About that "HOT Button," Digit, we remembered you were tired of the cold earlier in the season, so we're the ones that sent it your way! ;-) Say thank you! Or not!!! Down here we were tying and breaking records all of June--and it wound up with June being the hottest June ever on record--and by a couple degrees, not just a fraction of a degree. It's been downright miserable down here for over a month now! My AC doesn't work! Nasty, nasty, nasty! Starting yesterday this has been SUCH a nice reprieve! I'm in what I consider to be a "no rain" zone over here between I25 and I76, but this time I lucked out! Yesterday I wound up with a total of 8/10"--a half an inch of that in about 10 minutes! Boy, it was comin' down! It was really pouring for a little bit again today but I haven't been out to check the rain gauge yet--but from the window it looks like it's about another half an inch today! Miracles never cease!!! Everything looks SO green, and is so "perky" again right now! I love it after a nice negatively charged rain storm when everything is so pretty! But I WAY agree with you about "drought" being "relative," Digit! My niece is coming out for a vacation in a couple weeks and when I emailed her about the fires out here she emailed back and told me about the "drought in Illinois!" And I'm sittin' here thinking: DROUGHT in Illinois! Even if it never rains, the plants can survive off of the humidity in the air! Some folks don't understand what a drought is!!! The "official" designation of drought must be made by comparing the "normal" precip with the current amount of precip--and I suspect most folks out here would be absolutely delighted to be getting whatever the amount of rainfall it is that qualifies as a drought in Illinois! There's still more precip on radar south of me tonite, but I'm back in that weird little Dry Zone where everything is now going either east or west of me, or dissipating right before it gets to me! Really frustrating when I watch that on radar! But, hey, I got a good inch already in the last two days, so I guess I'll quit b*i*t*c*h*i*n' about it--for right now at least! Really hoping for some more tomorrow, Skybird

A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

Please forgive me for breaking in on your thread, but I was Googling Jan Jones and happened upon your messages. I attended the Victorian Front Porch Tour Saturday nite, and as usual I was in awe. Everything was decorated beautifully. Carolyn, I remember your home because of the gold horse and the lighted candle hanging. In fact, I took a picture of the candles. Also took many more pictures of the homes as we walked through the neighborhood. There is a home on the corner with palm trees that I believe I have fallen in love with. Although not victorian, it is a gorgeous home. I can only imagine how pretty the interior must be - such a unique home. I have read that when Jan lived in the area, she had a shop downtown with her mom and also taught a class each Christmas. I am sorry to hear that her mom passed away recently. Carolyn, I'm wondering if you possibly know where Jan moved to, and how to get in touch with her. I cannot believe that such a talented individual lived in the area for so many years and I only heard of her and the tour 3 or 4 years ago. I would like to get in touch with her to see if she still has a shop and teaches any classes. I hope your neighborhood will continue this tradition for many years to come. I've looked forward to attending the last few yeas since I became aware of the tour. My favorite night is the walking tour. By the way, I live a few miles north of you in Lanett. Your bread looks delicious. I agree - the pictures are good enough that they appear to be from a magazine. Thanks for posting your recipes - I'll have to print these out and give them a try. If you have any information that you can share, please email me at gwen@knology.net Thank you so much! Gwen

I also wish more restaurants would offer half portions or something similar. I'm not sure about dinner yet. It's 8pm & DH is working an hour & a half away. He'll probably end up grabbing something on the way home. In that case, I'll just make myself a sandwich & have some fruit & yogurt. I have enough stuffed pepper mix to make a batch tonight, but I've had a headache for several hours & don't really feel like doing that. It's actually supposed to be sunny here tomorrow. I'm trying to get some household things done in spite of the headache so I can spend some time at the pool tomorrow.