For the first 12 years of my life, (1932 forward), Franklin D. Roosevelt was our president. After him come Harry S.Truman David D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard M. Nixon James Carter Gerald Ford Ronald Reagan George Bush (father) William J. Clinton George Bush (son) Barack H. Obama (I can never keep the initials straight on the Bushes, so rather than embarrass myself, omitted them. I don't remember the other omitted middle initials, either.) :>( George, who am I missing? If Coolidge was the 30th President and Obama is the 44th, I'm short one, also! Holy Smoke! This really is a *senior moment*!

Tony, can I ever relate. The only difference is that I had never made a thing grow in my life before. The plants I received during the many hospital stays, I managed to kill within the year. I had three failed back surgeries which left me with no use of my left leg and foot, a back that I can no longer bend, turn or twist and lately severe Arthritis has attacked my entire body (especially my hands) and horrific pain 24/7. I was in deep depression for a very long time and perhaps if my children would have helped and worried about me as you do about your Mom, I would have pulled myself out of my world of self-pity a long time ago. Alas, I was not that lucky, however, one can only live like that for so long, before thoughts of ending it all take over, and I thank G-d for giving me the strength to find the will to search every avenue to help myself. Also, I have a family physician who is modern and not adverse to giving me enough medication (even narcotics) to take the edge off of the pain. When my youngest moved across the ocean, I bought a samll computer to keep in touch with her. I taught myself how to send e-mails and then I started wandering around the Internet. It was then that I came across GardenWeb and after reading the different posts for days, I got the courage to post and ask questions. You would not believe the many replies I received with all kind of advice on how to start a garden (some giving me sites where to find more info) Last winter I kept myself very busy planning my little garden, searching through catalogues, gardening magazines and the Internet, looking for perennial plants that have "good garden manners", as my garden buddy Newt taught me.I have several container plants and start working on them when it is too cold to plant in the ground. My garden takes up most of my time (even the many long sleepless nights). I agree with the poster that said that outside help can be very frustrating, however, if you have the time to supervise then they will do as your Mom would like to have in done. Who knows, I just might find another hobby to add, that will ensure that I have no spare moments to dwell on all the things I can no longer do (I was not born disabled) Also, I am not adverse to getting a little psycological help now and them when I need it most. I have to digress here for a moment and tell you that the great friends I found here on GardenWeb gave me a new lease on life. I still write to some and they answer when they are able. We exchange jokes as well as gardening information,links where you can find more information for every subject and seeing that we are in the same boat, in one form or another, it gives me the strength to carry on. (We understnad each other) Perhaps that is why I am so grateful to GardenWeb,and to this new Forum. The advice you got in the previous posts are excellent, and if I may, I would like to suggest that if you do build a raised bed, sitting on the wall and twisting around to care for the plants does not always work for everyone. I know it doesn't for me. I don't know if my solution will work for your Mom, however, I had four large (tall) rock garden stones with relatively flat tops placed in strategic places so that I can move around on them (not have to twist my spine). That way I am closer to the ground and can get my hands in the dirt. I guess I will have to leave the composting to purchasing it in a bag (not quite the same as making your own, I understand, however,it's the best I can manage.) Just one last thing, I have purchased some excellent "Enabling tools" through a Catalogue,the name is called Gardenscape, they have a toll free number, which is: 1-888-472-3266, the are situated in Toronto 416-698-5339, they are very reliable, guarantee all purchases and ship promptly. The Catalogue is Free. (I believe they are a GardenWeb sponsor) Good Luck, and G-d Bless Punky.

We have some dead space under a corner of our kitchen counter, and I tossed in a This Old House magazine (LOL) and a copy of our monthly neighborhood newspaper. Our kitchen walls were crumbling lath and plaster coated in lead paint. I used a Sharpie to write a note on the wall to future homeowners, in which I apologized for not spendign the money to remove the lead paint. Then we covered the original walls with 1/4" sheetrock :-) Come to think of it, since that time, we've found out some amazing information about the original owner of our house when it was built in 1913, and I may need to open that space up again and make an addition. Here's what we found out, through old property records and newspaper articles: apparently the first owner of the house meant to retire in it, but died shortly after moving in. His grief-stricken wife died the day of his funeral. They had one daughter, who married young and apparently unhappily, and in the 1920s, she left her husband and 7 (!) children and was never heard from again.

I missed this thread ... glad it came back up. My husband and I are avid fans. I tried out for Jeopardy! around the time granjan did -- at least ten years ago, when it was still being made in the Burbank area. I took the test and was one of the three selected that day for an interview. We played a mock game on a mock set and I did as well as the other two. They told us if we weren't contacted by August, that was it. We'd have to try out all over again for the following season. They also warned us that many teachers and students apply for the show, but the producers want contestants from as wide a variety of occupations as possible. I assume that worked against me, since I am a teacher. (Okay, maybe it was my personality.) They never got in touch. At any rate, I didn't try out again. I was so happy to get the interview, that was enough for me! My friend's mother was actually on Jeopardy! (senior tournament, she didn't win) and we all went to watch. That's where I learned more about the show. Alex was pleasant to everyone, even the go-fers. The audience has to be really quiet -- it's very hard to sit there and not shout out answers (like we do at home). As I recall they were taping 5 shows that day, so the contestants had to have changes of clothes, as mariannese mentioned. Besides literature, facts about Canada, U.S. presidents and state capitals are heavily featured.