Dumb question time, but how do I go about sending a SAS bubble envelope to someone who's returning it to me with seeds? First off, there are no dumb questions. If someone is sending you seeds and you are to supply the bubble envelope and postage, you just address the bubblie to them. Note, some members request a specific size envelope, since one that is too small might cause it to go over the 3/4" allowance thus going to a higher 'Parcel rate' when the envelope is returned to you. Inside of the envelope, put the requested amount of postage, a return address label, your Garden Web member Name, and what ever else they request...like maybe a list of what they agreed to send you, or mention what offer they had made. Seal it up, and send it on. Only one envelope is involved and it should be a bubble envelope to protect your seeds on the return trip to you. Sue

The "Forever" stamps are calculated for 1 oz. first class letter mailing. If I'm mailing a package or an oversized envelope, etc., requiring more than 44 cents, I just let the postal person use their postage meter labels. I've futzed around with 1 and 2 cent stamps to make up for postage increases long enough - these Forevers are brilliant as far as I'm concerned. I bought $100 worth when they were first introduced at 42 cents way back in April of 2007. Still using them with a handful of cards left to go. I'm glad there will be commemoratives though, the regular postal issues can be a bit bland.

I tend to choose mirrors over art. I like the way they play with light in our little cottage and reflect the outside views. I can count art on one hand, but I can't the mirrors! Mustang, your wall reminds me of something we did in our daughter's room. I started with them different finishes, but I ended up painting them all the same shade of white. It bounced the light beautifully. (BTW, I love looking at pics but am scared to death when it comes to sharing. This has always been our "we'll only be here awhile" house, so I've decorated with whatever I can find for pennies instead of what I want. Read: hodgepodge!) In our living room I've actually lost track of how many different mirrors we've used for a little while then moved. That room has great morning light, and I just can't help but fill it with mirrors. This was taken before everything was in the room, but...

What lovely nostalgic stories! My memories of a cold winter morning were of the rattling coming up the big old round furnace pipes as Dad shook the ashes out of the grates and put some more wood blocks on the coals to start the fire going ... the heat came more quickly if he'd bought some coal in the fall and put some on the fire at night, for there'd be more coals left. We cut our own wood from trees that were dieing in our woodlot. Then Dad went to the barn to milk the cows and feed them - as we got older, we had to go out to help, mainly feeding the cattle. We fed the work horses and the beef cattle and pigs (we didn't call them "swine") in another barn after breakfast - but went to school on school days. Eight kids in one-room elementary school, separate doors for "Boys" and "Girls", with toilets over a tank in the separated basement. We'd line up by the "Boys" entrance door from cloakroom and march around to our desks as the teacher played, "English Country Gardens" on the piano. The big kids helped the littler ones with their work, part of the time. Once a bit of a distant neighbour came into the little general store in the village when I was there, about 4 years old, I think and Dad was in a side romm getting something, and when he saw me is reported to have said, "No need to ask who you are - Dick Baker will never be dead as long as you're around!". Dad died 23 years ago ... and there was 28 years difference in our ages. When he was in his 80s, he'd drive 2,000 miles alone every year from the Prairies down here to London to visit old friends ... in 3 days. We used to say that he was crazy ... but agreed that when they're 80 or so, you may as well save your breath to cool your porridge as tell them what they should do. Did I say that? Brother said that he was too tight to spring for more than two nights in a motel on the road ... and when I asked what was the difference - he'd spend about three weeks in a motel when he was down here, brother replied, "Oh, yeah - but he gets a weekly rate from them!". Did someone say something about apples not falling far from trees? Have yourselves a great spring weekend, everyone. ole joyful