I can only see the 2nd 2 of 3 as well. This one: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/deefar/DSC02946.jpg is not showing up. Those 2 snow guys look nice! ~Rosemarie

Jay, If our temperature were to get as low as yours today, my overwintering tomato and peppers plants (and flowers) in the garage would freeze, so let's hope that doesn't happen. Woo hoo! I just checked the thermometer and we've made it up to 32 degrees. Now that it is up to freezing, let's see if it can make it up to 40 degrees. If we get up to 40 degrees, I'll drag the plants outside for a little sunlight. I had listened to Dr. Forbes' severe weather discussion on The Weather Channel the day before the tornadoes hit but I don't think it sank into my brain how closely it would start to Oklahoma. When I woke up yesterday, the tornadoes were occurring and the eastern edge of OK still had a tornado watch in effect until 8 a.m. Those storms were too close to some of our forum members for comfort! I'm glad your friends daughter was safe. I hope and pray we have a better weather year in 2011 because it sure seems like 2010 had a lot of really deadly weather. That's one thing about a country as big as ours...there's so many kinds of killer weather in various parts of the country....just about everything you can imagine. Having lived in TX and OK all my life, I share your belief that even in a "good" weather year, we'll still have our share of weather-related tragedies. The calmest weather years I can think of all had one thing in common....developing drought. When developing drought is occurring, we often have less rain and less humidity, so less flooding, lightning and tornado-related deaths. However, if the drought develops into a serious enough situation, we have wildfires which bring their own issues. One thing about the weather in the middle of the country...if you don't like it, it will change in about 5 minutes. Dawn

Dawn I plan on doing a end of the year wrap up post and also post some plans for next years garden in a separate thread before too long. The main reason for the change is the drought and no real sign of it changing. We just finished year 4 of this drought cycle. And those of you who just experienced year 1 of one can hopefully understand why I've finally decided it may last a few more years and time for me to adjust my growing methods and varieties some. Setting records every year it seems. The kind you don't like to set. There are some other reasons for the changes also. Like you mentioned it is hard to fairly judge anything during the last 4 years here. Many of the varieties that didn't set a thing all summer were just loaded when I pulled them this week before the Wed night frost. Had bushels of green tomatoes. More than I expected. The hail also made judging anything fairly difficult. Because I had several loaded plants that were wiped out by the hail and then the intense heat set in. I'm sure that I will give in and try more new to me and give more a second chance than I plan on. But my intentions are to plant those varieties that have proved they can somewhat handle the extreme conditions we've had. Also I plan to start planting a few seeds in the next few weeks and experimenting with grafting techniques and hopefully get at least one method perfected enough I don't kill them all when I do it next year. Then will grow some grafted plants next year. My plans are to grow several hybrids that have done well along with some of the proven op/heirlooms. My plan was to take vacation in October and finish my big greenhouse frame and then set out early in it after starting plants early in the lean to and grow in containers in it this next summer. Due to work I wasn't able to take vacation during Oct. Taking some in 2 weeks. Hopefully weather will allow me to work on it during my time off. My plan it too cover the sides with polycarbonate. Then to cover at least the south top and the top of both ends with plastic early and replace with shade cloth later in the season. Hopefully this will eliminate some of the pest borne disease issues I've experienced and also with the shade I can get better growth during the hot spells. Although nothing will help if we have the extreme heat again. I tried a greenhouse variety outside this year that showed promise that I will grow again. I have 4 plants in the lean to. Not really what I had planned to put in there. But the ones that ended up in containers late and were the best of the 8 container plants at the time I moved them in. Two weeks later I was tempted to do some changing but didn't. I have Ambrosia Red Cherry, Beduoin, Goliath hybrid and Big Cheef. All have continued to set since I've moved them. I think the fans blowing in there along with me brushing them every day has helped. I'm looking forward to tasting Beduoin soon. It is a large pear shaped black tomato. In the 3-6 ounce range. The grower who sent it too me said it has always won the taste tests at the farmers markets he attends. So to summarize my plans are similar to what you stated earlier. To grow varieties I feel will have the best chance in an extreme drought year. To start several early and then to plant another planting later for the fall. But even with planting early and going to the bigger house if I can get it finished I don't plan to carry as many big plants through the heat and drought of summer. I will try if the spring weather allows to grow an early garden and a later version and to slack off during the summer heat. The late garden I planted this year did very well. If the heat would of slacked off 7-10 days earlier I would of had a bumper late tomato crop. This year just seemed to have one hardship after another. I had some late disease issues that hit certain areas but nothing major. Jay

I hate to ask this, but would anyone be able to remove that fern Posted by kat__wa (My Page) on Wed, Nov 24, 10 at 11:39 from my face in that picture from the wedding? I could email you the photo, as I would like to get a print made. Not only did I get a pic with DH and me together, he was actually smiling! hahahaa, well for HIM it was a smile. LOL The picture will print better from the full file, rather than capturing it from this website, right? thank you so much! just need to remove a little from the chin, I don't care about it in front of my fat neck at all! lol If it's not possible, no big deal! I will get it printed anyway! lol