Hi Chris, Yes, those cold winds are no fun. We're on a hilltop, mile high elevation, so do get buffeted by them quite often this time of year. We had them this weekend and now again today, although today doesn't seem that cold. Maybe I'm getting used to it after 18 years. : ) I don't winter protect my roses but sometimes I don't get out to rake the last batch of fall leaves so they often accumulate under the roses, probably giving a bit of protection. I mainly concentrate on growing roses that I know will do well in my temps - winter night temps in the 20s-30s and quite often in the teens, days in the 40-60 range with some 20s-30s thrown in to keep my favorite swear words up to date. ; ) Summers are mild with mostly 80s, some 90s but never triple digits. Snow is common in the winter months but doesn't last long. The roses don't seem to mind it. My native soil is decomposed granite so it drains well. Are you on the southern slopes of the SBs, Arrowhead area? If so you get more snow usually but are often warmer in the summer. If you haven't been there, try Newell's in Yucaipa for roses and other plants, as well. It's a very nice nursery. Another place I like that has good prices is Sunshine Growers in Ontario. They both have websites and Newell's has a newsletter you can subscribe to. Diana A winter pic. This isn't that often but this year was the exception, especially Feb. Way more snow and cold than usual. I have Day Breaker, Lady Elsie May, Easy Going, Livin' Easy, Otta the Blue, Lillian Austin, Fair Bianca, Rhapsody in Blue, Top Notch, Honey Perfume, Elle, Graham Thomas in the front beds and BP Iceberg outside the fence. All come through the cold and snow just fine. So do th hollyhocks - they're about 3 feet already. : )

It's here, it's here, it's here!!! Omigosh, you are never going to believe how perfect this is for me. I am so delighted. I knew what one item was the minute I opened the box and before I even saw it. Ahhh! Well, I just got home from a Chamber of Commerce rubber chicken dinner and I am pooped. I know I couldn't do the package justice, so I will wait until I get home tomorrow night to give the details. Here's the bad news. My camera is on the island of Anguilla. My son went to a wedding there and took the camera. Boo hoo, because this box deserves to be memorialized in pictures. So, hold your breath everyone, until tomorrow after 6 p.m. EST and you will get the details. THANK YOU, swappie!! Pam PS the keynote speaker was Mara Liassen of NPR and she was excellent.

it is the tension, both your top and bobbin tension. you need to adjust it. for example if you are using normal thread that sew find before, then once you change into thicker thread, and your thread would act up on you. you'd have to play with the tension, but if you have a drop-in bobbin, i suggest you don't play with your bobbin tension unless you have a extra one, always leave one with untouch setting, and use the extra one to play with your tension. if you don't have an extra bobbin for your drop in bobbin, then just get new thread. it's better to spend that extra few dollar on new thread. then spending hours playing with your tension settings. trust me. and thank me later. good luck. feel free to drop by my site. www.stitchcanada.com , www.sewinglife.info

At about 10:30 pm last night I got the needle threaded....dumb luck really. I had poked and prodded, and finally got the darn thing through. I wasted no time sewing the button on his pants before I lost my timing. So all is well, but I think I will go on a search for needles with a large eye. The one I was threading was for quilting, and they are tiny. I liked the suggestions of putting a white background behind the needle best. I would have never thought of that. I hate getting old and asking for help, but it is what it is...... Trin