Folks, we missed a few birthdays! - Pondboi! Pondboi, are you still visiting the forum? Happy belated b'day friend! - Mike from Illinois! Our much appreciated all-around helper with pond construction etc etc. Mike, you too, belated but no less warm wishes for all the best this coming year! Also, Adrea's (Isis) birthday is coming up the 30th, so, girl, we might as well include you in our waves of cyber hugs and kisses. This cake is for all three of you! The picture is a bit fuzzy but it's the best I could do with this very, very special cake. Btw, if I missed anybosy else's birthday, that's because I don't know everybody's, and life has been too busy for me to extend the list... but feel heartily congratulated as well! :) Mary

Thanks very much, all. I spent a very quiet birthday which was just the way I wanted it. This was the big five oh and my extended family wanted to have a big surprise party but DS #2 had hockey, DS #3 had a concert he wanted to go to and DS #1. . . well at least he stopped by unannounced to have a piece of cake with me. That in itself is a big birthday present. I really, really did not want the big soiree. I threw a big surprise party for my oldest brother 6 years ago and they all figured that I would want the same thing. Fortunately, DH and my best friend both stepped in and said that they knew I wouldn't want it. My best friend (since we were 12) brought me over fifty roses - red and soft ivory. They are absolutely gorgeous. They filled my 2 biggest vases. I used your preservative recipe for them, Pudge and they still look fantastic today. For the life of me, Marcia, I can't find the date for the autumn equinox in 1957. My mother brought me up telling me that I was born on the first day of fall so I've always thought of myself as a fall baby. Anyone have a perpetual calendar showing equinoxes and solstices from that ancient date? I've never really thought to search it out before. BTW, I decided yesterday that age reverses at this plateau. Next year I will be 49, the year after that 48, etc, etc. It's all a state of mind, isn't it? : ) When I told my brother that, he laughed and said that would mean I would be playing with dolls again in 40 years. He's probably right. I've had a really, really hectic summer this year (thus my silence) but hopefully, by mid-Oct. things will have settled down and I will be joining in with all of you again. Shauna

LOL! Carol, don't worry about Stella. In this house (according to her) it's all about Stella! Those two cats are still rolling around in the catnip, and enjoying a bite of it too, from time to time. I've got a couple of stoners here! I tried to hide the package from them, but they found it while I was at work and "spread the love" all over the office while I was at work. I swept it back up, but they'll probably be into it again today. Who needs cable when I've got Bump and Stella for entertainment? ((chuckle)) And the birthday goes on! This is sooo cool! Yesterday I received 2 great cards in the mail, one from Sue/suecirish and one from Andrea/appaloosa909. They both had some great seeds in them. THANK YOU LADIES!!! After this month, I kind of pity the seed companies. I don't think I'll be making a seed order for next year. I'm getting plenty of seeds from my friends here on the GW! Lol!..... Well, maybe I could make a small order, right? What's a gardener to do? Have A Great Day Everyone! -Dan

TGIF.....and I REALLY mean that! I got home from the GENESIS concert at 1:30am, and the alarm went off at 5:15am as usual. I am exhausted from the Tuesday charity event where I got to bed at 1am. Too much late night for me. Phil Collins wanted all the "old people" to shout last night...he had about 50,000 of us screaming. Too funny! QOD: Nothing but chores so far. Tonight DBIL is coming over for dinner (and to help DH with our master bath which is still not completed). I plan on crying a bit more over my beloved METS who are falling apart. Tomorrow I hope to get the scarecrows and such out on the lawns and get to the garden center for a few mums and pumpkins so that we can finished decorating the outside of the house for fall; inside is completed. Sunday we will chill in front of the TV to watch the JETS, and in between I will get some more cooking finished for the week. OK, gotta run to the grocery. I took this afternoon off as vacation. After some errands I'm going to take a nap! Make today count! Check in DeeMarie PS: I was invited to join a committee here at work for our holiday party. It will be attended by 40o people and they want an "80's prom" theme. I remember the 80's well but was older than my teens (ahem!!!). Any suggestions welcome. Not sure many people will dress up, but giveaways and such that people could put on might be an idea. It will be held in a huge hotel (Hilton or similar). Thx!