Well, a rainy day and time to get back to the forum. Thanks for the encouragement, all. Hi Mabel. West Paris is a pretty friendly place, judging from all the folk who stop by to talk gardening or strangers who see me in the General Store and comment on the garden. (I do spend a lot of time out there and the garden is right on the road so the "new guy with the garden that moved in over at Mrs. L's house" has become a topic of conversation around town, I'm told.) Thought I'd take a couple of minutes and post some pictures that I posted earlier on another forum I participate in. The garden is progressing pretty well and I'm generally happy with what got done this first year thought there is a whole lot of room for improvement and better planning. (I do tend to be overly critical of my own work, although too forgiving of other's. A bad trait for an engineering manager, I suppose, but that's me, I guess.) I did manage to get most of the weeds in check these past couple of weeks, so that's something to crow about. I centered the garden between two Red Maples and around the enormous lilac that falls dead center between them. Here's some views taken a few weeks ago: The west side: Finished the fence and only a little of that soil is still unplanted. Fall crops like kale and late snap peas will go there. One of the broccoli beds: (harvesting every day now!) And the east side: Following is a picture of the lilac that is at the core of the garden, taken earlier in the season. As I worked on the east side of the garden, the first half I focused on, the breeze from the west made the scent a constant fixture. I'd like to eventually cut it back to about 2/3rds its current size to make it a little less overwhelming and a little less shade-casting. This is where the main gate on the road-side will be. I still haven't gotten around to building a proper garden gate, but that is on top of my (ever-growing) wish-list. Wayne

Thanks Party Music. Nana, I would send you my stems but I like them too. Not quite ready to give them up! I didn't see any of these this year while shopping. Sometimes Ross and TJ Maxx carries the same ones for a few years. Isn't it about time for you to set another ts? I found 3 of the big stone napkin rings. Was it you who used on one of your tables? I'll have to figure out how to use them on one of mine. Jeanne, glad you liked the napkins with the plates too. I wasn't sure if I would go green, red or white until I opened the drawer with these and Bingo. I wanted to start decorating my hutch but just didn't have the get up and go tonight. So instead I've sat here and consumed a whole bag of sunflower nuts while posting and texting.Darn Thanks for the comments. I may get Friday off so who knows what I'll come up with if I get 3 days off in a row. I'm hoping to play with DGD at least one day. Punk

Melinda had those 'bug eyes' and was in outer space as Ramsey said. She deserved to leave. She couldn't cook angel hair pasta? C'mon, give me a break??!!! 5 flippin' minutes in boiling water and drain. How do these folks get picked. Robert is back. Okay, I like the guy. He is funny as hell. But he left for a heart condition and came back not only looking like he GAINED WEIGHT but with a real superiority attitude that was not deserved and will be shot through full of holes before the next episode. I have symathy for heavy people, but the dude is like 500 lbs and had a heart scare and if nothing else it looks like he has gained weight, not lost. Somewhere Richard Simmons is quivering in his shiney shorts@! I'm not just picking on her. Lovely (who the hell names their kid that?) is a loser and will go home soon. This character who wants to fight Ramsey is a psycho and must either have a hidden agenda or the whole thing is staged. I'm not sure what to believe anymore. It's all fun, but it is getting extra hilarious with the contestants. I guess that is what reality T.V. is all about. Duane

Mitch...go to Hulu.com. They have free episodes. I was using Amazon too, but it was getting expensive. And yes, Don has a problem. Were it today I'd be concerned about "what" he was bringing home to his wife. Or maybe there will be a 60s take on this one in some near episode.