Party_music, we used candles and finishing nails pounded into wooden clothespins, then used the electric stove burners to heat rags to polish off the wax. Talk about a fire hazard! Those were the days :) I love grape hyacinths, too. Marcia

socks, yes I do wear my pins. Of course I have favorites that I wear often and then some that haven't been worn for years. I have not read Madeline Albrights book. I remember putting it on my Christmas list at the time it was published, didn't get it then and had completely forgotten about it. Thanks Casey and socks for reminding me. I will be on a hunt for it. Alisande, great site your amber jewelry friends have. I found several things to think about for future gift giving. Lots of info on the site, thanks for posting it. Caflowerluver, love your Doxies too!

The old ones are the best. There are a few "old" lilacs in my neighborhood and they are wonderful to walk past. I have a "new" lilac and it has produced flowers only once......and they had no smell. :(

Since I don't see I theme to the above pictures I'll post the first one I think of for each of the above pictures.Bay or harbor (Brazil) Boat with cliffs in background (Guatemala) Tom turkey (Guatemala) Two water fowl swimming (Brazil) Purple flowers (Brazil) Bird with long curved beak (Australia) Stormy rocky shore (Brazil) Moored sailboat (Maine) Returning to the nest (Maine)