#3 son is a cute kid....I raised him like that. He has a step-son by his first wife, who died a few years ago, 3 of his own kids, and 3 step children by his second wife. The first step-son asked if he could stay with #3 after his mother died as he liked him more than his own dad. He helped a lot raising the 3 little ones. When the second wife and her 3 came along, everyone just seemed to mesh together well. It has really become a good lesson in how kids can get along. But my house is toooooo small for family get-togethers because they usually bring two or three friends too. First step-son is now married, has a step-daughter and is expecting his first child. If anyone wants to help sort out the relationships among this bunch, be my guest. I gave up. They get along and we are proud as punch with all of them.

@Sara-Ann Z6B OK Hi, Sara & Friends, I now have Orchid Romance, Meilland. It just bloomed indoors as I have not planted it yet! Pretty bloom but AMAZING FRAGRANCE-very strong fruity -smelled it from distance away! Was surprised! Yummy! Beautiful! Now my new fav rose! Its first bloom-sm-but cant wait to see big blooms like yours!!!! It has beautiful glossy leaves, too! i bought it from Northland Rosarium! May you all can still order one-Wow! What a rose! Love it!

Thank You all for such kind words. I told the boys of all your congrats...they both grinned and ask that I say thank you...so from Tim and Chip...Thank You! Irma, I ment that Chip will move to advanced classes next year. I had a meeting at school and I chose to wait until next year to have him changed to advanced... he is much like me in not liking change so I felt it best to wait. Bjorn, nice to see you at the kitchen table. How is Sweden? Lots of Love back to you...Amiee sends a big HUG as do we all.

Tox, that seaweed rolled up in the “bombogenesis” last week, and by “rolled up,” I mean it really did. Long bunches were coiled together like a thick, heavy braid making it a little difficult to heft over the side of the truck. The seaweed came up clean, though; sand wasn’t really a problem. It was so lovely fresh, it looked and smelled almost edible.I took a friend, and she bagged hers. She claimed she only wanted a little, but she begged me to take her back the next day. There was a man collecting his seaweed using a hay fork, but I thought that might be hard lifting. old__dirt, I spend most of the fall gathering leaves, seaweed, grass clippings, etc. I go home from scavenging and build large, instant piles from those stockpiled items. I aim to fill 6 or 7 round hardware cloth compost bins each fall. I am 66 and starting to worry about overtaxing my elbows, myself, so I will turn the piles for a while—-maybe three times each—-adding greens during the flipping if the piles are cool, then just let them go untouched until the following June. I mainly use compost for mulching, so I’ll use it at any stage if I must. I’m in Downeast Maine near Acadia National Park. I can see Mt. Desert while I’m gathering my seaweed.