No pictures of the Akebia flower..It bloomed in the Spring and the flowers are a Mauve color, very pretty color and has a faint scent, nice but you really have to put your face in the little flower to smell it. I only have one plant and this year it REALLY took off...Maybe it takes a couple years to get going. My banana/palm garden is still a work in progress..We still have to get rid of some of the dreaded Yucky Yucca by the sidewalk, then we're gonna lay probably some large wood chips over the bed..I SO can't wait until next year..All the plants should be bigger..I have lots of other bananas in the backyard around my pond. knotz

To my knowledge, Dad had never talked about organ donation and frankly none of us had given it the slightest thought. We were all sitting around Mom's house after he died, when the phone rang. It was a gentleman asking if we would be willing to donate any of Dad's organs. I answered the phone, so now I had to ask the question to my grieving mother. It was painful for all of us and at the time, I don't think we were in the best frame of mind to make the decision. Mom said she thought that Dad had told her once that he didn't believe in it and wouldn't want his organs donated, but he had never documented it one way or another. That was all we had to go on, so I had to tell the man on the phone that I was sorry but we did not believe it would be in Dad's wishes to have it done. Personally I would not have had a problem with it, but if Mom was uncomfortable with it, I certainly would abide by her wishes. However, I made a decision right then & there for myself. When I next renewed my driver's license, I indicated that I wanted to be an organ donor. There are so many details that need to be addressed before and immediately after the death of a loved one. They are all difficult and painful to contemplate. Organ donation is an important one to add to the list. Most people probably don't give it much thought or perhaps resist thinking about it. It became very important for me to make sure that my family would know my wishes when it was my time. I've heard so many beautiful stories of those whose lives have been improved and saved because of a donated organ. Thanks Lu for sharing yours. It serves to reinforce my belief that I did the right thing. I encourage all, who haven't made the decision, to talk it over with your family and make your wishes known. If your beliefs won't allow you to do it, I respect that. However if you aren't opposed to it and your organs go to waste because your wishes were not made clear, then your death is a double tragedy.

Yeah...definitely some eye candy there...gonna save some of those pics, that is one my favorite blogs. I'm not to wild about the rooms that some people refer to as "timeless" when it seems like they tried to cram as many things in the room that didn't match or have anything to tie the elements together...maybe I need to get in touch with my schizo side more...LOL. She sure doesn't like MCM though...a shame really as it does have great value. That kitchen with the Swedish table is really beautiful...and give me that Marie Antoinette room any day...breathless!!! Thanks for posting Teacats, truly enjoyable viewing. I have a book called "The Great Lady Decorators" which covers the decor of ladies like Elsie de Wolfe and Nancy Lancaster...it is a great investment...so wonderful to look at, including tons of pictures like the ones on the Cote de Texas site. ...and now back to my not so extravagantly decorated home...LOL

Nice batch of pigeons. Those birds would have a tough time in the city of Milwaukee. A number of years ago, pigeons were a problem for A. O. Smith, a manufacturer of frames for the Ford Ranger pickup truck. The welded and primed frames were stacked outside waiting for final finish coats and painting. Pigeon do-do was causing bad spots in the finish and promoted early spot corrosion on the finished truck. This was only one example. Others involved cleaning public buildings and repairing corrosion caused by the pigeons. Also, occasionally a peddestain got crapped on and if he was irate enough, he might complain to city hall. A common citizen might not carry much weight with city hall, but when the captains of industry and operators of various summer festivals complained, they took note. A.O. Smith had tried several deterrents; one that was partially effective was gas cannons that fired off on a random schedule, but the noise disturbed sleeping 2nd and 3rd shiftg workers and sleeping babies. The city fathers installed a few nesting pairs of perguine falcons - pigeons are one of their favorite prey. The idea was sold to the public as a conservtion measure to bring back these falcons from the brink of extintion. Owners of tall buildings downtown went along with the idea and provided nesting alcoves for the falcons. The result was highly successful for contriolling the pigeon population. We do have a few pigeon fanciers in the area, but they do not raise free fight birds in the city of Milwaukee. Breeders of racing pigeons locate their hutches outside the falcon nesting area. If they should race a bird through the city, they run a chance of loosing it.