I got the most wonderful surprise today -- a package from skohler (Susie) for my June birthday. Susie, I am so touched that you would think from me. I got a cute garden notebook (always need that!)a BHG 30-minute meals book - I don't have this one and my goodness I need it. My husband and I pull in the driveway at night at the same time and he is hungry hungry hungry RIGHT NOW - LOL! Some great sunflower and pink silene seeds that I didn't have and a bag of goodies - a granola bar (I love to have these at work in the morning!) Orange Creme Savers - shhh I'm hiding them from my DD - her favorite! and some chocolates. You really made my day Susie, thank you so much!

ItÂs taken me a while to regain my composure, IÂve been oohing and ahhing and Ohhhhhing for the last three hours. I came home to find the most gigantigous box in front of my door. YouÂre right Maryanne it WAS heavy! LOL! And I understand the 10th day now --- I canÂt wait to follow all the instructions and share with friends! (bet you all wonder what IÂm talking about huh?) First: AvaÂs Halloween bag: Healing Garden Mandarin Therapy Radiance and Renewal Body Soak Pony tail holders (needs these badly!) Scooby Doo stickers Pumpkin carver (we were just looking for ours getting ready for Halloween  canÂt find it) Book covers in cool teen colors An activity journal with stickers  sheÂs gonna love this! A mini note pad in the letter "A" All inside a cute Halloween bag yellow with pumpkin face And I got: Garden magnet Pot Sitter butterflies Notepads with my name  how cool is that! A Sunset Container Gardening Book  I so very much wanted a book on container gardening, never have had one! A wonderful yummy loaf  is it Banana nut? Glow in the Dark window clings perfect for Halloween decorating A big Milk Chocolate Toffee Crunch Ball A gnome waving at me from the bottom of the box! And then there were the plants! Oh my golly gosh! (And they had beautiful copper markers with them)and Maryanne don't worry they were all in fine shape. Can you email me and let me know if any of them need special care? Should I keep them all in part shade? Several gingers (in cute little halloween bags) Two daylilies  Sunday Silence and Luxury Lace  canÂt wait to see them bloom next year! Put them with the rest of my growing collection. Elephant ears, Black Magic Dusty miller plant (I think that's what it's called) Little Lemon Goldenrod Blue Salvia Caladium "Tom Tom" Eupatorium Rugosa Chocolate (IÂve always wondered what this looked like in person, have never seen it around here but I hope it will do well) And a plant that looks like a begonia but couldnÂt find a tag for it. Is it a begonia? Thanks for being a wonderful friend Maryanne. Everything was so thoughtful and kind and IÂm really really touched. IÂve never received such a nice box, I donÂt think. Have a wonderful Fall!

remy, you did a wonderful job organizing, assigning and keeping track of us. congratulations on your (first) swap. now you are a seasoned pro. we certainly do have a great and generous group here, that's for certain. it will be nice to welcome jeanne/sandlapper. i have been in swaps with her in the past. she also runs an animal service...that has to say something about her, right? welcome aboard jeanne. speaking of animals, thought i'd bring you up-to-date on mine. they are still weird! lol. i'm not going to give up, ever...they don't deserve it. there's more changes in them, as a matter of fact, lucy had her nails cut on monday (finally). i was starting to get scared they were going to grow into her pads and hurt her, but they got done. today, i tried to walk her. you really have to see it to believe what goes on, but i'll deal with it. you guys all gave me such support that i am truly thanksful for. i cut down the morning glory vines today. my goodness, were these flowers just stunning. i look forward to growing them next year. i just am so confused where the seeds are, been waiting for them but haven't found them yet. at least i have some leftover seeds for next season. november already....SIGH!!!!!!!!!! onward to debby's swap. be well, maryanne

Shirley, what month is that Garden Gate magazine? I see all the Hostas on the front of it, gotta get me that issue:) Laura, WS is fairly simple, but I usually start in Febuary, be careful with Parks though, I have ordered from them and I am still waiting on my Lisianthus from them that I ordered a season ago, they sent the seeds right out, had to push on them before they would send any of the bulbs they was suppose to send, every time I called on the Lisianthus they told me it was still on back order, I finally gave up, I just got their newest catalouge and I see they are still selling that item, hmmm... giverny4me, birds are not hard at all the main thing to remember is you have to have a nesting box for them or they usually won't even lay eggs and if they do they won't sit on em, now mom had some finches and try as she could she could got them to hatch the eggs, she raised cockatiels, lovebirds, doves and parakeets, the cockatiels were her pride and joy though she had all different kinds of them, I had a blonde one from her and I thought that one was just georgeous thats funny on the empty box thing cause while I was wrapping everything I talked with DH about getting into my supply of boxes and wrapping them to make it look like we had a gigantic amount around the tree, plus I thought if someone broke into the house maybe we would get lucky and they would just make off with the empty boxes, lol!!! Kody already feels very bad about what he did, he told me if he was me he would probuably take everything back, he said he would be okay with just clothes, he feels everything very deeply and tries to spare everyones feelings, he sticks up for the younger kids as well, if a little tyke is getting picked on on the bus he usually puts a stop to it very quickly, he just has a way about him, that's why this really threw me for a loop, Coleton on the other hand... I should of thought about it before I put them out there, but with everything going on haven't been getting much sleep and my mind just isn't where it needs to be lol!! DH told me that he was pretty sure I never put the gifts out before Christmas eve since Coleton has been two, thinking he may be right. Going to put all the clothing gifts out and hide the goodies (most of Kodys are Game Cube games and acessories, Coletons are Vtec games and acessories and cars stuff) they can open the clothing stuff Christmas morning and we are going to act like that is everything, then after Christmas dinner I will pull the rest out, and I am going to leave the wrapping paper as is, so they can think about it as they finish unwrapping them. My mom bought my oldest a futon bunkbed for his room, so when he has his friends stay over they won't have to sleep on the floor, it is so neat! One thing about it they don't have a clue what the grandparents are getting them, and as they are the only grandchildren they really get spoiled, I have had to put my foot down, they don't get gifts except for birthdays and christmas (clothes and little stuff sometimes, but they were getting way out of hand) I was lucky to get a birthday gift when I was a kid and Christmas I could count on getting at least two gifts, didn't hurt me none, think I turned out okay (well I might be a little wacked, but it just enhances my personality) I think I will get a basket of goodies though, and I will take the kids with me to my Uncles nursing home and let them hand them out, what a excellent idea, I will have my mom call the nursing home and find out what is acceptable and how many residents they have, love that idea more and more!!! this is getting hard to load, took me 5 minutes this time, I was blaming it on my computer! michelle