Thanking those that passed before us. The list is long and additions have been made this year. We all need to gather in love our friends and families and let them know how special they are. Life is short so live as you wish it is your life, always be true to yourself. Today I turned 52 an older person who is young at heart. I have lived 2 lives one for money and one for me. I have no regrets, there was a lot of good times and very few bad. All I have to offer is my friendship and my plants. They are always there for my friends. What I grow is Texas Hardy so feel free to ask. This is a year round offer. Everyone have a merry Christmas Jim

Thanks a lot you guys!!! I really appreciate the two birthday cakes! Now, I believe all that icing and the candles was just a coverup for a tasty chocolate cappichino cheesecake and a snickers chocolate cheesecake. I needed 2 cheesecakes 'cause everyone in the FN was able then to have some. They were sooo good! Back to reality. At 3:00am our 20 year old son woke us up to tell us that he brought a few friends home and they were going to use the hot tub. At 5:30 he woke us up again to ask us if he was in trouble...he had driven his friends back to their homes and on the way back here to our home, came across a drunk driver who had just finished totalling her car in the ditch. She asked for a ride to her home and so, he obliged and now wanted to know if he would be in trouble legally. We told him that no, since she did not hit anyone, it would be considered a single vehicle accident and it would be her choice to leave her car and go home for a few hours. By that time I was wide awake. So I got up, checked the FN and made my list/map for garage sales. Yes, Marg and I went garage saling. It was great! We had a wonderful time. What better way to spend a birthday than to do something you love to do with a very special friend. I bought stuff for the new office...2 clocks, coffee table and end tables, leather chair and ottoman...even a garbage can. For me, a spagetti strapped top (its original owner went to Thailand, bought it there and it shrunk so she couldn't wear it anymore...fits me perfectly), assorted scented body lotions (working in the garden in summer makes my feet and hands so dry I use a lot of lotion and love all the assorted scents out there these days), scrapbooking paper and stickers (someday I will get back into my stuff, maybe when things get slow at the office this winter), Partylite candle, christmas ornaments, tupperware (an oval 2 and oval 5 modular mate to go along with all my other modular mates with the assorted colored lids already at home), huge huge shallow wicker basket with a handle to plant up. Marg and I thought that petunias would look great in there. Marg thought it was large enough to plant 12 petunias in. So, today's job... A picture frame with dragonflies all around the frame, etc, etc. To go garage saling with someone who shares the same interests is wonderful...they can see an item and know exactly what you will do with it to make it better. Marg bought a number of baskets that, with a touch of paint, would look awesome. One garage sale we went to had some plants in the landscaping that we did not know. After talking to the owner, she gave me a baby and I will be posting a picture of its leaves later this week, when I get time, for you all to identify for me. She did not know what it could be. I had to make my own lunch and lunch for my DH and DS (who were mowing grass in the yard when I arrived home). I needed to have seafood at least once on my birthday so I made us some shrimp alfredo for lunch. In the afternoon I walked around my garden, taking pictures of my flowers blooming today. My DH and I went back to Brandon and picked up the furniture I purchased in the morning and took it to the office. My DD and her husband came over for supper, played Taboo, went for a walk down the country road (us and the dogs) and then came back to nibble on pineapple and watch a movie, the Wedding Crashers (a very morally wrong, lighthearted comedy). A great way to spend the evening, with family, doing no work. For my birthday cake today my DH bought two 1/4 cheesecakes from the best bakery in town, Sweet Temptations. I had my choice of a cappichino or a Snickers chocolate cheesecake. My DD and her husband gave me $ to buy plants and my DH bought me a new watch. My youngest son has been at a track and field meet near Winnipeg for the last few days and told me that I would get my present from him today. My 20 year old son also today. My DH bought a prime rib roast and we will be having a family supper here today 'cause my DD turns 21 tomorrow. Saturday turned out to be a wonderful day. Thanks for the 2 cakes! You all on the FN share the same passion for gardening as I do, and I am having a wonderful time getting to know you all better! Brenda

Harold, glad to hear the surgery went well. Recovery is pretty quick, isn't it? Don't strain your eyes while you wait. I had LASIK about 9 years ago and remember having to be very careful for a few days not to get poked in the eye or anything, wearing sunglasses even inside for the first day or two. Silversword! You are just rockin', girlfriend! I am amazed at you. 129--one TWENTY nine! Woo-hoo! Here's something some of you might be interested in. There's a site at www.weightview.com where you can upload a photo of yourself (in somewhat form-fitting clothes) and plug in your current and goal weights. Then they will adjust the photo to give you an idea of what you'll look like at your goal weight. It's free, but you have to have a Facebook account to log in to their FB page where they will post your altered photo for you. (They don't post your weight or any info about you, and even though there is a weigh-loss community there you can join, you don't have to do it.) I did it today (it's totally free) and got my photo a few hours later. Of course, I don't know how accurate it is, but if it is on target, then I might want to drop my goal weight a little more. I don't know. My body type is really weird. I wonder if I'll ever really be happy with my end results. I doubt I'll ever look sleek or svelte, always "matronly." Here is a link that might be useful: Upload your photo and goal weight for a preview

And if you're not a Mom, I sent my wishes on to your family for a happy day nonetheless. Yes, I came down from the ladder - DH took me to Forbidden Kingdom yesterday. Relaxing. Today I paint the living room ceiling, finish the white base coat on my last wall (this is taking forever moving furniture around) and Monday start the colour. Going to take a piece of the fabric I'm making the curtains with to the paint store to match the wall paint tone - heck I've come this far might as well get the colour right. Stopped in at the Lazyboy store yesterday - we ordered a new couch (recliners on either end) and a new oversized giant recliner for Dave (6'3"). It has a great feature of extended leg rest you can push out with your foot so your feet don't over hang. These are do in a couple of weeks which hopefully works out for all of my old furniture around here that is spoken for and due to leave about the same time - otherwise the stuff can get introduced to the back garden shed. No love lost there! Finally getting our first living room furniture that's not hand-me-down. Only took 15 years but that's okay. At least it's cash and not on credit. Wonderful to see everyone is enjoying their families this weekend! Today is clean the fridge day, grocery shopping later. So I am thinking of what can I get myself for this week. Need to also start digging in the freezer to see what we have in there for meal planning. I keep forgetting. With food prices rising, I'm getting more and more fussy on portion sizes (less waste), quality and buying what we really eat and not stuff we might eat. I don't know how folk manage raising families these days. So expensive. Also have to think of packing lunches this week since I start my seasonal job of planting business/hotel garden beds. Need to pack lots of water. If ya hear me moaning next weekend about muscles I forgot I own this will be the reason behind it...I should dig out my bubble bath stuff too for this week! Enjoy your day today. Think ahead. I see apples in the fridge that need cooking (mmmmmmm), carrots and sugar free jello for later this week. Good week to get my single serving containers out to make my treats. Gotta get working on a new mini weight goal! Cheers, Peggy