I have some first hand experience with the adverse effects of soy. I realized a couple of years ago that I was lactose intolerant. I also have to take thyroid supplements due to Graves disease, that required the removal of my thyroid. Well I had been on the same dose of thyroid medication for almost 2 years, finally had it requlated. And then at my next appointment, about 8 months after switching to soy, my levels were completly out of whack. This led my doctor to run other tests, which came back with upset blood levels. Primarily low platlettes, which function to make blood clot. This is often caused by an auto-immune disfunction, the body actually destroys the platelletes faster then you can make them. Well it just happened that we had the day before my appointment read a medical journal that published a report about soy preventing the absorbtion of thyroid hormones. So my doctor, who I am thrilled to have as she tends to not jump to conclusions and start writing prescriptions, decided to see if quiting the soy would help. In 3 months my thyroid levels regulated. However it took much longer for the autoimmune function to stabalize, almost the better part of a year, but with small improvements almost immediately. I will occasionally eat things with soy, primarily soy beans or fermented soy products (miso etc), but in very limited quantities. I think all things in moderation is generally a good rule. My problem came from drinking a couple servings of soy milk a day (one with cereal and one with coffee). I also tend to believe that each person will react differently to soy products. It is just good to be aware of possible issues, so that if something comes up medically you can look to solutions that are simpler then taking more medications that most doctors are quick to prescribe. The hardest thing for me to find an alternative to that doesn't have soy is a good mutli-vitamin. Read your labels, most multi-vitamins these days have the soy isoflavens.

Silly me. I have no idea whether Dutchman's Pipevine can be propagated by cuttings. A Google search brought me right back to our own forum and a few other pages which suggest that it is best grown from seed and is not hardy in zone 7 anyway. Oh, well. Sue, you have more than enough to worry about in the next few days, so you just have fun and keep feeding those boys pizza. Terramadre posts sometimes in the butterfly forum but more often in the Alabama forum. Here's a thread in which all three of us posted: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/alabgard/msg0618180512130.html MissSherry, it's good to hear from you. I sent happy thoughts to you as we went through coastal Mississippi on I-10. I hope you felt a little breeze of good feelings as you were working in your garden last Saturday.

I have made up a couple of sets of pre-printed acid free paper packs, that contain 50 sheets, 1 each of a different design, of 8 1/2 x 11 size, with no duplicate patterns. I would like to trade preferable paper for paper, but I would consider other offers. Please be advised that these paper packs DO NOT include any CM paper. ( There is not a CM consultant in our area, and I find it is too expensive for my budget.) Mostly these are sheets that came in packs for printer use, but have lovely patterns. They include names such as Hallmark, etc.. I bought packs of them in hopes of trading locally, but the art of scrapbook making has yet to catch on here in my TINY town, and I do not need as many as I have of the same design. If anyone is interested please let me know. I also have some approx 3" x 5" iron on's that make great titles and accents for pages. You just iron it on a piece of acid free paper and then attatch them to your page. I have no idea as to the acid content of these iron on's but since you would not be ironing them on to your picture it's self, then they should be safe to use. I know they are really cute. There is approx. 15-20 different designs. For example: A pair of muscled up arms, and underneath the drawn arms are the words JOCK, then there are things that say: Fisherman are happy hookers, and it shows a guy in a boat. If anyone has something they would like to trade for a set of these let me know also. I have more items including stickers with names on them. Sample : Josh, Suzanne, etc. Most of the more common names however are already gone. Penny

Hi! After 3&1/2 years of collecting materials and reading 'Memory Makers' magazine, I've finally succeeded in completing several pages. In fact, I've started "memory photo albums" for both sets of grandparents! They will each receive a "starter" scrapbook with six pages of photo memory pages of their grandson and a promise of additional memory photo pages to be sent every few months. Now I just need to complete the pages for our book! I had planned on starting a scrapebook when our son was born 3&1/2 years ago, but I felt so overwhelmed about "how to" that I only succeeded in making one page. What finally got me stated was a set of really great photos from a family trip to Florida with my parents and my brother's family, and the need for some really great Mother's Day gifts. So, I found this great little package of beach scrapebook making pharaphernalia and now, there's no stopping me. I've made twevele page (six for each book) in two weeks! I think what keeps me motivated is that I know that both my mom and my mom-in-law will get a real kick (not to mention both dads) out of the albums. I can just see my mom now---she's going to feel so pround showing-off her grandson's memory album to all her co-workers (all of whom are teachers and will just love the concept!). Anyway, I just found this site and think it's great. Can't wait to read all the postings! Now I have a question: What does "cm" stand for? Is it a mail-order catologue? Thanks for all the great info.