Thanks to all of you for your support. I think the thing that really got to me was the damage to the truck and not knowing who was responsible. I've been in sales for many, many years...travel, real estate, crafts, ebay...so I know that there are ups and downs and I need to look at the big picture...but..I'm beginning to think that the FM isn't the right place. It's a lot of work to make so little money. Most of the crafters have been complaining about lack of sales there. I did well at a garden fair in May. Wish there were more of those. I've seriously thought about consignment, but I'm not sure that's the way to go. When I sell my work I tell the buyer how to handle the item and tell them that I'll repair anything that comes apart (which is rare) if it is handled properly. I would rather be directly responsible rather than the store. I sold outside an antique store one day last summer and did fairly well, then the owner put them in her store on consignment and none sold. I think they were too far back in a corner and there was too much competition with the other merchandise. I haven't tried a web site or etsy because so many of my items are way to big and heavy to mail easily. However, I think that would be a good option for the smaller items. I've been making a few bottle bugs and I've also put a couple glass flowers on driftwood backing for hanging on a wall. Those items would be easy to mail. I think I'll try the rest from home by ads in local publications, craig's list and flyers around town to friends and acquaintances. By the way, one of my friends made a recent trip to one of the San Juan islands near us and a shop there was selling the patio side tables like I make for $250 each!!!!!!!!!! (No, that's not a typo.)

I have the same problem in Florida with my orchids. They hang in various baskets under the trees. Not only do the birds try to nest in the baskets, they love the sphagnum moss which is part of the potting mix. They also love the coir baskets, pulling chunks off the baskets which leaves big holes where all the potting mix falls out. One thing I did last year which seemed to work was to add small lava rock to the top of the potting mix. They do not like it and have left the plants alone. I removed it after nesting season and saved it for this year. I found a bunch of house wrens and finches landing in the baskets this morning and I knew it was time to get the rock out. You could probably use small gravel. Would work the same. Good luck and let us know how it goes... Jane

Today for the first time all week, I'm actually vertical and feel human. I've spent every day laying on the couch sleeping on and off. I still sound awful, so not talking much. Check out this little tidbit-----if you remember I mentioned on the Landlord thread that I take out the garbage and recycling every week. One tenant refuses to help in any way, she says it's the landlord's job. I slipped a note under the other tenant's door this a.m. to see if she and E could take the garbage out today as I'm sick. Right away she came upstairs and said of course they could, between the two of them, and wondered if I needed anything. Then a little while later a note was slipped under my door from E saying that she's sorry to hear I'm not well, seems to be something going around. And that she's sure the landlord or his strong son will take care of their responsibility, when it's legal for them to do so. So not even in a special or rare occasion will she lift a finger to help out. This just irks me to no end. I really can't do it today, so I did call the landlords and told them everything, and they'll do it for us.

Arkansas Girl, weeks later? Do you remember where you heard that? When I experienced some fatigue four days after my second shot I looked up delayed reaction, and the only thing I found was a reference to four or five days, especially for those who reacted with a rash. In my case it would have been about two weeks, and then the reaction lasting over a week. That seems unlikely, but thanks for the thought. Debby, it started about two weeks after the second shot but it's still going on a week later.