Thank you Beth for hosting this great swap and letting me join in!

Congratulations to Katie and Annie and of course Margo on the Bingo wins

Tomorrow I'll post winners for the Photo contest and counts on points for all

Then, on to mailing prizes.

It has been fun, even if most of us are still waiting for signs of fall and some cooler weather.

Thanks to all for playing

Beth, thanks for putting so much time into giving us a great swap!

I'll be posting the October swap on Saturday, hope to see all of you there!

Shirley!

Katie, don't panic yet!! I'm sure it will get here soon. I'll post as soon as it gets here!

Our temps have taken a major drop, it's been raining all day and is it ever COLD! Better go dig out a blanket!

Shirley!

Roses Poem

Rose Seeds Iceberg, Heinrich Wendland, and Rose Mix

Sent by our Erica. Thank you so much and I cannot wait to plant these rose seeds.

Shirley it's raining here also but warm not cold.

Beth-Great job on hosting this month. Did you get your Birthday card from me?

Shirley

Beth I messaged you my votes for the photo contest.

Margo-Prayers to uplift your family.

Shirley

Thanks everyone for your support. My son is still having difficulty but is really trying to stay focused on what is important for his good health. They are trying a different med so I hope it helps soon.

Shirley, it sure has gotten chilly. Such a change. No frost in the future so that's s plus. Really windy today. I am praying the storm that is going across the ocean takes the turn away from the east coast. Looks pretty scary.

Beth, thanks again for the great swap. You did a super job keeping it fun. Margo.

Wrap UP: I was thinking of the winners and point count when I wrote that but I guess for many of us it applies to the weather too. Predicted low of 39 here tonight. Sure glad the repairman was able to finish his work on my furnace yesterday.

Now, back to the winners.

Margo and Shirley, (BG) were tied on the Signs of Fall photos. I should be the tie breaker but they Both are great , so I call it a tie and give them each 5 points.

On the End of Summer shots, Margo,Katie, and Ruth tied, My Vote went to Katie's wild boquet for the 5 point prize and I added two extra points to Margo and Ruth as runners up.

That makes the over all winner on point count MARGO!!!!! with a great big 29

Katie was close behind with 24 Both of them were Bingo Winners too

Annie, the third Bingo winner was Third on point count with 16

Ruth was the first to reach 10 point and has a prize for that.

Shirley, (BG) was also above the 10 level on points and has a prize coming for that as well as something for the Photo win.

Prizes will be sent over the next couple weeks.

I really enjoyed this month and it sounds like you did too. Thanks for playing long.

BB

Wow, didn't expect that and congratulations to everyone. This really was a great swap and I say the biggest winner was Beth with her enthusiasm and work to make this swap such a great one. I am in charge of Novembers swap and I am already sweating it trying to figure out how I am going to make it fun. I still have a month so hopefully my creative thoughts will come through for me.

Margo

Beth, did Amy receive from Tonyadawn? I see where she said she would mail out, but nothing from Amy about receiving. She's new, so might not know to post when she receives!

AMY!!! if you received from Tonya, let us know, okay! Thanks!

Oh Crap, just found it, SORRY, Amy! thanks for posting!

Shirley!

Amy posted yesterday that she got her card and seeds from Tonya, SO, once Katie's wandering package arrives the swap is officially finished

Congratulations to the WINNERS!

Not here yet, Katie, but hopfully tomorrow!

Laundry nite - Oh. Joy.

Shirley!

Fun month. Thank you Beth. Congratulations to the winners.

good point, Katie, I loath grocery shopping and avoid it until I am down to my last strand of spaghetti!

I have been kind of successful at cutting all the "non-grocery" items from the LIST, but it's hard. What could you replace toilet tissue with? Paper towels were easy, use cloth/old rags. Making smaller meals (just me), means no handi-wrap or plastic storage containers. Cleaning products are a real hoot. It seems like there is a cleaner for everything. No thank you. I use Murphys Oil soap for just about everything. And Comet for the bathroom. The Comet being made now is a lot different than, say, like 10 years ago. Leaves no residue. Very inexpensive and cleans everything in the bathroom.

Okay, folks, there's your lecture on "non-grocery" items and how to chop them off the LIST!

Shirley!

It's here, Katie!! We can both quit stressing now!

Katie sent 3 packs of seeds: Monarda Citriodera, which I have and love; Arrowleaf Rattlebox, which is new to me, can't wait to try it, and I will; and Red Wing Milkweed, also new to me, can't wait to add it to my growing collection of Milkweeds! Thank you, Katie, these are great!

AND....you all have to see Katie's "first ever" homemade card! Katie this is stunning! Very classic, I love it, and I will use your idea

Modge podge, glue, adhesives - you learn as you go. My first attempts were always smeared. And, sometimes the mistakes make the card!

Katie, thank you for the time and effort you put into this, I sure do appreciate it!

And thanks for sending the loofa seeds back, I'll get the turnips out to you soon!

Shirley!

Beautiful card and some neat sounding seeds too.

Katie -- Sorry to hear about your hubby breaking his nose. Hope he's doing ok.

Katie, got it and replied. Yahoo hates me. will resend.

Shirley!

Rofl. Great story. And yeah, he's a beast! What a trooper to get right back to work when he got home from the hospital.

Btw, anyone know if there's going to be an Oct FOTESS swap?

Excellent. Thanks, Katie!

Katie, what a guy you have in your man, "a beast"..............he is a super stud!!!!! Nothing brings him down.......Rah, Rah Brian!!

Shirley, thanks for the non grocery tips..............love it!

Happy weekend!

Annie

Oh, Shirley... I have never used Murphys Oil soap before, but now I am going to try it based on your recommendation. I have been using white vinegar for cleaning surfaces in the bathroom. I love how it cleans glass and it's so cheap!

Katie, I so agree with you on white vinegar.....love the stuff....love the smell too.

My daughter uses white vinegar in her bathroom, somehow I can't; I use vinegar for food type stuff. And rinsing my hair.

In any event, I'm a little behind, but will be posting the October Swap either late tonight or tomorrow!

My husband was painting ceilings yesterday. We have black shadows from the propane heating we had prior to getting geothermal heat. He noticed the walls were sooty too and proceeded to try any cleaner he could find to clean it. I kept saying "vinegar" and he kept trying chemicals. Finally he relented and used the vinegar. What can I say, the walls look great. My grandmother washed her walls with ammonia and vinegar twice a year.

Prizes are on the way to the BINGO winners. Other prizes will follow along a bit later

Beth, I sent you a message. I believe I received my prize but there was no note. If it is in fact my prize, thank you. Margo

I had fall gardening books sent to Bingo winners. If My Bulb order has arrived when I get home, I'll get those mailed out by next Monday. I'll post again when they are mailed. I don't have the list of winners with me and have had only sporadic internet access. Having a great time but quite Out of Touch. ......sometimes I need that

Did get my book and what a great idea. I love it. Thanks again and enjoy your escape. Margo

Beth, I received my book, too! Thank you! At first I was confused because I couldn't remember buying a book recently, but now it all makes sense!

Oh my goodness...the book is from you Beth!!!! I have been asking all these people I know if they sent me a book. I had no idea I won...anything! Thank you so much!! Enjoy your travels...be safe and have fun...fun...fun!

Annie

Way back on Sept 30 I posted that prizes for winners would be sent over the next couple weeks. Well it is more than a month later and my shipment of bulbs finally arrived today. My sincere apologies to, Margo, Katie,Annie, Ruth and Shirley ( BG) for the delay. Mail will be sent Thursday and Friday and I will post DC #'s then. Best I can say, besides I'm sorry is what my Grandmother used to say about late BD presents..... "It makes the fun last a bit longer when it doesn't all come at the same time."

Bethb

Beth, no worries. These things happen and for me the book was my prize. Totally forgot your intent to send more. Your swap was fantastic. Thanks again. Margo

Thanks Katie.... Glad mine isn't the only one.

Prizes have been mailed and here are the DC#s

Shirley (BG) 9505 51119524 5308 4942 55

Katie 9505 5111 9524 5308 4937 77

Annie 9505 5111 9524 5308 4933 64

Margo 9505 5111 5308 4928 86

Ruth 9500 1111 9524 5308 4921 28

All predicted for Saturday delivery except Annie. We shall see how they do.

Beth,

Delivered yesterday, opened this morning. Thank you so much for the bulbs. Wonderful selection.....new ones for me!!!!

Annie

Beth, I too received my wonderful package yesterday. What a great prize and I can't wait to see them in the spring. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Margo

Beth, Mine arrived as well. Great selection of bulbs thank you so much, it was just like Christmas time getting a surprise today.

Shirley

Beth, I received a wonderful package of bulbs in the mail yesterday. That was a Big, very nice surprise for me. Thank you so much. I love Alliums and Iris.

I'll have to google them to see if I can plant them now.

Iris's don't seem to like me too much, but hopefully these will.