Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

Yes, you MUST write to JoAnn's about this. First, do you think the store is trying to get rid of its stock of McCall's patterns and keep some of the other lines instead? I'd make it a point of saying that in your area, it's not easy to go between JoAnn's stores looking for what you want and they do a disservice to their customers by not trying to accommodate more storage space for current patterns and by not helping you patronize their store. Because likely, if you'd gotten that pattern, you would also have picked up other items like fabric, new thread, ribbon, whatever. There are 2 JoAnn's stores near where I usually go to shop (probably one or two more that I don't know about -- I don't go there hardly ever). I live in a suburban area where things are not nearly as spread out where you live, granted. The 2 stores are maybe 30 minutes apart. But one is a larger, more modern-looking store (not everything cramped together), and I've noticed it has a lot more crafting supplies and seasonal decorations -- like Michaels. Maybe JoAnn's profit is now in that stuff? I am told by a neighbor who does friends' alterations that fabric is not so inexpensive anymore and that fewer people sew clothes (and that younger generations don't want to sew at all). And if JoAnn's website doesn't have the patterns, doesn't the company realize you will shop elsewhere? For a pattern and potentially more stuff, pulling your dollars away from the store? (Even though in your area there may not be an option other than JoAnn's for even a spool of thread.) The second point I want to make is that you should also write to McCall's -- explain the situation you found yourself in, especially the fact that the store didn't have much space for patterns. I know that if I were a manufacturer counting on a store to have good product placement, I would make an effort to work with the store (like maybe providing different ways to physically stock the product -- maybe those bulky metal cabinets aren't the solution anymore). Maybe a McCall's sales rep would be interested to learn that his or her product line was not being stocked and promoted to the best potential. It's always a good idea to write letters of complaint (or compliments) -- you never know when they'll get to the person who cares enough to make a difference. Good luck!

Hi Mirren, I live in Newfoundland and I have always bought Simplicity patterns for around 3 or 4 dollars at Wal Mart. I also bought a pattern when I was in Ontario this year at Wal Mart that was 13.95 U.S. for around that price. They are listed at high price in the book but are marked a lot lower on the pattern drawers. Actually its the only place that I buy Simplicity patterns because its the cheapest place that I can purchase them.

Shady lady, My T&S is old!!! 1964, doesn't have the 4 step method that Mother's 70's model T&S has, and I have one of those buttonhole attachments, but I've looked everywhere and can't find the dang thing. I'll find it one day when I least expect it. AJ, The flannel we're talking about is 100% cotton and is probably what you're use to seeing in gowns. Most of us make PJ bottoms, baby blankets and baby wash cloths out of it. There are no Joann's left in AL. The closed all of them after they came into the state in the 90's and bought alot of other stores. They bought a family owned chain and the Cloth World stores. They closed the last stores here (Alabama) 2 years ago. It was no longer in the best part of town and was a wreck everytime I was in there. The store that we go to in Georgia is nice and clean. I've emailed them about our area, we're the largest town between Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL and are getting an outdoor mall with target, hobby lobby, etc and all the Joann's folks will say is "we're looking at expanding". I offered to email them a pic of hancock's parking lot on a non sale week day so they could see how busy they stay. Susan