Penny, That particular mama could've just been at the end of her egg laying term. :P If I recall, I was getting you some toward the end there in that particular 'batch' which could explain the problem with the lack of viability. *sigh* Too bad since I have so many caterpillars right now from the previous group! I have been collecting more, again, in the past few days. There were some new mamas out there today. I swear, it is interesting because I haven't released any in a month. Just goes to show that if you have Milkweed, eventually the Monarchs will find it! I do have loads of the stuff...two huge plots in the backyard and one plot in the front. I also have it in sporadic places. I listed 100 plants on the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project but I know I have more than that. I just refuse to go and actually count the darned plants! I figure counting eggs and caterpillars is plenty. My room is a fun place to be. You get a bit of an idea from the three pictures. It's hard to tell what it really looks like (I don't want to show much of the kids' faces in the pics for security purposes) but the sea turtles that are hanging from the lights, for example, actually have the children's faces on them for the heads. They are so fun to look at. Way in the back in the 2nd picture is my 'library' area and I have this pop-up tent/house thing I got at Target. I have a picnic table and a pond rug back there as well. The wall is covered to resemble a rock wall (this awesome rock-patterned paper)with the grass and the sky (cloud-patterned paper). The flowers' heads are the children's faces. The butterflies fluttering above the flowers are the children's bodies. The tree to the side? The leaves are the children's faces as well. :) I take a lot of pictures and use them in the room which makes the room so much more cheerful and alive. Mary, I am sure we can talk Kindergarten to no end. I've been back in the classroom for going on six years now although I've been in education for 23. I chose K because I wanted to lay that important foundation in education. When I considered moving up to teach math at the new high school my husband said, "Sherry, I think you should stick with Kindergarten for a few more years." That was two years ago. :) Each year, the parents come up and ask, "Are you leaving? Please stay because I have a daughter/son coming to Kindergarten next year." K is a fun group but most definitely EXHAUSTING! (maybe because I am so type A)

Thanks, everyone! As we say around here, it's not perfect, but it's done! LOL The pattern photo has just a 1" wide black border, but I think I'll do maybe a 1/2" black then a 1/4" red, then either another black or a small coordinating print for the outside border. Maybe I will frame it instead of layering and quilting. It won't be easy to quilt - the blocks are really thick. Donna

Good morning! We are up and running today. The girls are just finishing breakfast and getting ready to start our day. I am learning planning our days doesn't quite work so I just let the day take us where it will. I can not thank you enough for the offer for books! I can not get over how kind, thoughtful and all the wonderful advice we have received. As soon as I get the girls settled I will gladly send out my email address. Right now we are being flooded with toys, books, blankets...yesterday a family that we have known for years brought the girls over a little kitchen and an easy bake oven...which Tanna is over the moon about. Today for snacks I am going to "help" her make treats from their easy bake oven. We have had people dropping bags of clothes and other wonderful goodies. Thank you all so much. Right now the biggest thing we need are words of advice.

Why don't we send our wishes to them each day. Continue sending our blessings to them. We all know she is checking in each day to see what we are all doing. Keep telling them we are thinking of them and let them know what we are all doing.. She will laught along with us, cry along with us, send prayers to those of us when we ask for them and all the other things going on here. I am sure in time we will hear from her. She knows we all support her and miss hearing from her.. Someone will hear from her and let us know she is ok...