Oh, thank you all so very much! This is great! Now I have a wonderful plethora of flowers that I'd forgotten about. Just thinking about them takes me back to my early childhood memores. I really must take time away from writing and get my yard prepared for winter. You all have helped me realize just how much I need to promise to do better next year. And I need to see if I can get some winter veggies planted. I'd promised my editor that I'd have this proposal in the mail by Monday, and thanks to you guys, I'll meet that deadline. Hopefully she'll like this book as much as she liked the first one that I sold in August (gee, maybe that's why I didn't pay much attention to what was blooming in August? Hard to smell the flowers when your head is in the clouds! LOL!) Anyway, if I sell this book, I'll be sure to put you guys in the acknowledgements. And I intend to come back here to pick your brains on how to turn my long-black greenthumb back to, well, green.

Congrats to your niece! I read a bit from her stitchtunes blog. She's a good writer. I wish her good luck with future endeavors. Also, my best to her DH. My DH has also always wanted to write & now that he's retired has taken several fiction writing classes over the past 18 months, or so. DH just recently completed his third short story but hasn't yet considered trying to get published. I've marked this thread for him to take a look at since your neice also writes short stories. Nice to see you around, Rita. Hope all is well. /tricia

I started 2 knitting projects this year. A knitted Log Cabin afghan I got bored with. And a knitted washcloth I had about three-quartes completed and lost. I think I left it in a doctor's office but they didn't find it. Must have looked like garbage. It was in a rastty looking plastic bag. But with a beautiful set of bamboo needles. That's what hurt the most!

1)--"while my boyfriend is amazing "-- a) --". My boyfriend (a child of teenage marriage himself) doesn't have an on the book job, no high school degree, no credit, barely a place to live except the days he stays with me 2)--"And they are quite capable as far as I can tell of being the best parents they can be, just not together"-- b)----"she and her parents (where she, the baby and her boyfriend live) have primary custody 3)--"He wants to move into a place with me."-- c)--"He wants to take the child away from her"-- 4)--"he says the less the better but his less is a little bit of bending the truth to avoid a fight without realizing that if she finds out all hell will break loose. Like not taking the baby out of nj without 24 hour notice but he wants to "just go to sesame place" (in the summer) and worry about how she feels about it later."-- d) you forgot to give me a quote for this one which should have read 'He has zero zip repsect for a CO, a judges ruling, and/or give a flying flick what anyone, including YOU think about it'. There, I tried to put reality for your situation as clear as day using your own words...I just left out all the mumbo jumbo sideline concerns you included. Do yourself a favor and stay clear of involving yourself anymore deeply into this sad situation. Date the guy if you feel you must, take Jr on fun afternoon outings (think of it no differently than if you were taking one of your nieces/nephews for a fun day), feed the child something simple off a menu where there is likely to be something kid friendly he'll enjoy...but do not let this guy move in and do not get attached to this child. This guy and the child's mother have a lot of growing up to do...there is not a stable happy future in it for you. And if the guy is serious about full miltary status, the guy will be not even around to deal with the mess he's trying so hard to create. You're a young, educated funcationing adult, have a big heart and a chance to find a real amazing man and a bright and happy future...don't settle for the first fish that swam by.