Candy, I showed your photos to a professional artist friend of mine and she was blown away by what you did! Actually I showed them to a number of my friends, LOL. I've really been bragging on you. But....I can't find my mother's boot. Its been in a storage bin in the closet for years! Acckkkk, I can't believe I would have donated it. Noooooooo. I don't remember doing so, and pray its just one more thing I've MISplaced. I'm awfully good at losing things in the house, just ask Mr Oblivious. EACH holiday when I pull out decorations, he hears me say something is missing. I've checked all the places I could think for her boot, and no luck. Please cross your fingers its here in the house somewhere!!! I finally know how to decorate it and it goes missing. arrrggghhh. hugs, Karen

on to something new

I keep both rubbing alcohol and peroxide on hand. Have never used the alcohol for wounds, though. Usually soap and water first, followed by hydrogen peroxide if I'm concerned about contamination, followed by Neosporin and a Band-Aid. A couple of years ago I tripped on a rug/runner going into Walmart. It was raining, and they had put it down at the entrance, I guess to keep so much mess from being tracked into the store. Well, it wasn't laying smooth and flat, and down I went. Scrapped up my forearm pretty bad, was bleeding all over the place. They called an ambulance, which I didn't really need, but the medics did clean up the wound and bandaged it. But they didn't use anything to keep the gauze bandage from sticking. And stick it did! I had to go to my doctor to get that gauze off. Well, he told me to keep Neosporin on the scrape and keep it lightly covered until it healed. I was surprised because I had always thought you were supposed to let wounds dry out. He said no, always keep Neosporin or similar ointment on a wound to keep it supple and keep a hard dry scab from forming. So that is what I did. And have continued to do on any wound I've gotten since. I do bleed very easily, and am always scratching myself up pretty bad when mowing or working in the yard. Those Mesquite trees have vicious thorns! Rusty

Just looked up H. Witches Brew on the HL. Nice looking plant. Never heard of it before. Just found it on Fransen's web site and listed for sale. Described as a grey/green sieboldiana type. Growth listed as medium which probably translates as slow. I wouldn't rush to get it, there are probably better plants out there with a name along a similar theme. Try checking Don Rawson's Lists. Just my opinion. Dave