Well, yellow is not all that common in the antique roses. But we have one that we sell in our "rare rose auction" every November that we call "Julian Yellow" because it's a found rose, and that's where it was found -- Julian, CA, outside of San Diego, up in the hill country. There will be one in the auction next Nov. also. The site of the original Julian plant has been paved over since we took cuttings several years back. Someone told us that they thought it might actually be Souvenir de Pierre Notting, but we don't have a plant of that to compare it to, so for now, it is going to remain "Julian Yellow." But it is similar, if maybe a little more yellow, as to what is shown for that plant on the HMF website. While I'm at it, if someone in or around SoCal has a plant of SdPN, and you want to compare plants, please get in touch. Kathy Strong Here is a link that might be useful: Souvenir de Pierre Notting.

Woo-Hoo! FINALLY! A check. Got money last Monday. The roofer has been there, tore off the new flat roof and replaced it-the engineer wouldn't sign off since she didn't know what the other roofers had done, and they fixed the hole the firemen poked in the big roof. The electrician has been out and will put in plugs, switches, lights & ceiling fans after the sheetrock, tape and float and painting are done. Got a bid and contract to replace the livingroom floor and put flooring in the hall and laundry room downstairs, they are putting it in next Thursday. Georgia Oak laminate. Sheetrock on Monday Tape and float on tuesday Paint on Wednesday. Getting bid Monday to replace burned bedroom floor and refinish rest of floors upstairs. Found the flooring at Antique Wharehouse to replace the burned wood, it's the same age as what is coming out >100 years. Got self-stick tiles for the upstairs kitchen, they will put them down on Thursday. I finally got the old flooring scrapped up and hauled out of the house. The carpenters replaced the burned wood and missing wood so the sheetrock can be put up, they also put on a new backdoor and a new back storm door. The hardware is ordered for the front door and it is being worked on to make it fit. The door is old and big and they don't make them anymore. So we bought an old door that fits the house and is almost big enough. Easy fix at least. The new door is cool! I've been shopping for lights, ceiling fans, etc. All we have so far are new lights for the back and side porch upstairs. I'm having a hard time finding a hanging light big enough! Off next week to a lighting store. Spent the mornings before coming to work the last few days moving stuff so they can do the floors and sheetrock. That texture goes everywhere and the rooms have to be empty for the floors to be done. We're going to take out the staircase to put down the lr floor, then put it back while they build a new staircase. The windows will be here August 2nd!! Now the island-the trees are coming down, quickly, they work 7 days a week sun-up to sun-down. The contractor stopped letting people pick up wood the same day they started, they are trying to work something out. About 450 calls a day are being made from people who want to save their trees. Not likely is the official word but they will come out and look. Murdocks is going like gangbusters, they have the roof on, most of the exterior done and are working on the inside, to open next spring. The Moody retirement house on Seawall and 23rd is being sold, they had a lot of damage and can't afford to fix it, the long-term care side has been closed since the storm. The Flagship is still empty and it looks like Fertitta has control and is trying to sell it. The fight continues on the beach about what is and what isn't on the public right of way. A woman and her lawyers in California are trying to get the open beaches act overturned. She's been filing lawsuits and b#%@hing for several years now. Apparently she doesn't think that signing a statement that she could lose her property isn't enough. Interestingly when she was interviwed a few years back she couldn't find Galveston on a map. UTMB plans to open the trauma center August 1. Shriners is planning to reopen when they get staff back. The public housing has all been demolished and the fight continues on what to rebuild. The city announced plans to return citizens in the event of another evacuation. Basically there is no plan, let the contractors in and then "when it's safe" let the citizens in. More stores are starting to open on the Strand and downtown. The trolleys will cost $600,000.00 EACH to restore, the whole trolley system collected $11,000.00 in revenue last year while costing over $2million to operate. We all thought it was a stupid idea and too costly when it was passed and now if they scrap it they have to pay back the feds and if they keep it it will cost millions, which noone has. The Lonestar Rally plans a much bigger event this year and hotels are already filling up. Bret goes to the neurosurgeon this week. We GOT RAIN TODAY!! Tally HO!

Tikanis >>>> HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!! Enjoy the kayak! I have YET to venture out in my kayak - pathetic. I got it 2 years ago for Christmas. Isn't that sick? There is only open water here and I haven't had the time or $ to get an open water lesson. Jen! Happy Birthday -- belated as well!!!! I hope you had a wonderful "YOU" day and your little princesses were good to you! You are a fantastic mom! Milkdud! Happy, happy birthday to YOU as well!!!! Wowie! I think New Beginnings is a great choice, especially given the circumstances - and what a treat for you - a new style, a NEW YOU! Your divorce went very quickly - congrats. It's a (mentally) long process. I'm proud of you, too, for negotiating an amicable personal property split. That's tough to do. You should see some of the stuff we run into when the "end" is near...! I am happy to hear you're giving his name back...that's part of the healing process. Most of our clients don't get - and aren't required to pay health insurance - I don't really "get" the justice in that, but that's how settlements work... Maddie----RESULTS of your test now??? :-) George- If you could just introduce me to Brad Johnson, the Cessna pilot from the movie Always, I'll be forever in your debt! Is that too much to ask? Bee! WELCOME! I saw you on the tail-end of last week's postings - I don't know much about what sorts of foods you can have on the plan you're on, so I can't help with the hunger pangs you're having...sorry... I am still exercising weekly. I eat exactly the same thing for brekky and lunch and snack every day, then have a variety of things for dinner with the family. This is working well for me for now. Ivamae- Don't sweat the weigh in...you'll drop that pound now that you're aware of it! Well, all for now. We are meeting with a realtor to talk about selling the dream house we designed had built and are living in. It's sad but the builder underestimated the cost by SO MUCH that it has put us in a very bad financial place. The economy is still so bad around here, we can no longer hope it'll get better any time soon. We've had a year in the house and love it, but we have to face reality...at least we got to LIVE in it! :-)

Jan Krentz has a wonderful book called "Lone Star Quilts and Beyond." I know they carry it at JoAnn's; you may be able to find it at your local library, too. I had a workshop with her several years ago, and using her instructions I made my first successful lone star! Everything lined up right and laid flat...it was great! Donna