Thanks so much for the feedback everyone! I feel fuzzy! The trellis is from my dear neighbour who had four of them lying around. I believe they were part of a standup clothing rack that you would hang stuff up on (sort of like those zig-zaggy change-room dividers)? The glass bowl is actually a light fixture and I still have yet to use the other matching one.

As a newbie just receiving seeds back from my first ever swap...I am completely overwhelmed and so filled with gratitude at the generosity of you all. Nearly every seed that I had ever dreamed of acquiring arrived in my package, and then some! Tomatoes, beans, cardinal flower, monarda, herbs,cream of sask watermelon, I could go on and on. (because that was one big package of JOY) Going to be a tough act for the man in the red and white suit to follow on the 25th, my morning on the 7th is off the charts!!!! Thank you all so much! Nicky wasn't kidding when she told me to start planning a new garden bed, now I will have to!

Yes, there is Trillium. Also many doctors do not have samples of certain medications and unfortunately are not always able to get them for patients. The senior plan - post 65 with the $100 deductible and a co-pay covers only a portion of the cost of the drug - and the list of drugs covered is decreasing (just ask a pharmacist). My husband turned 65 in Dec. but is still working. However he first had to submit his prescriptions to the Ontario Drug Board - and pay the prorated portion of the $100 annual fee (the full fee is payable each August) and then submit the balance to his office plan. I called the Ontario Drug Board and asked because it seemed backwards to me, but then what can I say? He has 2 prescriptions - the "senior" plan covers 75% of the cost and he pays the balance. But his office plan only covers up to 90% of generics and has a limited dispensary fee - and he cannot claim the $100 deductible against his drug plan - yet the office drug plan is a taxable benefit to him and he has to pay a reasonably high premium for family coverage (NOT tax deductible by the way). So not everything is rosy. I am with jasdip on this - many things do not make sense. And of course I have serious issues with generics - good thing I have only one prescription and the name brand is now hard to get since it is no longer being made. I did try the generic form - the fillers were the issue. So while I can get it I am paying for it. A doctor's note would not help my case - if it comes in generic form - end of story. A young woman I know is covered by Trillium and cannot take the generic form of a particular medication. She had to obtain special approval from Trillium to have the cost of the name brand covered (her doctor etc. had to be involved). Now based on my experience she is concerned that the name brand of the drug might cease to be produced in favour of generics. She was right to be worried - she checked. It hasn't happened yet but it will be in the near future. In my case since I am paying anyway I could fill my yearly prescription and just pay myself - but the pills have an expiry date - as in the active part of the meds. The current batch expires May, 2014. My pharmacist is trying to source a later dated batch for me but the pills are on back-order - if they even show up - and it might take months. I expect this to be the last batch if I can get it. Plan B pill did not work - my doctor is about to have samples! I took only one and that was one too many.

It is that time of year again! If you are interested in a large(ish) group swap of veg/fruit/flower/herb seeds just for Canadians, here is your chance! Please read the instructions below carefully & feel free to ask any questions. If you choose to join, send me back a message with your email. If you run out of time or change your mind about joining the swap, please let me know, as I make up boxes for each participant & divide up bonuses as we go. 7th ANNUAL CANADIAN AUTUMN SEED SWAP GUIDELINES (Partially paraphrased from Heather MacDonald’s annual pepper/tomato swap guidelines – with her permission. Seeds must be post marked by November 6th. You are welcome to send your envelope earlier, but please do not send it after the 6th, as I will have to return it unopened. Address will be sent when you join the swap. 1. You can send in up to 40 seed packs for exchange & as many bonuses as you wish. If you send in 40 packages, you will get 40 packages back. If you send in 5 packages you will get 5 back. Bonuses will be divided between everyone, so you will end up with more than you send in. Occasionally seed packs are split to fill more popular wishes. You can send in up to 2 packs of the same variety. If you send in more than 2 packs of the same variety I will contact you. I can either use the seeds as bonus or send them back to you in your return envelope. 2. This swap is for NAMED VARIETIES of seed only. DO NOT send in seeds that do not have a variety name. Please mark the seed package with the type of seed (annual or perennial, flower, herb, vegetable, etc.) & the variety name. If you know – mark whether they are heirloom or OP, commercial or hybrid, year collected. If there is anything that are unsure of, just ask! Do not include mixes or mystery seeds or unnamed varieties (example - bell pepper or red oriental poppy) . Unknown varieties will be sent back to you, unless marked as bonuses. If you are sending in hybrid seed, only F1 seed from a commercial source is acceptable. Please mark the source on the package. Do not send in seeds you have collected from a hybrid plant. They will not grow true to the parent plant. If you are unsure if the seed you have collected is from a hybrid, please research online or send me a message. Seed doesn't need to be collected from bagged or separated varieties, accidental crosses occasionally happen. When you grow out the seeds that you receive please try not to be upset if an occasional plant isn't true. Sometimes crosses are better than the original … That being said, please don't send in seed that you know is crossed & will not grow true. 3. Please include a list of the seeds that you are sending in. Also include a wish list or preferences & if there are any seeds you do not want to receive. I will try my best to accommodate wish lists, but there are no guarantees. The returned seeds will be completely dependent upon what is sent in. The easiest wishlists to fill include some specifics, but also some general wishes. Don’t be shy. It is easier if your wishlist has 1000 things on it! (: Please feel free to email your wishlist earlier. It is easier for me to fill more of your wishes. If you want to change your wish list at any time before I send back your envelope, just let me know. 4. Please mail your seeds inside of a bubble envelope with your return address label inside. It is important that you send a regular bubble envelope & not the heavy cardboard type to keep within the weight restriction. Please send $2.95 return postage. If your package uses less postage I will send you back the difference. Please do not assume that your postage will be the same as your package that you send in. There may be lots of bonus seeds or heavy seeds. I will reuse your original bubble envelope to send your seeds back to you. If you go to Canada Post & they try to charge you more, be sure to tell them that is Lettermail, non-standard and oversize – just make sure that is the correct size to fit through the slot! The weight category (usually) is: $2.95. 100-200 grams “https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/pag.../default.page” This has been the correct weight category for almost every package that I have sent out in previous years. 5. Please include both your real name (for mailing) and your screen name & your email – so I know who has sent in their seeds! WHAT TO SEND: Inside your bubble wrap envelope you should have; 1. Whatever seed you are contributing to the swap 2. A list of seed you have put in your envelope 3. Stamps totaling $2.95 (you will need another $2.95 in stamps to send your seeds to me) 4. An address label with your address on it. 5. A wish list or do not want list! 6. Your name & Screen name along with an email address. Remember, you can email your wish list as soon as it is ready, making it easier to fill. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know. Happy trading! Nicky https://nickysgarden.wordpress.com/