NZ, no dishes of water (West Nile virus) but I do occasionally wash down the plants or the cement floor under the arbor. Plus there are grape and passion fruit vines above it and grass in front of it, not to mention lots of plants. I do have plans for drip lines and probably micro misters for early morning or evening (no direct sun). Yes LL, they are from Juan's pulasan tree, I try to pretend I dont care about them, so they wont die. It would be a complete miracle if I can get them to fruit and even more outrageous if they taste as good as Juan's. Some of the PR seedlings are growing pretty well, plants in the photos are in 5gal pots. Even the mangosteen are growing moderately well, the slowest growers.........herrania umbricata and kwai muk. Charleslou, all of the lychees except the Mauritus are in pots.

Nice mural! I'd pick out the most neutral color and paint the remaining walls the light beige/taupe of the sky. Then you can have the green chair, blue bedding, red and gold accents...pretty much any color will work with a neutral background...and the mural will always be the 'star' of the room. It might be fun to repeat some of the items in the mural, in other parts of the room, too. Maybe have the toy chest or toddler bed, look like the boat. Stuffed animals that are similar to the animals in the mural, maybe even some 'leaf print' fabrics, at the windows. Have fun with the new room! :)

As our designated family historian & a genealogist, I've amassed about 70 pictures of 8 generations that are the foundation of our family's history. The oldest has a birth year of 1833. Some are hand enamelled in beautiful colors (Russia). It took many years to gather those pictures including letters to the US War Department. They sent me an 8"x10" picture of great-grandpa in his Civil War uniform that they had in their files along with all his regiment info. He fought with Grant at Shiloh, Vicksburg, Ft. Donelson, and a couple others eventually having his horse shot out from under him (happened often). Bad times for our country. I've gathered pictures from people I've never met living in Siberia, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, and all over the US. Those wonderful people who either knew or knew of my ancestors took the time to write a short note of any info they had about that person's life. It took us several years due to the expense but we've had them all archivally matted & framed. I attached notes on the person's life to the back of each picture. Also on the back I've noted which kid gets that original picture when I die. In the meantime, they hang on our "Rogue's Gallery" wall here in Mystic. Every time the kids and grands are here a few minutes are spent looking at the pictures & teaching the latest generation names & connections. We are a motley group. :) I've got a complicated system for filing thousands of photos, vital record documents, maps, letters, Rutgers University Library research, my own research from study & trips, cemetery excursions, etc. I've written & published (in 1992) an over 800 page book on Mom's genealogy & my photos are filed by reference numbers tied to that book. It was a physical impossibility to give each kid one of everything. So, I made each a large scrapbook from copies of items that seemed best suited to each. I gave them their scrapbooks on their wedding days. Of course, they also each have a copy of the book that contains hundreds of pictures. They each have a copy of my file system for after I'm gone & they have to decide what to do with the book's documentation. I have 37 of those humongeous Rubbermaid tubs stuffed with pictures, immigrations info, citizenship stuff, vital records, etc. The tubs are color coded for each surname. Photos of during the kids' childhood years...I took the easy way out. I presented them each a tub & said, "Have fun! Keep what you wish & you decide what to do with the rest." :) My second genealogy book, "Thunder on the Steppes" has come back from the second edit & I'm waiting for one last 4'x6' genealogical chart from Dr. Pleve in Saratov & then it's ready for publishing. I've been waiting on that darn chart for 10+ years. His wife prepares them in beautiful Russian caligraphy. I've received 6 and this last chart wraps up a huge project. /tricia (who really doesn't want to see more pictures!)

LOL OH boy I wish I was there to see that! I'd have been rolling on the floor! (doubt I'd have gotten anything done either, but I know I sure wouldn't worry about it!) What a pair your two boys are!!!! Going to be some joyfull days at Carol and Wes's house here!