i have a trade with her and its not done, i am hoping nothing has happend to her, with all this flu thing going on! if your out there please get ahold of me! my email is medontdo@gmail.com ~medo

I will miss Jeri's comments. I have selected some of my roses partly based on Jeri's recommendations. I have enjoyed reading her postings, which I found very informationative, especially to a novice like me. As in all writings, the personality of author might come through and Jeri is one of the posters that have a very distinctive, enjoyable style. Not sure whether it matters a great deal now, but I hope that she knows how apprciative some of us are of her help.

It's Susan in SB writing. It's good to hear that Beth and Kate are okay. I read this thread before I went to bed last night, and worried for Beth. The whole fire thing is absolutely crazy when it's so near to you. Our really scary time was last week on Weds, Thurs & Friday. Flames up on our close hillsides, a huge amount of ash (like it's snowing), evacuated neighborhoods a few blocks away. Lots of power outages from Weds through Tuesday. We were packed and ready to go. Saturday & Sunday much better on the fire containment. Now we're good, and I think Beth's fire may have become the state's #1 priority. Fingers crossed for everyone. We came within two blocks of losing our (then) home back in 1990 in the Painted Cave Fire in Santa Barbara. That was way worse in every way. 600 homes burned in 90 minutes, one woman died. But it was like 105 degree temps and 60 mph sundowner winds blowing. Just to use as a comparison. We were very lucky in terms of the weather with this one. I say I'm Susan in Santa Barbara, so people know where I am, b/c no one's ever heard of Goleta, but now an awful lot of people have heard of Goleta! Thanks so much for your concern, and much love to everyone, especially those in the path of the fires. Susan

Candy, I got your second email (still need to answer it) but I never got the first one. ? Thanks for checking up on me, I know I've been a total dud for waaay too long. The Fibro pain, and the summer heat, have just sent me into hermit mode for the most part. Don't seem to want to do anything, and I mean anything!!! No longer can sleep at all during the night, so either sleep mornings or take long afternoon naps. Not good for getting anything done or being productive. And being so useless isn't good mentally either. I have UN-decorated some. :o( After 2 yrs of being stored, I gave my Valentine decorations to a good friend. "Tried" to do same with my summer beach decor stuff. My daughter likes it a lot and took some, but wish she'd taken it all. St Paddy stuff survived the cut, LOL. I'm Irish and didn't want any mad little leprechauns coming after me. Halloween is up for debate, have quite a bit I use to put out in family-room and bay window...but it stayed stored last year or two as well. I do know I will be decorating for Fall. My favorite of ALL. (which is silly considering we don't even have Fall in Phoenix! But the DAY the Calendar says its Fall, I'm decorating!!). I just can't seem to find my decorating spirit, and its been mostly gone the last 2 yrs! Hard to believe its been that long. I can't justify keeping stuff if I'm not going to decorate with it. I have a LOT of Easter, that is definitely going to get cut way back when I can find good homes for it. I'm not too keen on taking my things to Goodwill for some reason. Anyway, I lurk here and hope most of our gang will be back soon. Nana...and those of you keeping things going....I love you! :o) This Forum is still my favorite place to be! hugs, Karen