Whitecat8 Ive been growing in terrariums 7-8 yrs. now and I have them closed off to air. The only new air they get is when I open them to check a plant or to water. Watering is needed usually every 2-3 months this way. A couple I have going need a bit of water only once a year. My orchids and Hoya's I grow this way love it. I have 18 terrariums going at this time. The teardrop ornaments have a 2 inch round opening so unless the opening is covered with saran wrap it would have air flow. Ive eyed the Den. toressae several times and its def. on my "gotta have cause I can't live without" list! There's a few others on my list of course and as soon as Oklahoma sees Spring I'll be getting a nice order out to Andy. I mainly grow mini and micro mini orchids. I met Andy at an orchid show in TX. and he is a very nice guy and full of info! It was nice to hand pick my orchids and see some he had just got in and hadn't put on his site yet.,,,,Debbie

A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

I got a nice package today from Tina. It had some houseplant starts and some bulbs, which I hopefully will plant on Sunday as it is supposed to be nice, although snow tonight! Yuck :0 There were some nice goodies in ther for my house, candle and some fabulous incense which I am burning right now! A bulb hole digger, and some seeds, baggies and plant markers too! And a magazine for my downtime when feeding my baby, yipee :) Thanks Tina, no worries about taking longer, stuff happens, and I loved my package! Hope things are better for your family, loss of a loved one is all consuming, and I hope you are feeling better. Steph

Sounds like everyone had a great Christmas. A late Merry Christmas for me to all y'all. I'm just now coming up for air! Oy, it's been a crazy/busy last week. Justin and his wife surprised us last week by arriving a few days earlier than they had told us. Brats! He was here to celebrate his Birthday on the 20th with family and a ton of his friends who still live here or are home from college. Other family started arriving Thurday and Friday of last week. Was good to have them here as many couldn't make it for Thanksgiving. Man all these kids sure are growing up fast! We spent the weekend out here at my place. Christmas Eve was family and friends during the afternoon then just the family and some present opening. I/we made a ton of appetizers that we munched on all day and evening. Plus way to many cookies, bars, and candy. Christmas morning we watched the kids enjoy Santa presents and had various sweet rolls, cereals, breakfast casseroles, or whatever you wanted. Bloody Mary's and Mimosa were popular wiht a few of us. : ) Dinner was prime rib. I wanted to try the method that Helene linked to earlier this month but went with recipe that I've used for a long time. Too scared to try something new with a 15 pound PR. After seeing the other thread and Nancy pics I'll be using for the next one I make for sure. Today a lot of people got and went shopping, not me, I slept til noon. Just put out a spread of leftovers for people to munch on and we are going to watch a a couple of movies that people got as gifts. Family from up north leave by car or plane in the morning and I'm back to work for the rest of the week. Thankfully Justin and Brittney will be here for another week before they head back to Hawaii. Hard to believe it's already over with...kinda of sad when I think about it...love the holidays. Hope all y'all had a wonderful time with family and friends. David