1. Sun. Everybody needs to get some sun exposure in order absorb enough vitamin D. This is a medical fact if you want to avoid serious osteoporosis. Don't overdo it but don't be afraid of it , and wear a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. 2.The newest sprays are far less dangerous than the old ones and one uses a very little amount of them. We consume far more of the sane when we buy veggies and fruit in the supermarket than when we spray them in the garden in an entire year. This is also a fact. The most reliable chemist on the forum, Mark Rivers once posted and exact calculation about the proportion of propiconazole or tebucazonazole and alike used for food preservation as opposed to garden spraying of the same substances and the comparison was frightening; nevertheless I believe him without any doubt. 3. Although this debate comes up every year on the forum ad nauseam, needles to say, mostly people living in the west coast are the most judgmental (my utmost respect to the exceptions), since they live in a blessed climate and they lecturing those who live in less fortunate parts of the US while most of the rose breeders still hybridize modern roses in California. 4. Organics. Not all organics are good, some are straight deadly. Just think about Cyanide, Arsenic, Strychnine, Digitalis and so on. I think a much more complex, multifaceted and deeper approach is needed from the 'greenies". To repeat talking points is easy but that that does not make it true it just makes the repetition irritable. I say this despite the fact that because of my health I plant more and more no-spray roses, especially climbers. To avoid any misunderstanding, I am not worried about the hazard of the chemicals I used but I because my back problems I cannot carry the equipment I used to push-roll any longer. When I sprayed (and I still have to spray some roses) I use eye protection, chemical gloves and long sleeve blouse or sweater. We have to use use far more serious protection for the organic product, the winter spraying of lime sulfur; then we use a serious respirator. Isn't it ironic?

Hi all, I read this thread with interest; I have an itch after watering the tomato plants in my greenhouse. I get an itching feeling like hundreds of thunder flies are on my skin and this does not seem to matter whether I touch the plants or not. I have tried with various magnifying glasses to locate what definitely feel like microscopic bugs on my skin but have never found anything. It only seems to affect the exposed parts of my body i.e. arms, legs head etc never get a feeling under clothes socks trousers shirt etc.... thats why I had the ides that it actually was a tiny bug of some sort - never get anything like it outside the greenhouse or in other parts of the garden - the greenhouse for most part is closed off and a relatively separate atmosphere which (again my thoughts) could be an environment where something either flies or microscopic parasites could thrive. Some of the comments on here also make sense - an allergy to something in the plants maybe a component that is in the air in enough quantity due to the closed environment such that it can "land" on my exposed skin?? Tomatoes do have a rather pungent aroma on a hot day in a greenhouse. Although I am not really affected by this nor am I concerned that it is a major health issue I would appreciate any further thoughts.

I didn't see an actual frame set from the link but the feel I get from the site is not 'in your face" red but more a subdued aspect in the frame. Pam I think if your eyes are engaging - and based on your personality i would guess you do your eyes to communicate effectively - any color or shape in frames simply becomes an accessory not the main event, but supportive in a big way to the main event. My husband has been wearing glasses since early childhood and he has gorgeous caribean blue eyes that were hiding behind heavy wrong color tear drop shaped frames when I met him. Before we even were involved - just friends - I took him for new glasses. He felt like a million bucks and when i got disengaged he got the courage to drive me to the airport for a business trip and kiss me - but that's another story! Feel free to take pix and post 'em, we'll help you pick!

OklaMoni - I suspect that you won't like cheaper products after using EL (depending on the EL that you use) and of course your skin type. I can't use EL except, surprisingly, for the Verite cleanser that I can just use to wash my face. I wish I could use any of the products mentioned - I can't. I have very thin, fair, naturally extremely dry skin, and am allergic to just about everything - especially botanicals (and antihistamine) and of course can't use any form of acid/retinol/C - or fillers. Skin is right colour for laser, but skin is too thin. So I have always used the most hydrating toner I could find along with a hydrating serum/cream, followed by a night cream during the day (this was post the period when SPF started being added to day creams - can't use a combo product). Finding a sunscreen that doesn't cause a rash is the devil - and I need one that is moisturizing and doesn't eat my makeup. I am 63 and agree with those who posted that they can see aging basically all of a sudden. It happens - and often in 5 year bumps. My face is thin - always has been, even when I weighed 200 lbs. during my teen years. At 63 it is still thin which does not help. I am not overweight now but my weight is all on the bottom. I have a long waist and short legs - so always wear long skirts (and at 5'7" hard to find) - of course I use to be taller. Cost is definitely becoming a problem - not developing a burning rash from a product is of course a primary concern - but absorption of a product is key. Products that I have tried that cost less and resulted in a rash also did not absorb. My foundation contains oil - has to - and since I am yellow based with a ph of 3.5 everything changes on me - so not easy either. I guess it is a good thing that I have only one lipstick, blush etc. since I have only been able to find one shade in everything that I use - and they have now been d/c. I hate reformulation - everything these days is about actives and botanicals - deadly for my skin. So I need high end products - but fortunately I am at the low end of the high end due to my botanicals/actives issues. I will try just about anything provided there is a chance it will work - I will not rule out say one botanical or 2 if they are at the bottom of the list - but when the listing starts off with Linden Blossom, Lily, Lavender, Rose etc. - forget it. Forget anything "natural". I can't even make a cheap masque using honey and egg due to the honey. I can't use yogourt on my face because of the lactic acid - this will guarantee a rosacea attack. Soy is also a major problem. And forget perfume/fragrance. I can't even use Clinique - there is something in the products - I know it was Aloe Vera at one time - maybe still is. I have been trying to find cheaper products that work especially with the high cost of living and my husband's retirement looming. I worked for a company that did not provide a pension. Then there is hair. My natural hair colour is auburn. I greyed in my 20s - and it is ugly iron grey that does not look nice with a yellow-toned skin. How I wish I had that gorgeous silver or white hair with a pink-toned complexion. But I don't. I tried on wigs in other colours - horrible. Natural auburn (nothing with a purple tone) is perfect for me but now that I can't get the colour shade at the drugstore - not to mention the full grey that I would now have - it would be tough doing it myself as I did until 15 years ago because I would have that awful line of demarcation - and I do need to pull the colour through. Red fades, no doubt about it. I always wear a hat. I have extremely thick, very dry, naturally wavy hair that grows like a weed. Last time I went for my colour the growth was twice that of the normal person. And living in Toronto going to the hairdresser is not cheap. I need to have my hair cut by someone who knows how to cut curly hair and I need to have layers so that it will curl properly. I do not suit it really short - and I would look (I know because I wore it short until I was 30) like a brillo pad. There are people that I know (my husband is one) who can use anything. And yet, I could look worse - well I am about to. I have been on HRT for 6 years - so am about to be taken off it. There were no health reasons for me not to take it so I did - my reason being my very dry skin.