soooo heavy - my arms feel like wet noodles for sure! OK, long story, but excited about the grill and after all is said and done, it turned out to be pretty funny how the thing ended up on my patio. Hope my neighbors weren't taking pics!! Anyway, glad you too are doing OK (and hope everyone else is too). Eloise, how's your car (hope I don't jinx you by asking)? Jo, are you hanging in there? How's your painting coming along? Really happy your birthday turned out to be a good week for ya. Hugs to ya! Off to get ready for another week at work. gng

That's kind of the weird thing. It was either 'from' or came in with only two hosta I had. However, it could have been a stray seed in the pot that didn't germinate until this year (maybe?), fell into the pot from another pod patent is or some throw back. The two smaller, lighter ones were under France's Williams. I am pretty sure she is their pod parent. The dark fleshy green one was near Patriot. I have really no idea if it wandered over from FW, is actually Patriot's or some unknown parentage. I am waiting until it gets a little older and its character comes out but I am thinking about it. I am going to plant all of them if they survive since I have so few and I will give them garden names. :)

None of this looks like infected tissue, Northern Orchid, though I'm going to be watching the all-dark leaf end to make sure . . . I worry that bit of leaf might die, but it might not lead to bigger problems I wish I knew what the normal growth rate of this plant was, 'cause maybe it's just really slow, but I don't know, and even though it's not a "bright light" plant, our winters here are so dim that I got concerned. James, it could certainly be colder next to the window, especially at night. Our nights are still down in the mid-40s, and I know the air next to windows is usually cooler than in the rest of the room. It could be getting cold drafts :| At any rate, I've moved it away from the window spot to a new temporary spot (need to put a nail in the wall to make it a new home), and we'll see what happens.

Arcy_gw, you reminded me of when my DD was in high school. She had the option of walking about 5 blocks to catch a bus, or walking to the school which was just under 2 miles. Sometimes I was able to drop her off on my way to work. When I did, I would be shaking my head at the other parents as I waited in the back up, watching them crawl up the U shaped drop off area until, one car at a time, the student would get out exactly in front of the entrance. I would bet that nearly all of them had been to an amusement park and experienced the way they load/empty 5 or 6 cars at a time at the popular rides, then move the empties along to make room for the next 6 cars, but couldn't think to replicate that at the school. I would make DD get out of the car and walk 30 feet so that I didn't have to get caught in that stream of molasses.