Wow! Isn't it great to start thinking of anotehr garden season!!! For a change I actually got to just a bit of the cleanup this past fall. Can't do it right now as its all covered with 3-4' snowdrifts.....out of sight, out of mind - LOL Lucy- glad you got to have Maddy over the wknd. Our G'son is just a block away but now at (almost)10 spends more time w chums than G'ma and I. Pulling into the driveway last night I could see him running home...all flailing elbows and knees in snowgear and boots...never walks, always running. Paused in the drive to watch-LOL. What a joy they are! All the projects remind me of similar needs in my yard but I think I'm going to be investing most of my money in larger containers for all the cuttings which were shared with me this fall.....on top of the 'herd' I already had accumulated. Yaaayyy. Maybe I've 'turned the corner' with both my bronchitis and attitude. Y'all have gotten me ready to start thinking about 2010 much more postively. Will

Since I am the city clerk he has been going around telling every one I am doing things all wrong and illegal yada yada yada. This is a tiny town and there are many that will listen to him as I am not a favorite around town after stopping a good old boy ring of old town rulers that were dipping from the city coffers. This is pretty much a bass ackwards kind of tiny town.Gives real meaning to red neck. The stress he has been causing me is of constantly having to prove what he is saying about me is not true.Frustration because I should not be having to deal with this crap. I work so hard for this little city. With my careful watch I brought this town in 15K under budget this year in the general fund. Considering the budget was ruffly 59K I did very well handling the tax payers dollars!!! Not me actually I do not run the city. BUT I kept the council appraised on where they stood at every decision financially. Before me they were running amuck. I could go on for hours on the waste before I came on scene. Needless to say bad boys are not happy I have lightened their and their relatives personal pockets. Any way all of this started another psoriasis flair up for me. I have not brought it under control yet. It is very painful with hands and feet splitting and bleeding at the drop of a hat. Sunday my hands were clear of splits. Yesterday I had 16 new bloody splits on fingers and palms. And I did not do this with my mosaics on the hoosier Sunday.See gadget thread on the other side here. Hoping now the election is over and bad boy lost and the rest of my council but one are great the next couple of years will mellow out. Sorry for the rant. I am still pretty wound up.

That's so cute suncoast !! Kristine , I have to leave space for my husband too . Ughh isn't the grass by the driveway enough?! Haha summers we aren't out of the woods yet ! We turned down La only to be asked about San Diego! Ugh. At least we can buy a little lot there . Haven't got an official offer but I'm praying to stay and he's praying to go ! Haha I'm believing for staying. Curdle a pond would be amazing !! My little one would love it . Maybe someday ! Streisandfan I agree that sounds like a lovely vision! Someone in our neighborhood has a gazebo with nothing around it . I'm not even sure why they got it ! It's dying for some roses !

It took me a long long time to find my creative activity, but I found it with the garden (and writing). I can't overstate how important it is to me. Perma, I hope your activities are fulfilling for you, though that's too weak a word. I know how many years I searched for a form of expression. DD is fine: she has drawn ever since she could hold a pencil in her hand, and is steadily productive and satisfied as an artist. Art is her avocation; she's an engineering student and happy in her major: both activities are important to her. The horses stay on the grass paths, of course, cutting and fertilizing them, while the gardeners dismount and work in the beds. OF COURSE I'd love a full time gardener or two: who wouldn't? It's the dream of us all! I'd still have plenty to do.