Here's mine that I got last year from Walters Gardens (through the First Look auction). It's been blooming for two weeks now. I'll also post in your thread, Vanessa :)

I was literally just noticing over the weekend that my hands look 50. I'm 50 (oh, still not used to THAT) but I want my hands to look 35. That's better than being in your 50s with hands that look like they are in your 70s! I buy Amlactin at Costco. They usually have it on coupon every few months. It has really helped with my chest and neck. My latest horrifying age discovery has been saggy knees. Slathering on Nivea's COQ10 firming lotion there. Don't know if it is having any effect. I'm also going to get back into total body DIY vitamin C serum. I just ordered some more L Ascorbic Acid powder to make it. I mix it up and put it in a spray bottle.

AFTER stripping down and repainting all the doors and woodwork in my 120 year old house- I was talking to the woodworker who built our shutters for us and he said there are really two viable alternatives for the situation (would have been great to know 2 years and a million gallons of stripper ago). If it is a relatively flat surface without a ton of detail he said he usually gives it a light sanding just to scuff up the surface then skim coats it with wood filler. This will fill all the low points and give you a new, smooth surface. Another method he uses on more detailed woodwork is using a solvent (whichever is appropriate for the paint you are working on) like thinner, acetone, mineral spirits etc... and uses steel wool to and small wire brushes to slightly dissolve the alligatored paint and redistribute it over the piece. This will eliminate the high-low spots, retriggers the chemical reaction in paint which makes it bond to its surface and itself, and is much less time consuming than totally stripping the whole thing. Both of these option of course only work if you are intending on painting the piece as opposed to staining or clearcoating.

If you google how to make alligators out of tires there are a few websites that show good pictures and give general directions. You tube shows how to cut the tires for projects. They give tires away free at a place near work. I may need to stop there and get a few tires. Those guys are cute....