Peachpaws, we mostly get the live oak leaves which are rather small. No need to shred or go through any extra trouble. We use them in all our beds- flower beds and veggie, around trees, anywhere there is no grass. The bags that have grass clippings mixed in, I use mostly in the veggie beds because they compost faster and I feel probably have more nutrients. Things with pine needles I usually save for pathways because they last much longer in foot traffic. That's just how we do it. There is no right or wrong way. What you describe under your azaleas sounds like leaf mold, what is considered a very desirable soil conditioner and attractant for earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms. How did your azaleas look? Were they healthy and happy? If you have 100 bags worth of leaves, try to use them. Experiment and see if it's right for you. Your plants will love you. If you prefer a traditional mulch look, you could just pile it over the leaves in the beds and no one would have to know that you didn't remove the leaves! Don't do any backbreaking work you don't need to do! Anna

Too cute! I think we can all relate! Any excuse to help our "addiction". I was just thinking that I could clear the linens off one shelf in the linen closet so I could put "accessories" for the house in there! LOL Luvs

I have a 6 year old grandson who lives with me, and summer can be a trying time! I have picked a theme for each week. Example: Paper week: doing origami, researching the pulp and paper industry on the net or betteryet, at the library, making ojects out of paper mache, visiting the local newpaper for a tour, and possibly going to a pulp and paper mill in a nearby town. Music week: playing the piano (he already takes lessons), trying to play the same song on the guitar, making a poster with the clefs, staff, and names of the notes on the lines and spaces; taking in free band concert at our local park, harvesting the garlic whose variety is :music"; packing up some the the garlic and goinhg to visit his music teacher who doesn't teach in the summer. Cooking week: learning about measuring cups and spoons, how to read a recipe, doing a cookie marathon including a gingerbread house, visiting alocal bakery for a tour, doing a make-your-own-pizza night with doungh from the bread machine that he will make, and then everyone can add ther own toppings; we are also doing a "get ready for the fair" week where together we will prepare an entry for just about evey class that he is eleigble for, take our bikes to the fair grounds to register, take our entries in on the appropriate day, and, of course, go to the fair. He will be pretty well ready to go back to school, and I will be pretty well ready to have him go! We DO have a l;ot of fun.

I get a daily email from the Urban Word of the Day. Many of you will object to the language in many of the posts, but they're pretty funny. Her's today's post: August 15: "Post-Adolescent Idealistic Phase" The time after the pointless teen years in which a young person develops what are called "standards" and "morals." It is a time in which eyes are opened and "The Truth" suddenly becomes clear. Usually beginning when one enters college, said young person reads deep literature, searches for the meaning of life, and listens to college radio, all the while secretly becoming even more confused than when he/she was an lame 16 year old. The Post-Adolescent Idealistic Phase usually entails naive 18-20something year olds upholding hopeful, yet unrealistic morals. Often, utopian dreams can be confused for "The Truth." After the phase has ended, the young person must beware becoming highly hypocritical and/or jaded once life has slapped them around a bit. "Is Josh giving you **** because he going through his post-adolescent idealistic phase?" Dionne on Josh, "Clueless"