Hi nannerbelle ! Are deer going to be an issue? I'm discovering lots of shade shrubs. Elaeagnus is so fragrant now preceeding the wild honeysuckle. I hear it's a nitrogen fixer so I'm going to try planting under/near it and see if plantings thrive for the nitrogen. Sweetshrub. Kind of a nondescript with aromatic foliage of no particular beauty but the dark mahogany red flowers are just starting to open. Surprised that even the two foot tall seedlings nearby (hint..it seeds easily) are putting up blooms. Once the blooms are open, they are quite fragrant. The structure is airy/leggy so front with something evergreen and dense. Older varieties of the tall blueberry shrubs..they give nice background under tall canopy/forest edge and they turn the most wonderful salmon color foliage in fall. Lowes had the taller version on their racks. (just sayin'..I buy from independents) This yard is , some would say..infested with Rose of Sharon. All different colors. Bright light is all they ask for and they are thriving in the mostly acid soil. I think first do the skeleton background of shrubs and pay attention to prevailing breezes and sun path as you site your shrubs. Damp feet area in bright forest edge? Florida anise,ilex Then, drag out your old "Southern Gardener Book of Lists" by Lois Trigg Chaplin. I'm a fan of the loropetalums and having had the biggest ones, the tallest thinnest ones I'm now excited about the smaller dwarf variety with deep purple leaves to be a background for a lime green w/ crimson splash leaved Heuchera.(s) (many many) Astilbe is a reliable spring bloomer in bright shade.(oops..babelsrus mentioned that already). lemon verbena does fine in bright shade moist but well drained (elevated bed). Another favorite early bloomer perennial is siserinchium (sp). The cultivated one is Lucerne and a truer blue than the native ones which are more blue violet. Tricky part is siting them so you remember they aren't grass to be pulled up,sprayed or weeded out. So site them where later flowers will cover the grassy foliage. In between bursts of flowering when some gardens look monochromatic green..coleus here and there bring reliable color foliage. For that patchy sun spot or good morning sun til noon or so..I had the cottage look of mixed blackeyed susans with tall perennial ageratum. The blueviolet fuzz against the hard yellow orange petals around a fountain or birdbath was so pretty and easy care if you get the early weeds and grasses out.of the beds.

Punk, you always have good ideas and I always enjoy hearing them! Your Christmas table idea sounds lovely and I'm definitely going to try it next December. I do have some smaller trees that would work well on the table with him. Thanks! Here's a close-up of the ground jewels painting. It's done on silk, BTW. I don't know much more about the process or why they use ground jewels to paint with. It sounds like waste of good jewels to me. My guess is that artists use the chips left behind when various jewels are cut, but that's only a guess. I've just tried googling "ground jewels+paint" and didn't find anything. Hi Twomonths, and welcome to our forum! I see from your GW page that you're originally a Texas gal now living with your family in SoCal. Your ideas are great. I actually have a box of slender brass candlesticks in varying heights somewhere around here. I hadn't even thought of them until you mentioned this . . . thank you! Hope you post here more often now :~) Lynn

could you attach some white fiberfill to a lightweight disc...this will become the head and face ...the kind you tole paint xmas ornaments on ..put a roller on the "hair" ..wrap the hair like you remember with a similar kind of scarf....paint on a very primitive face.. and attach a tag "Grandmas are just ANTIQUE little girls" write on the back of the ornament ..her name and DOB...and any other info so they will have it to remember her too. For her kids..." Moms' are what memories are made of"...just an idea, it's hard to describe what you see in your head to someone else. I think the discs are three inches in diameter and come in packs of 12. Wooden heads would work but be costly and styrofoam would be hard to write info and a face on.

More for ya: BACON AND GREEN CHILE ROLL-UPS 8 slices bacon 1 (9-oz.) container (1 cup) bean dip 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 6 (8-inch) flour tortillas 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 1 (4.5-oz.) can chopped green chiles Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside. In medium bowl, combine bean dip and cream cheese; mix well. Spread each tortilla with bean dip mixture. Sprinkle each with bell pepper, green chiles and bacon. Roll up each tortilla. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. To serve, cut each roll into 8 pieces. If desired, secure each piece with toothpick. Makes: 48 snacks; 24 servings. Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury. Don't remember where this one came from, but it is yummers! BAKED PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD You can serve this with crackers, carrots, celery, or anything else you can think of. 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise 4 oz. jar diced drained pimientos 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. finely grated onion 1/4 tsp. red pepper 8 oz. block of extra sharp cheese, grated 8 oz. block of sharp cheese, grated Mix together, spoon into greased 1-1/2 qt. baking dish. Bake 20 minutes at 350° F. BBQ KIELBASA BITES 1 ring Kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inch slices 1/3 cup ketchup 1/3 cup Dijon mustard 1/3 cup orange marmalade Combine sauce ingredients & pour over cut slices of meat in casserole dish. Bake at 350° F. for 20 minutes. BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs.) 1 (12 oz.) bottle Frank's Hot Sauce 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese 1 (16 oz.) bottle blue cheese salad dressing (or Ranch if you prefer) 8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack or a combination Boil chicken until cooked through, shred with 2 forks. Preheat oven to 350° F. In a 13- x9-inch pan, combine chicken with hot sauce and spread evenly. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream cheese and dressing, stirring until smooth and hot. Pour evenly over chicken. Bake uncovered for 20 min., then sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with Frito scoops, Ritz crackers, and celery sticks. Posted by GlendaAl at the ths.com Recipe Exchange. HERBED CHEESE-AND-CRACKER BITS 2 (10-1/2 oz.) boxes Ritz Bits cheese crackers (not peanut butter flavor) 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 (1 oz.) pkg. Hidden Valley Original Ranch salad dressing mix 1 heaping Tblsp. dried dill 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. celery salt Place the crackers in a large sealable freezer container. In a bowl, mix the oil, salad dressing mix, dill, garlic powder, and celery salt. Pour this mixture over the crackers, cover the container, and invert it to coat the crackers with seasoning. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours, turning the container every so often to keep the crackers coated. Let the mixture come to room temperature before serving. Store in the covered container in refrigerator. Recipe courtesy Paula Deen. OLD BAY SHRIMP DIP 2 cans shrimp, drained 1/2 cup chopped scallions 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup sour cream 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning Parsley In a bowl combine sour cream and cream cheese; add seasoning. Add chopped scallions and green pepper. Lastly, fold in shrimp. Mold into a ball and chill. Roll in parsley. Serve with assorted crackers. Recipe courtesy of Clabber Girl. SAUSAGE CALZONE BITES 2 oz. Bulk Sweet Italian sausage 1/3 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 small) 1/4 cup shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese 1/2 of an 8 oz. jar pizza sauce (about 1/2 cup) 1/2 tsp. Dried Italian seasoning, crushed 1 (10 oz.) pkg. Refrigerated pizza dough 2 tsp. Milk 2 Tblsp. Finely shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese Preheat oven to 350° F. In a medium skillet cook sausage and green pepper until sausage is no longer pink; drain off fat. Stir in the provolone cheese, half of the pizza sauce, and the Italian seasoning. Unroll the pizza dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll or stretch the dough to a 12-inch square. Cut into sixteen 3-inch squares. Spoon a rounded teaspoonful of sausage mixture onto half of each square. Moisten edges of dough with water and fold over, forming a rectangle. Pinch or press with a fork to seal edges. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Prick tops of calzones with a fork; brush lightly with milk and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Warm remaining pizza sauce to serve with calzones for dipping. Makes 16 mini calzones. SLOW COOKER FIRECRACKER MIX 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 4 Tblsp. margarine or butter, melted 2 Tblsp. brown sugar 1-1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 to 1 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne), optional 8 cups popped corn 4 cups corn cereal squares 3 cups pretzel sticks Mix together Worcestershire, margarine, brown sugar, salt and cayenne pepper (if using). Place popped corn, corn cereal squares and pretzel sticks in 6-quart slow cooker. Pour Worcestershire sauce, softened margarine, brown sugar, salt and cayenne mixture over all and mix thoroughly. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. Remove lid for 1 more hour. Pour mixture onto wax paper and allow to cool. Store in storage bags or containers. The mix may be made up to one week in advance. Makes 12 to 15 (1-cup) servings. From Good Housekeeping Best Recipes 1999. Recipe directions and proportions adapted by Julie Kay - From The Baton Rouge Advocate Newspaper 6/29/00. SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS Meatballs: 2 lbs. ground sirloin 1 can french-fried onion rings 1 egg Sauce: 1 jar chili sauce 1 jar water (in bottle for chili sauce) 1 can whole cranberry sauce 1 can sauerkraut, drained (don't be deterred by this) 1 cup light brown sugar Mix meat ingredients and form meatballs. Put all sauce ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over the meatballs; bake at 350° F. covered for one hour; uncover and bake an additional half hour. Truly, these are wonderful. And for those who like to dunk bread in the gravy, it's the best! Posted at Mimis Cyber-Kitchen by Elinorw 09-25-98. GLORIFIED VIDALIA ONIONS 5 to 6 medium sweet onions 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup sugar 2 cups water 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tsp. celery seed Finely chop or grate onions. Soak onions in the water, sugar, and vinegar for 4 hours. Drain well. Pat dry. Mix onions with mayonnaise and celery seed. Serve with buttery crackers. Recipe courtesy of Ms. Betty Lees of Savannah, GA. One of my personal favorites: SPICED SWEET ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS 1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained 1 (4 oz.) jar roasted red peppers (or homemade) 3 Tblsp. lemon juice 1-1/2 Tblsp. tahini 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper *(I used 1/4 tsp.) 1/4 tsp. salt 1 Tblsp. chopped fresh parsley Blend all ingredients except parsley in electric blender. Process until fairly smooth. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Sprinkle with parsley before serving. Serve with pita bread cut into strips or triangles. Posted by SharonCb at the ths.com Cooking Forum. SPICY CRAB DIP 1 bunch of green onions chopped, including all of green part 1 to 1-1/2 tsp. cumin 8 to 10 oz. crabmeat (canned or fresh) 1 can of chopped green chilies 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (or Monterey Jack) Sauté the onions, chilies and cumin in a very small amount of olive oil. Add the crab. Cut the cream cheese into cubes and add to the crab mixture. Mix continuously until cream cheese is melted. Pour into a 1-quart casserole and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in a 350° F. oven until lightly brown and bubbly. Serve with Tortilla chips. Make a lot it goes fast! Posted by Barbara Talbott at wwrecipes.com 2/21/01. SPINACH ONION AND BACON DIP 1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry 1 large onion, finely chopped 3 (8 oz. each) pkgs. cream cheese, softened 1 (5 oz.) pkg. shredded Parmesan cheese 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup mayonnaise Corn chips, Wheat Thins, or Triscuits Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine all ingredients except chips/crackers in a medium bowl. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Bake 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with chips and/or crackers. Serves 12-15. Dip may be made ahead up to 2 days ahead of time, covered, and refrigerated. Let stand 20 minutes before baking as directed. Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen. BANDITO CHICKEN WINGS 12 whole chicken wings (about 2 lbs.) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 1/2 cup butter, divided 2 Tblsp. vegetable oil 1/2 cup taco sauce 1/4 cup barbecue sauce 1/4 cup French salad dressing 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce Cut chicken wings into three sections; discard wing tips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a skillet over medium heat, combine 2 Tblsp. butter and oil. Fry chicken until brown, about 6-8 minutes on each side. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a saucepan, combine taco sauce, barbecue sauce, French dressing, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce and remaining butter; cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted and sauce is blended. Pour 1/2 cup over the chicken wings. Bake, uncovered, at 300° F. for 15-20 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Serve with the remaining sauce. Yield: 8-10 servings. Recipe courtesy of Gloria Jarrett of Loveland, Ohio.