Barbara, thank you so much. I would love to see you and hug your neck again :-) Deb, just look at that beautiful rose. You are doing a great job with your roses. I'm so happy for you. Thank you for the nice words. Hi Kate with the face of an angel and the dancing pugs. I thank you for the birthday wish. Hello to Joe and hug the pugs. Melissa, it is never too late. I wish I could visit your garden some day. In the meantime I will continue enjoying your stories and photo's. Thank you. Kathy, I knew I should have bought that rose.... LA, I remember every step I took in your garden, how warm and wonderful that cup of coffe was, and how fragrant the roses. It was a wonderful day and I wish I could visit again in May, but I doubt Bill will let me run away again so soon. Thank you so much. Maybe you would like to come back to the hot humid south? Love to you too. Bet, watch Suze, she is a sneaky one. Before you know it Alchymist will live in your garden too. I have one because of her, but I can't say that I am sorry. :-) Judith, well I love it, it's a beauty. Carol

First off.... WHERE ARE YOU, MADDIE??????? YOU MISSED YOUR PARTY!!!!! HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY --- good or bad.... CHECK IN, GIRLFRIEND! Marci! Loved, loved, loved the gif! How cute and appropriate! Then... I have to thank everyone for answering my plea for help. There are such great ideas here when everyone puts their heads together. Besh, to answer your question, there are no funeral homes on the island, although there IS a cemetery. The off-island funeral homes handle everything and they're FAMILY run (their emphasis, not mine). After the suggestions here though, I got my guts up and called one and asked to them about some p/t employment when I move. The manager hasn't called back, but the woman who took my call was very nice and thought maybe something could be worked out. Meanwhile, ever busy, I took John's suggestion, and brainstormed. I think, maybe, I can work for my DH, promoting him (good for the both of us, no doubt!) and run a sort of store front, will/estate/funeral event planning biz. Many people on the island have life celebrations and I could get into that. I know a caterer from when we had the restaurant there, and a few musicians. My DH's mom does video production, so she has connections to making DVDs. And, I could work a little flying into it by renting a plane and offering to spread ashes. And I could fly to a mainland job on weekends, since the funeral home isn't too far from the airport. Anyway, like Besh & Raeanne said, I think I will continue my path and get the license. And, as taking NHSuzanne's advice, I will accept and enjoy the freedom of possibly being unemployed for a while. Kayaking, here I come? Maybe a job at one of the MANY kayaking tour places! So, thank you everyone, once again. Combining everyone's ideas has made me look at the move in a totally different way. It'll all be okay in the end...if it's not okay, it's not the end! :) Raeanne~ My in-lawas will visit at the end of the month. So company is coming here too! QOD for everyone: HOW DO YOU DECLUTTER YOUR ROOMS? John~ 1. Can you face your desk so it's facing OUT of your cubicle---so she can't see your screen --- and so you can see her coming? 2. If that's not possible, perhaps you have room to hang a large mirror above your monitor or on the wall next to it, even propped on an easel, so you can see behind you always (good feng shui). Then she can't sneak up! 3. Next, get a couple of corn plants (tall and straight) or potted bamboo and stick them on each side of your cube - that'll give her less room to stand behind you and kind of close off your office to intruders. 4. Then, with double sided tape, attach an small octaganal mirror on the back of your office chair. Good conversation piece and it'll reflect HER big, fat nose getting into YOUR business. 5. Then, every time she asks a questions, say either, "Why do you ask?" or "Pardon?" or "Say that again please?" In a VERY nice voice. When people are asking insulting or nosey things, asking them to repeat the question forces them to rethink, over and over again, what they're saying. 5. As well, if she gets excited over things outside in the parking lot or elsewhere in the building, just tell her, "Hey, if it concerns you that much, maybe you should call the police, security, or the FBI." 6. Go to an antique store and get some old pictures i frames and velcro them to your cubicle, then make up family stories about them. If you need pics of your SS sisters, just email us and we'll send the raciest ones we can find, right, girls? When Miss Buttinski asks about a phone call, tell her it was one of your 'relatives' calling, and if she has any ideas on how to stop the chafing marks Depends-brand diapers cause. 7. Then make up more huge lies about your family pictures. Keep changing the pictures until you have such an extended 'family' that absolutely no one, not even you, can keep track of them all. 8. Then start hanging pictures of babies up. Tell her these are your illegitmate children from your WILD daytime romps and you're working nights just to keep up with the bills. This should give the office 40 yr olds something to talk about for some time. 8. Then, if she still bugs you, ask if she would like to sit with for breaks, since you can't possible socialize as much as she likes on company time. It sounds like she's clueless and you're mysterious and they just want to get to know you. Girls bond by sharing secrets and talking endlessly. So she probably just wants to get to know you. Don't forget to hang a sign up that says, "I'm free to gossip at 10pm; I'll be awake and able to pay FULL attention then!" And good luck, brother! I'm thinking of you! DeeMarie~ I would say "UmmmmmmHmmmmmmm" loudly over and over again and NOT ask any questions about anything she says. If you keep doing that, she'll think about it afterwards and maybe get the message! Maybe!

DH is definitely a keeper, we do spoil each other. I can highly recommend Ubud, out of the townsite it's very peaceful and the villa is soooooooooo hard to take :-) there are more staff than us! The Balinese people are so gracious and friendly and welcoming, nothing is too much trouble. I got a cool idea for French toast here- they make it with two pieces of bread with jam or marmalade in between, then dipped and fried. Very yummy! Thanks for the sweet thoughts, Lyra and Cathy, between the two of you you're right! :-)

Happy Birthday Luvs! Went for a check up for a sore on my nose that wouldn't heal and while talking to my Dr., same one for over 30 years and I worked for him, anyway in his ramblings about one thing or another he called me elderly! ELDERLY!!!!!! I gently reminded him he was only 10 years younger than me and I would get even! He got even right then, had to go to a dermatologist (sp) and they removed the sore and froze several non cancerous sun spots and let me tell you that hurt! Anyway, hope your special day was just that, very special for a special lady! Anj.....I went back and posted on several of you projects I missed in the gallery....you are so good! And it sound as thought you are as busy as ever! And isn't it just totally unfare for the kids to get older, or maybe not. The problem and challenges are still there, just different ones. Don't know how you do it girl! And your outdoor activities, could you come for a visit? Any time would be fine, well maybe in a month when you don't have to wear rubber boots to work through the yard. And I love Peonies are so pretty and really good slug bait. Luvs....read about your photo project....Wow! That is something I think about doing, but there are so many pictures. I did sort them with the help of my daughter and we put names to everyone we knew, but didn't break them down to time and places and in some of the old pictures, that is unknown. So Luvs, did you use the shutters? We are still in the winter mode here, although my water iris are showing green and the roses I didn't trim back are showing leaves. So many things in the yard I usually do in the fall didn't get done and I can't just blame the shingles, it was more like being lazy! Just doen't seem to be enough hour in a day. It was nice to see Punks post, and she is as talented as ever. As to what I am doing in the paper craft world, I use more cutting dies and stamps than my Impression machine. To my way of thinking the cutting machine is more of a scrapbook tool than card making, atleast most of their cartridges lean that way. Which is great, but I want more lacy cuts and lots of layers. So it dies, punch's, inks, and lots of paper. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, new camera = worse pictures! This is one of my favorite digital stamps, I used Copic markers to add the color....markers are a new challenge! These little boxes hold bite size pieces of candy and the photo doesn't show the glitter and bling. Were really fun to make! Anyway....I will try to visit more often and post shorter posts. Take Care All! Belle