We started out with an old waterbed underdrawer frame. This was a two person job but super easy. I'd put the underdrawer boxes in the van then fill them up with larger plants, then put my flats on the plywood part then then me and my daughter would slide them over the boxes. Removal- slide out one plywood piece, empty out the plants sitting in the box, take out the box the slide out the 2nd plywood piece and set on the box. Clear out and remove 2nd box and put the first plywood on top of that, arrange larger plants around the boxes. This worked well for us because we got two layers of plants in the van, the whole set up was fairly light weight and we could unload and set up the booth in about 20 minutes flat! We even got comments like, "I can't believe you got all those plants out of that van, so fast. Another nice thing was I could set up the plants on the table top the night before and didn't have much arranging to do at the market. Oops, I just reread your post and you only have a jeep wrangler, probably coudn't fit a full sized waterbed in there. Unless you are looking for waist high height you might go for milk crates that you could stack the plants in so that you can get as many plants in there as possible! Use the milk crates as legs and a piece plywood as the table top. Let me know if this isn't very clear, I'm still kinda groggy from a road trip and am having a hard time typing.

It depends on the type of surgery. If any part of the digestive tract were involved I would ask about restrictions. If no restrictions, I would take him or her some of my vegetable beef soup. I skim every bit of fat after the broth has chilled and I use only a bottom round roast for soup meat. Everyone who has ever eaten my V/B soup says it is terrific. It is easy to reheat in the microwave and some really great bread or rolls are a nice addition. I do a decent chicken soup too, and it might seem more therapeutic to some. How about dropping by for breakfast and cooking the person's favorite whatever. Your company, home made fresh eggs, omelets, pancakes or cooked cereal, and then doing the dishes would probably be appreciated. Less nourishing, but possibly craved for by the patient, might be his or her favorite fast food. I have a friend who broke both her arms and she really appreciated company and take out fish and chips.

I appreciate your comments and observations on the subject. I do see however, that I'm not the only one who suffers occasional thoughts about food offerings that are presented in group settings, as well as those line hogs who load their plates to overflowing leaving only bits and pieces for those in line behind them. I might also mention here that I have a special animosity for those trolls (of ANY age past toddler) who constantly hang around the serving table/line pre-serving time and continually snag a bit of this or that, maybe stuff a roll or biscuit with a piece of meat, etc. and if confronted, will try to explain it away with some flimsy excuse ("just thought I'd try it or my sugar was low and I had to eat something or I just wanted to see what it tasted like, etc.) It's even worse when they do it bare handed instead of using the service utensil provided. This includes those that visit the dessert table long before meal time to grab what they can, eat it and then go back for seconds after the meal. Yes, I'm weird that way and my wife constantly reminds me that just because we try to show off our "best" company manners in these situations, not everyone else does. We were invited to an annual Christmas party last week where everyone is invited to bring food. The selection is always eclectic to a degree with a plate of some meat and other dishes that range from vegetable to weird salad combinations. This time, the meat consisted of what appeared to be a very small plate of smoked turkey and from the fellow that apparently doesn't cook, two pepperoni pizzas. Some of the vegetable (?) dishes consisted of what appeared to be a lot of cheese, a grain or possibly rice with some unidentifiable green bits mixed in which was presumably broccoli. In any case, there were a lot more people than dishes so somebody(s) cheated and didn't bring anything. And just so I you won't think I'm bagging on others while not admitting to my own offerings, I brought tamales from a very good local Mexican restaurant in my area. Mind you, while I'll readily admit that I'm not usually the most adventuresome cook around, I always do try to provide a food offering that is rather benign in terms of weirdness, that is, a colorful green salad, some vegetable that's not drowning in cheese or an unnamed condensed soup, smoked ham, a seasonal fruit salsa and chips, etc. Again, thanks for your comments. Just glad to see that others suffer in silence at times just as I do. ;o)

Cactus, I do pretty good with cryptanthus. One of my 3 red earth stars bloomed this past early spring & all have a few pups. Ive noticed the dying process for them after blooming is slow, like bromeliads. HC McDole I will have to consider a terrarium or container like yours for winter! Beautiful plants! I didnt realize they were trialing- the one I had didnt make it long enough to trail & Ive never read that about them. Paul yes the owner probably felt comfortable telling me this, Ive been going there every couple months for a few years & if hes there in the greenhouse, we talk plants. Hes a 2nd gen. owner & he, his bro & widowed mom own/run it. Very nice people, reasoable prices. Ive got my eye set on a ”whale tail” sansevieria from there next, may give my trifasciata away since seeing the whale tale. Mike FLF Guy Id rather not give the name of this place & I dont think they do online orders/shipping so if you arent in Northern IN it wouldnt help out you anyway to know their name.