Thank you so much Christin. If I had the money, I would be going to that junk store every weekday. Not so many people there during the week day, so more to myself. The lady who owns it was so nice. She took the time to show me how easy it was to take that arbor apart and put back together. Then she and I (and her three-year old daughter) put everything into the truck. I also got that arch behind the statue in the garden. The little three year old was so precious and beautiful. Such a sweet child too, and so cute. She followed me everywhere and "helped" me carry things out to the truck, just chattering away. I had to go home to get the truck after making my purchases, and when I came back two hours later, she ran to greet me, her head of blonde curls bouncing with each step and blowing in the breeze. She hugged me and began following again, conversing about anything and everything. I enjoyed her very much. I sure hope the Empress settee is still there on my next visit. Our house was built in 1930. It is a very small Bungalow - too small in fact, and there is now storage - none. The original owner was the village doctor - Doc Davis. There were originally 160 adjoining acres. He didn't farm it, but leased it out to ranchers for grazing and growing wheat, so I've been told. We had the option of also buying the remaining 70 acres. Wish I could have talked "The Heathen " into that. But, we got 3 acres and that is nice enough...for now. Several of the old-timers here have told me so many interesting stories about having their broken arm set here, getting "stitched up", or some such. One man in town lived on the place as a child. His father was the caretaker/maintenance man - he lit the coal furnace for the Misses, and that sort of thing. There was a smaller cottage on the north side of the property where they lived. Just the foundation remains. I am gleaning the old red Iron stones that are loose from the remaining foundation. I had thought of planting spring bulbs inside it. Still would like to do that. It is in heavy shade in summertime, but has enough sun in the spring for flowering bulbs. Would be so pretty. Right now, it is a snake pit - Copperheads. Me no likey that! The house itself is very unique in the sense that it is solid brick, not veneer applied to wood frame. The outside walls are also the inside walls, only coated in plaster. No lath-work underneath, just plaster. And, we have a full basement - not common in Oklahoma on account of the terrible problem with the ground shifting - not safe at all. But this house has stood the years and made it through many tornadoes too. I have visions of it collapsing one day and falling into the basement, especially since we have had some pretty hefty Earthquakes that shook the house and rattled the windows for 15 minutes and longer. Yikes! There was no garden at all when we bought the place. Only a few native trees, and the two woodland areas on the hill above, and a smattering of old daylilies against the northside of the house. Everything else, including trees, I planted. Sometimes when out int the garden working, I think on it, and am amazed at how much I have done to this place. The vines on the house are English Ivy and Virginia Creeper. I planted it the first year in 1996. I love the colorful leaves and blue berries in the fall of the Virginia Creeper, and the English Ivy adds the charm and greenery I love to the cottage. It is not only charming, but it also insulates the house in winter and summer. Birds love to nest in the ivy and creeper, especially the Lesser Flycatcher. Those tiny birds eat thousands of mosquitoes every day and flies as well. The vines and birds lure snakes, but they don't bother us. Our cats and dogs see to that. I did a lot of research to come up with the right type of garden that would look best with the house, and decided upon the Cottage Garden as best choice. I will be keeping a close watch on the junk store - they are struggling to keep it going. So sorry to hear that. Just another family on the brink of failure and ruin in the country. (Grrrrr...) But, if they do end up going out of business, I want to make their closing sale for certain. In the meantime, I am saving my pennies in jars so I can go back to get that settee and the Birdcage gazebo - at least. You ought to see all the lovelies INSIDE their store! ~Annie

Annie Lovely. How do those dix droight di Napoli taste? Never heard of that tomato variety before. John

Hello and Good Morning, I'm home but have to return to work Monday for a meeting but then will be off again until next Friday. I've been struggling with this cold/virus since last Friday and it has really knocked me down. I'm on my 2nd round of antibiotics for it. Tony, yes like Susie mentioned, with the economy being like it is, and with the many, many nice swaps there are. We just threw it out to get some ideas on what everyone thought about it, and if we would have enough participants for new swap. Carol, thank you for the input. Yes, to be honest I've not traded for much for hosta due to the hosta virus. I should have mentioned we can trade hosta as long as we are sure they are virus free. Sue G, we would love to have you! Susie, I hope to catch you on line this morning. I will be back later; I smell coffee, LIFE IS GOOD, Annie

Yes, CC, Chrystal and I live less than 10 miles apart and we socialize as well as work together. I've had the very good fortune of spending the last 15 years working side by side with a good friend who recognized my abilities and treated me as an equal, not as an employee. We were "in it together", doing something we both felt was important. No matter who replaced her, I'd be sad. she is the reason I met Elery, she's been involved in all facets of my life and my girls' lives. She just got tired after 15 years of being on the job 24 hours a day, armed standoffs in the middle of the night, death threats, even holding a dead officer/friend in her arms once after he was shot. She is now teaching Criminal Justice at the local university. It happens and I always knew it could happen, it's a political office and an elected position. I could get anyone as a boss. When a prosecutor retires mid-term, the Circuit Judge gets to appoint the replacement and so he did. We'll see how things go, as I just turned 55 in May and am eligible for retirement. I could retire and get a part time job and still make what I'm making now, and Elery has insurance available, so it's not a financial issue. But I'm sad, law enforcement is sad. I will continue as a friend, but the police in this county are losing a vocal advocate, an educator for their new officers and a good friend. The new guy has no prosecutorial experience and so it's going to take some time for him to acclimate, he doesn't have the decades of law enforcment experience that Chrystal does. Ah, but that's politics in a political office. Annie