GGG -- How awful! And, it's worse on older folks. My mom got it too (she's 81), but luckily, she only had it briefly. It hit me quickly too. One minute I felt just fine...five minutes later, I was in REAL trouble. Blech. We are all much better now, though, thanks! What kind of tomatoes do you have? I want to start my new veggie garden this year...I'd like to do a four-square, raised boxes thing, if I can get hubby to make with the lumber and construction...and I always love tomatoes, but bored with the selections at the garden centers. I like grape varieties, and I'll do a Better Boy or two because...heck...they taste good. But, I'd love to try heirlooms.

Oh, I hadn't seen that, thanks, Patti. I hope they find their way back to wherever they need to be. As for the boy throwing rocks at a flamingo- I hope one of the birds pecked him real hard on his empty head. I just talked with Gabby today, she was sweet enough to call me. She's doing fine, the storm didn't mess too much with them, fortunately. I sure miss her, though, and I hope she finds time to spend with us here!

The whole northeast is in drought. Since the second week of April, when we had one good day of rain, we have had less than a half inch, highly unusual for us. It's been accompanied for the last month by higher than average temperatures and gusty winds leading to high fire danger along with the dry surface soils. I have been watering for several weeks in the veggie garden and last week started watering the lawn and the ornamental beds. We had lots of snow here over the winter with a long slow melt period, so lots of infiltration into soil and groundwater this early spring, however. Where I am, I have a private well and no issues with groundwater, but some parts of NH sit on shallow aquifers and will be having issues with dry wells in a month or so despite the snow melt if we don't get some good rain soon, and I am sure that the local farmers would appreciate some measurable precipitation.

I just took this picture on my phone and I'm typing this on my phone. My kids are playing a lot of video games which is why you see so many cables and wires. Ordinarily, it's fairly tidy. We designed this cabinet 10 years ago. The base cabinets are nearly completely unstructured which allows use to put just about anything inside. Originally our old TV was in the base cabinets but five years ago we bought a flat screen. There are four base cabinets and the three right ones are completely open to each other underneath. The cabinet under the world globe is self contained. There are three separate shelving units above. The entire unit is made of MDF except for an oak edging along the front. We have ten foot ceilings in this room but the built-on is about seven feet tall and twelve feet wide. It's not perfect but it has served us very well. Family games are stored in the right-most cabinet, then videos, then equipment like DVD players, VHS player, the next can has a receiver, CD player... You get the idea. You may not see the cream colored speakers on the top, but follow the ugly wire up on the right. The base cabinets are about 38" tall. Good luck with your project! Caroline, I posted this on your other thread. Directly across from the built-in is a large fireplace. The rest of the family room is mainly doorways and windows. The room measures about 18' by 21.' I really love this piece, it holds a lot of stuff.