Mercy me, lots to read this morning. And that's a treat because I have to go into work late this morning :( ! and this will amuse me until I departure time (7 AM). Count me as another admirer of that nifty wreath. Please tell me about the plant with the amazingly colorful buds/seed heads... is that color for real or a trick of the monitor? The baby jacket is wonderful; I am not a knitter but perhaps I'll give it a whirl as Mum was very accomplished and there are scads of pattern books (dating from the late '30s-early '90s) as well as countless sets of "knatting noodles". Cat names: Sir Thurston Bottomly, Sam, Fred (slept in the basinette with me), Thomasina, Tosca, Millicent Friendly (Millie), Oliver Orange (all over orange, Ollie), Nicolette, Salvatore, Floey (Florence Griffith Joyner), Robert E. Lee (Bobby Lee), Mr. Sleek (Junie, short for Junior), Polly, Spencer, Vera, and Minnie Pearl. Nick names are too numerous to recount without putting you all to sleep. Hey YOU asked! Smitten with kittens we are indeed. Wow, Drema, I had forgotten about your daily commute. I'd hasten a bet you won't miss that too much. I have between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on which route I take, but it's early in the morning and is unfettered by clogged roadways. Gas is just over $3/gallon and my usual route takes me by all the places I need to visit routinely, so I accomplish much "on the way home". I don't joyride much these days. I hope the impending "vacation" doesn't add too much stress to you life. Any thoughts on what you might do as a "second" career? Mary, have you ever heard of LAGQ, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (or quintet, never can remember)? I occasionally hear something by them when I'm allowed to listen to the classical program on NPR (workers generally veto that selection, sadly). Anyway, they're terrific, Deanne would probably like them, too. Bedbugs! uck... who would ever have thought we'd be revisiting those detestable creatures? Shudder. I'm not particularly squeamish, but they give me the creeps (ticks, leeches, included). OTOH, I have to confess to a certain grudging respect for their adapability... . Sounds like an intersting research project for you, Cindy. :) There have been a rash of grisly domestic violence incidents in our area over the past couple of years... the weirdest was the guy who killed his wife and entombed her fibreglass at a marina. What's up with THAT? I sympathize with the worries about friends/children and the loss of one's "space". Having had one dreadful room-mate some years ago, I know how it feels to come home and see their car in the driveway when you were hoping for some ALONE time. The best I can say for that idiot was that he paid off our mortgage for us! haven't seen him since and don't care if I ever lay eyes on him again. Hang in there, you guys. The seamless gutters were in place when I returned from work yesterday. The estimate for the drywall came in yesterday, too. I still don't understand how anyone can do that sort of work for that price. Sheetrocking and insulation rate as the most odious of home improvement tasks, at least to me. Rich will understand, huh, Martie? Rex has become quite a pest when I get home. He follows me everywhere, sitting directly in front of me and staring at me with imploring eyes... are we going out for a walkie, Mummy? WHEN, pleeeaaase? Jeez, I can even use the bathroom without him. He apparently missed the memo that I hate dogs. Time for the "rain locker" and raiment selection and then off to an interminable day at work. I'll probably be alone (mercifully) but will be faced with the final round of huge curtains for the largest of our commercial accounts. Greeaat. Hope your day is a fine one, everyone.

nighthawk ; Yes, I am very familiar with the tastes of the VP, Glenn and Kent. The Glenn was my very first tree, planted in my yard in Islamorada, Fla in the Upper Keys. I knew nothing back then, - bought and planted it at the strong suggestion of Armando, a Cuban immigrant gardener working at Ray's Nursery in Homestead. Realizing I had a small lot and that it was my 1st tree, and most likely my only tree, he unhesitatingly recommended it. The Cuban's know their mango's, and I've been indebted to him ever since. If I met someone who could only plant one tree, I would strongly recommend a Glenn. It has it all, medium size, early season, scrumptiously delicious fruit with no fiber, and best of all, a fantastic producer. That tree has always out produced any of my other trees. Then, after moving, I planted a Kent and fell in love with the taste. Taste is subjective I realize, but IMHO Kent has the best taste,....just a notch above a Glenn. Then planted a Valencia Pride & was amazed at the size and looks of the late season fruit. Seeing how big the fruits ( and tree ) were, I half expected the flavor to be not so hot. Boy was I wrong ! Surprisingly, it was absolutely delicious, again IMHO. Just a tad less delicious than a Glenn. So there you have it, so far my top tasting three mango's, - am down to only 4 trees now. Besides the Glenn & Kent, I have a Tebow ( new tree, tasted a few, give it an 9.0 out of ten), and a Carrie, ( also a new tree, no fruits so far, jury is still out ). Had a Pickering in ground for 3 yrs, neither me nor most of my " favorite recipients " cared for them much. Not a bad taste but " no me gusta " as we say in Costa Rica ! lol Just curious, where in 9b are you located ?

Babs, that's a magnificent sunset--- very striking and a beautiful "bookend" to your January 6 photo of the same field. All of you photographs of the back fields recall a book of photography I saw years ago that was taken by a woman from a particular apartment window overlooking Central Park. I think her book included a year's worth of photographs of the same view from one window in different seasons and times of day. Claire, I love the subtle coloration in the grays to blues to greens to grays and tans of the bay at low tide behind that hawk in your first picture. That's a photo I'll share with my DH. It will be a great inspiration for some of his paintings. And, boy! Do I remember that "rule" about curfews, street lights and sunset. Those were the days! We kids played for hours and hours outside with no worries ---- and no fears for our parents in those gentler times. Molie

Hi, my name is Lori from suburban Chicago. I have to admit I am a bit glassy-eyed from reading this thread...it will take a while for me to remember you all. I am glad to meet you and enjoyed reading your stories. I laughed when I read about the Hookers... I used to tell people I was a drug dealer (I am a Pharmacist, part-time, large chain) I am closing in on 50, married to my college sweetheart (27 years) have 2 sons, 18 & 17. My first memories of sewing are in 8th grade. My mom was an awesome seamstress, but I mostly leaned on my own. I did some garments through high school and college, left sewing for a while, came back when I had kids. I found less pleasure in sewing for boys so I started sewing for my nieces (dresses, doll clothes). Then my college roommate (home ec major) sparked my interest in quilting. My first quilt was for a beloved pre-K teacher who's husband was being transfered to MN. It wasn't a "quality" product...I had the kids (3 & 4 year olds) and their parents to my house to make quilt blocks using fabric paint and who knows what...then I pieced it and stitched in the ditch. That started it all! I will admit here, although most who know me, know this about me.. I am a fabric junkie. I have yet to complete a successful rehab of my addiction. I don't think I own a quilt that I have made. (UFOs don't count) The pre-K teacher's quilt got me started on a series of teacher's quilts. I made a quilt for each teacher (through 6th grade) when my youngest son finished the grade. Both sons went to a small Lutheran school, one son right after the other.. I kind of felt like it was combat pay for the teacher, surviving both boys. I had a common theme for these quilts, Each year I would trace the hands of the students in the class and formulate a quilt around the choosen theme of the school year. My youngest son transfered schools after 6th grade. I had planned on his 8th grade quilt to have had a current handprint and an "original" handprint (from JK or whenever a student arrived at the school), but that quilt never came to be. I found the GardenWeb when I was doing a kitchen rennovation a couple of years ago.(a 20+ year in the making project) I stumbled upon the quilt forum when I did a google search on longarm machines. I recently purchased a Tin Lizzie (used from Ebay) I haven't recieved it yet, a bit nervous about it. I own an old singer (was my high school graduation gift),an antique treadle machine, a babylock serger (LOVE IT)and my workhorse Brother Ult 2001. I also love machine embroidery (many of my quilts have some embroidery somewhere) and digitizing. It's kind of amazing for someone who never thought she had an artistic bone in her body.(Math and Science -yes). I am currently working on: 1. a quilt for an assistant pastor who is retiring. (should be working on that right now...) 2. college for son A (senior in high school) 3. college for son B (junior in high school) 4. sorority items for nieces and friend's daughters... found I loved to make gift items when my oldest niece joined a sorority her freshman year. I have made tote bags, pillowcases, night lights, sweatshirts, pillows, photo albums..My favorite is the quilt I made for my niece (picture in the gallery) Notice missing from this list... housework... never on my to do list if I can help it. Ok, I will also admit I like to chat... I can be wordy... thanks for listening.. Lori