Annette, yes, those Lamb & Gird genes are something else! All mother's family lived to a very old age, and apparently, as I've traced the family genealogy of various branches of mother's family, and it has been so for eons. My mother is in her mid-80s, still sings. In fact, she is quite the debutant all around these days, performing with bands. EVERYONE loves her, and her singing! I expect she will also live to be a grand old gal. On one visit out to California to see my Grannie, she gave me her birthstone ring since I was born two days after her birthday. Grampa had it made for her back in the 1930s. The gemstone was from his gemstone mine (which was later sold to Tiffany). She told me: "I want you to have this ring now before I get old and people start stealing things from me." BEFORE SHE GOT OLD? She was 89 at the time. Now, that is what I call a young-hearted woman and what an attitude! BTW, My Grannie was a very kind-hearted person and well loved and respected by all, but I think Grannie would be the first one to chuckle at hearing anyone refer to her as "sweet" or "nice". We always called her our "Cute little Grannie", but I never heard anyone use the terms "sweet" or "nice". (LOL) No way! She was a little spit-fire and always spoke her mind. She had that British attitude not to be reckoned with! Mama says I am "just like her". Ya think? She was and still is my inspiration to be a Cottage Gardener. (which is why I posted all this). She gardened 3 acres of flowers, trees, shrubs, cactus & succulents, a citrus orchard, and several other fruit trees, and grew grapes. She kept a cow, geese and chickens and helped Grampa with his bee colonies and they harvested and sold honey for many years. She continued to do all this, and more, up until she was age 100, at which time she "Bossed" everyone else on how to do things, using her cane to point at things she wanted worked on and completed - no nonsense! She NEVER gave up! And she smiled to her last breathe. So when I read the topic posted about starting over at age 57, I had to chuckle, thinking of my Grannie. NEVER, EVER give up Gardening! ~Annie

Great pictures and great maps! Heidi, don't worry - unlike algebra - there won't be a test on the maps. We appreciate you doing them. It's making the month a lot more fun and you have a new addition to the maps with the GardenWeb names included on them. Love it! It seems I have lots of appointments scheduled this week so sorry if I don't drop in soon after you post. Today one of the garden groups that I belong to had a meeting and luncheon out of town so between the meeting, lunch, and travel - lots of my day was gone... not to mention I did a bit of snoozing in front of the TV when I got home! Lunch was so delicious though - it was worth the drive. Our speaker talked about roses and when I got home I walked around to check on my plants ... and yes, I had my first rose blossom of the year! Jeanne

It's not hokey at all! I sign our entire family on cards (including the furkids) If you still think it's hokey read on... I work for a vet and about 3 years ago we had a lady come in to leave her dog for daycare. The husband was dying of cancer and they had come back to let him be with his family. The dog, Max, was wonderful. Everyone loved him and he was super sweet and smart. I began talking with the lady when she came in and one day she told me they had just celebrated DH birthday a couple of months ago and she hoped he would hold on for 3 more days because it would be their anniversary. They were both in their early 50's and had only been married a few years and she said it would mean so much to both of them if they could celebrate one more year. Sadly, she came in the next day to leave Max with us and told me DH passed away early that morning. I went on my lunch and bought a sympathy card from our practice and then I bought a Happy Anniversary card. I filled out the Anniversary card from Max to his "mom" It was started off that "dad" told him to make sure he told her Happy Anniversary, and to tell her how much he loved her and was fortunate to have such a wonderful marriage with a loving and caring person. I rubbed Max's paw with ink and stamped the card. I put it in his tote bag, she never checked it. She picked Max up on their anniversary, and she was just devastated by her loss. She was on her way back home and thanked us for caring for Max. She left and about 30 minutes later she came back, she had stopped to get gas and checked his tote bag to make sure he had everything and found the card. She was crying happy tears and said that was the most thoughtful thing "Max" had ever done for her. She wanted my address, a few weeks later I received a thank you card and wonderful pictures of both of them. *moral of this story...hokey as it may seem, it may be the world to someone else*

Hi Jas and all Really, I am going to be fine. My mail goes to my daughter house right now, till I get a permanent address. That aside, I am going with her to the other one, the one with the grand kids for Christmas. I am really looking forward to it. I really need to get out now, and get started. Moni