I found this recipe for paper clay on the Welburn gourd farm site.I thought I would share it here.Haven't tried it yet but plan to soon. Paper Clay for gourds 4 C. Sifted flour 4 C. cold water 1 pint Elmer's white glue Mix the water and flour in a sauce pan until there are no lumps.Stir continually over medium heat until mixture is clear.Remove from heat and make a hole in the center of the mixture with a wooden spoon.Add the Elmers glue(or any white glue)and mix until smooth.Tear 1/2 roll of cheap toilet paper into pieces,(the cheaper the paper the better it works)and work it into the mixture.Set aside to cool.Place mixture in a zip lock baggie and refrigerate.This will keep several weeks in the refrigerator.Use as you would any modeling clay.Forms well on gourds,air dries and can be painted with acrilics,water colors an other craft paints.

I can't wait until dcarch post a thread on sharpening knives. I have an electric knife-sharpener but I lost the instruction booklet ... I will post pic. and ask folks here for help. Santa didn't bring me what I want for my entire life: socks that are loose on my ankles. I have skinny chicken-legs and they are still tight even when I dropped down to 110 lbs. I can't cook well when the socks retrict my blood vessels. Tight socks reversed the blood flow so I screwed up on my cooking. LOL! I don't have elephant feet either, I wear size 6 woman. So it must be a conspiracy between Hanes and Fruit of the Loom to make socks that shrink to infant sizes in the dryer, so people have to buy more. Yes, I stretch these socks on top of every cans, including oatmeal in my pantry. People would open my pantry and exclaim, "what's this, a socks party?" My 10-years old, who's under 75 lbs., complained that even the men's socks are tight for her. So I chopped off the top "prison-ankles" off, or buy low-cut socks for her. My husband, who is a skinny-marathon-runner, gave me all his size 11 socks which shrank to size 4, and I still have to cut the tight-top off. Straw (Strawberryhill in Chicagoland)

victorian It sounds perfect how you decorate. Love the tree on the porch..they do it around here and it always looks beautiful. I once had a spot light on the house ( on the dim side, just to softly illuminate it, but never with "snow" never seen that, but sounds really nice) one year I did the wreaths wraped in a mix of red and clear lights and it did look pretty.. but that was enough colored lights to last me..lol What is with men and colored lights? we go through the same argument every year..he never wins (smile) Today I went in the attic and started looking through everything..one thing I forgot about (new last year) I bought large size artificial poinsettias "plants" in a Âplanter" in home depot. I took the clear mini lights and wrapped them through the flowers and stems. Placed them on the buffet table (where the large picture of the lady is) on either side of that picture and plugged them in..they really looked pretty. I am going to maybe check ebay..(Carolers) maybe with some luck I can find something that is not a fortune. That is so nice they still do that by you..it happens here once in a blue.. years back, we had adults caroling and they sang really good..but I love to see the kids do it..touches a soft spot. well again..I am looking forward to see your pictures.. hang in there with decorating..I am sure you are doing a great job and you home will loook just beautiful! Ree

nottougly... thank you for the beautiful sparkly glittery SANTA Christmas card and sharing with me a part of your gardens...red bee balm and zinnias...thank you! socalgardengal...thank you for the beautiful Christmas wreath Christmas card and for sharing with me a part of your gardens... Cornflower 'double mix', large ivory cherry tomato! yum! super excited to try these! and the I.nil 'China Doll' and I. nil youjiro! wow! all of my favorites! thank you for spoiling me ..... =) nlb52... thank you for the beautiful glittery ice skating scene Christmas card.. also for sharing your gardens with me... Marigolds 'orange and yellow', coneflowers and toad lilys! yay! I will be winter sowing these...thank you! pmb2005...thank you for the precious penguins Happy Holidays Christmas card...also for the Coreopsis 'Mahogany Midget' and Echinacea 'Tennessensis' .... will be winter sowing these as well! thank you! wishing you ladies and your families a very happy holiday season and a beautiful garden for 2015!