I can't resist--making lists is so much fun! My "summer favorites" are based on how well they can function in our triple-digit mid-summer heat: Our Lady of Guadalupe--pristine silvery pink appearance on this floriferous floribunda, best bloomer throughout the triple-digit heat of the past month, no disease. Mystic Beauty--my newest rose. Delicate pink blooms are exquisite. Still small, but no disease yet. I love this rose--a Bourbon, if I remember right? Supposedly a nearly identical twin of the very popular Souvenir de la Malmaison. Molineux--I have 3 planted together to form the appearance on one larger, showy bush. Love it. Good rebloomer, even in this heat. Sometimes a little BS on this Austin. Fru Dagmar Halstroop (spelling of the last name?)-- another newer rose, a rugosa--still small, but looks like she plans to be strong and sturdy. Pale pink blooms, no disease. Elle--hybrid tea, strong bloomer in the summer heat. Little disease. Jubilee Celebration--this Austin is not a heavy bloomer in the heat, but seems to be able to regularly manage a couple blooms most days. Lovely salmon pink with touch of yellow at the base. Little BS. Valencia--another slow bloomer in the heat, but when she puts out those long-lasting BIG blooms, she truly is special. Hybrid tea. Braveheart--shrub, spotty but persistant bloomer during the hot days. Those true red blooms are quite dramatic. Little BS. Earth Song--I've complained that there is something excessive about this rose (hybrid tea? grandiflora? shrub?)that irritates me, so I moved it near the back of the backyard. Back there, its "too much" qualities aren't noticeable and, in fact help carry the bright pink blooms across the distance. I'm beginnning to really like it now--with a little more space between me and the plant. Good disease resistance also. There are others out there that throw out a bloom here or there, now and then, but nothing consistent or particularly noticeable unless you are standing directly in front of the bush. And of course there are a few that just gave up and went to Alaska for the summer, but they will be back with cooler autumn weather. I don't really have any "NO WAY" roses, but I did spade a couple--the weakling Happy Child is gone, Lambert Closse got spaded--too frowzy, sloppy looking even though the disease-resistance was very good. I'm eyeing Gypsy Carnival--a BS magnet in spring and fall, but blooming wonderfully in this heat in which BS can't even grow--just not sure what to do with it. I love the yellow reverses on that red, red rose. Same fate may be awaiting one of my two Jeri Jennings (hybrid musks)--lovely but too much BS problem, especially since I have TWO of them. The BS collectors just don't have a long-term home in my garden. I need disease-resistant roses! The temps are dropping more often into the 90s now, so I expect the other half of the roses should be kicking back in gear here before long. Will be nice to see them again. Kate

A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

Annie, spoon spatula sounds interesting but I am looking for a flat solid or slotted spatula that is soft enough to be used when flipping on nonstick kitchenware. I have an EKco solid flexible stainless steel spatula that has to be 50 years old, I use it for many things, cutting, serving, cleaning stuck on food on pans. It's begining to show wear. It has a composit handle that is holding up surprisingly well. These were sold everywhere in those days, when things used to be made in the good old USA.Sounds like what Mimsic is looking for. I'll check out the Lamson Sharp. And, I agree, it's impossible to depend on brands any longer.

99.9% of my selection decisions and purchases done via internet. Spent endless hours here. - DRAWERS, DRAWERS, DRAWERS - *big* increase at final budgeting stage - didn't know that things like tapmaster existed, although I've had the need for hands-free for the last 7-8 yrs - ABG options - ABB, which I'm sorry to say I may be a permanent member - little important details like how far from wall to place recessed lighting. I think my GC was impressed. He's usually, 'point to where you want lights placed' - 1 butt vs 2-butt kitchen - zones - drove all parties crazy, including DH, with my perfectionist tendencies. - learned it's okay to move from perfection to 'overall I'm okay with the imperfection'. The 'live with it for a while' mantra - white kitchens are/were all the rage and some considered outdated. I still don't care lol. - got a lot more organizing inserts. Just showed photos to cabinetmaker - I want this! - Oops! For things that were not exactly done as I envisioned due to miscommunication but were not exactly show-stoppers. - the built-in paper towel holder - plugmold strips under upper cabinets. When a discrepancy with contractor over the need not to have any outlets/switches in backsplash area, I'd say - then how do all the GW ppl do it? They are tired of hearing any sentence including the words 'GW' in it.