Ok~I got my second box from Alison, and WOW I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I opened it! I hope you got my email Alison the day I received it in the mail. I sent you a very Big Thank You email because I didn't have time to post that day. I wanted to make sure I had the time to do a proper posting on the wonderful goodies I received. Sometimes my emails don't get thru to gardenwebbers. Hope it did get to you, because I am one happy camper-as we used to say in the day-not sure if people still say that, but that's what I am! Where to begin.....let's see....well I have been searching everywhere for these blue bottles. I saw this article in one of my magazines of these gorgeous blue bottles on the ends of bamboo poles stuck in the ground all around a flower bed. I have been wanting to do this to my Son's sensory garden. Thought it would nmake a good sight addition to it. Well I have searched and searched with no luck. The only one I came across was at an antique store and they wanted 12 for one bottle-yeouch! Well when I opened that box there sat not 1 but 6 bottles! Perfect for what I would like to do. I can't wait to set this up. I will have to post pics on our site when everything is grown in around them. She also sent me these fabulous vegetarian cookbooks. I have already enjoyed bookmarking ones that I can't wait to try. I didn't have any of them. I sat down that night with the wonderful coffee you sent from England-very good by the way-I love it-the flavor is so rich-and the yummy chocolates you sent(2 bags of lindors truffles-one dark and one milk-love em). I sat on my backporch and drank coffee and browsed recipes. Very relaxing after a day working. Alison also sent me a book to go with the mosaic supplies she sent before, and she also sent more plates. I really can't wait to get this project rolling. The book is great and will be very useful, as I wasn't sure how to get started. Alison also sent some christmas pudding from England which I am going to try tonight with some more of the coffee-on the backporch of course. She also sent one of my favorite things-garden lions! I love love love garden lions and these are so cool. They are little pot feet sitters. I have the perfect pot to put on them too. It is a large pot I keep my tree rose in. With the rose and old pot it is in, it is the perfect combination with how these little guys look. I will have to get a pic of that too to post on our new site. And she even remembered my kitties. She sent a bag of cat toys. My cats went hog wild over those. My one kitty plays fetch like a dog and he has taken a liking to the dog shaped one. Too funny. Now they can leave me alone after coming in from working in the garden smelling of catnip. Does anyone else's cats do that? Mine are all over me when I come in from outside. I really hope I didn't leave anything out. This box was just so fabulous. Alison you are the best!!! I can't wait to repay your kindness when I have you as my partner to send to. Thank you Thank you Thank you-you truly made my day.~Heather

Eileen, that was the ever-present "veggie pizza", my daughters love the stuff. Bake a crust out of crescent roll dough. Yeah, the stuff in the can, LOL. Mix a brick of cream cheese with a cup of mayo and some dry ranch dressing mix. I don't measure, just dump the dressing mix in, stir and taste until it's good. Top with fresh vegetables of your choice, chopped into pieces small enough to eat easily. Mine usually has cauliflower, broccoli, some green onions, carrots, red peppers. Even the kids gobble it down, go figure. I made it once with homemade pizza dough and no one wanted it. Back to the canned crescent rolls. (grin) Annie

I am just checking in now! Our exchange student has left for home and DS #2 and I are recovering with sore throats, coughing, and general malaise. Eh, life happens. Peppi kudos to you for hosting. Your dad is so sweet! WONDERFUL time y'all had! Gina and I have a couple of Korean market near us exactly like that. Next time anyone is in town, I or Gina can take you to some Korean restaurants to sample some of the items you saw at the food court. I couldn't read the food items but I recognized most of them. Linda thanks for continuing the persimmon photo op tradition, LOL! The toilet...whatever you do, don't rent the movie 'Jackass'...that's all I can say. Linda what beautiful gifts you brought. I'm a sucker for glass myself. Sherry, that cake. Thud. DH LOVES Joy of cooking. Our tome is disintegrating from 'love', alas. Nice Trader Joes haul. Annie, I want to hear that you make pesto this summer with the pine nuts. If they last that long. Keep 'em in the fridge/freezer, they go rancid fast. Somehow I think they will be consumed quickly! Mustangs, a wine opener with two working ends? Gotta go back and find that one! Welcome Erin to the CF!

Oh, I *wish* I could visit Scotland again. When I was 14 and touring Edinburgh I didn't know an ancestor built what is now called the John Knox house. (He supported 'the wrong side'; was hung; his house awarded to Knox. Guess you had to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em even in the days of Mary, Queen of Scots!) Have a great trip; come back and tell us all about it; have another great cruise; come back and tell us all about that!