Aww, thanks, you guys! Jean, unruly is the word! LOL I guess it tends towards being a cottage garden in most parts. Some beds have more of a planned look but the main ones don't. Okra, that is my front yard! We live in the country so there's no one to complain about not having a traditional green lawn. Dh doesn't mind - less grass to cut! I do it around the beds while he does the open areas with the riding tractor. This is the back, taken a month ago: I just have a foundation bed there because of the septic field. The white gardens are on the west side of the house (which faces kind of southwest). I'll take more pictures as things progress. Thanks again!

From all I have been reading, the noise made by the Accolade is a major complaint by people who have purchased them. If the next one you receive makes the same noise, I would return it and look at other options. If I'm correct, the Accolade costs between $270.00 & $300.00. FWIW, if I'm spending that kind of money I would rather bite the bullet and spend another $100.00 and have a mixer that will last me until I'm dust, rather than have to worry if it's going to poop out and I'm going to have to buy another one down the road. I purchased the Viking 5 qt/800 watt mixer, which is $100.00 less than the 7 qt./1000 watt model. Mr. Marv and I discussed which one I should purchase, since he also believes that the purchase should be based on your needs and that should be the basis for your choice. For my needs the 5 qt. will be more than sufficient. Just food for thought. Marie - The Viking has a bunch of different attachments you can purchase, such as a blender jar, juice extractor, etc. It's similar to the attachments offered by the KA, but the difference is that instead of attaching to the hub on the head of the machine (the KA), there is a "flip up" piece on the back of the machine where the attachments go. I don't plan on getting any attachments, since my main objective is using it for whipping, making dough and other chores a stand mixer does well. Check out the King Arthur/Baker's Catalogue website for more onfo on the specs and attachments. Here is a link that might be useful: Viking mixer - King Arthur/Baker's catalogue

Just an update - all that worry, and the treadmill part was so easy I could not believe it. I was a little short of breath when they finished and said I had reached my target heartrate. I was amazed, as I am very out of shape. Clothes did not matter there -The second worst part was having to wear this huge gown, no bra, pretty open in the front for all the wires although they did tape it for me - the armholes were so big you could see every thing anyways. The very worst part was when the technician kept jamming the ultrasound wand under & into my breast before and after the treadmill. I had to brace myself on the table she was pushing it in so hard, I thought she would push me off. Something was really pinching into me when she pushed, Not sure if it was a probe with a wire attached that was being pushed in by the wand or just the tip of the wand. THAT really hurt, almost as bad as the mammo. I had a mammo and the stress test back to back, but it was done quick so I had time to treat myself on my half day off to some shopping, but I got dizzy halfway thru the store so did not buy anything. I must say, This was the very worst (painful) mammo I have ever had too. Also,the blood pressure monitor for the stress test, wow, I have never had anyone cuff me so-o-o-o tightly before(three times!). She said something about the "lower your pressure is the tighter they have to wrap..." or such - never heard that before. No doctors were present when I was there, just the technicians, who were quite nice. Well, wonder when I will see the results. (Last time it took a month to hear from Dr. on my mammo, then another month to get an appt, then another month to get a referral for breast ultrasound, then same for a needle aspiration..)

I'm very happy and relieved for you. Congratulations!!! I'm probably one of the worst at waiting for test results; I just hate it. I'm so, so glad you've got your results. About the parent thing, others have already given you so many wise words. I'll add this. I think having regrets after a parent dies is to be expected, whether the relationship is bad or good. I definitely had regrets after my father's death about our relationship. I didn't understand him, and we didn't have much in common. Plus, he had anger issues. Large ones. I do get why he was angry, and he had a right to be angry. But HIS children didn't deserve his anger. I have a great relationship with my mother, but I'll still have regrets when she's gone, mostly about not making more of an effort to spend time with her. A friend (who had lost a child and her parents) told me once that she knew she had loved her children unconditionally and had done everything she possibly could for them, so she had no regrets concerning them. She said that she did regret not having spent more time with her parents and not having done more for them while she still could have.