Ouch, Mel. Such a disappointment when you thought everything outside was looking so great. About 6 weeks ago we had 10 minutes of similar sized hail. The hostas and water lillies in the pond had looked soooo good. Just when all had recovered, we had another short hailstorm about 2 weeks later. Fortunately it was short and the water lily pads only bruised. Mother Nature is probably laughing at us all. Be sure to have your insurance adjuster check for roof shingle damage. We have a bunch of neighbors who are getting checks for a new roof. Our architectural, 35-year guarantee shingles survived just fine as did another neighbors. Glad you are feeling stronger these days. Elaine

It's quite unhappy to not have the blooms you wanted for the holidays. In my case, I can delay blooming by wrapping my bulb (scape and all) in newspaper and placing it in the fridge until I think it's time. It worked for me, but of course, the flowers wouldn't be as spectacular as they would bloom normally. But well, I guess I couldn't have the cake and it eat too, right? Xuan

Cindy, I really feel for all of you in the northern states who have the long cold dreary season to endure...but then I see the lupines and the other cool weather plants I can't grow, and see the other side of the coin as it were. The warm weather is going to do its usual freeze and kill of tender vegetation that is in too much of a hurry...the tulip tree is all covered with tight purple buds that will freeze before they open. Blueberries are forming, and the bridal wreath spirea is trying to get in too much of a hurry too. The daffs and the earliest tulips are brightening the place, but the daylily foliage has been bitten with more than one freeze. No Round up in the flower beds, Jean. It would be too likely to kill something I very much wanted to live instead of the weeds. I am trying to pull the little ones as they re-sprout. It keeps me out of trouble. At least I have only half of the winding bed in back to finish weeding, and it did get weeded in the fall, so that helps a bit. I have pulled out at least three hundred little oak saplings. the longest ones had roots over 18 inches long. Without all of this rain, I could never have pulled them out of the dirt. We are flirting with a record for rain in February, after years of drought. I am happy for every drop of rain that falls. kay

Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?