I think it's good to put some time into searching out the perfect plant label for you. We all like different things and if your collection is large, it turns into a big deal. I've had a few false starts, and I definitely have some tags in my collection that I HATE with a passion, and need to replace. And this year I'm finally going to! I'm in the process of stamping out tin ones and here are my reactions so far: They're great to stick in a pot and have a permanent long-term label that you never have to worry about fading or getting lost. And they stand apart from other plant labels. But they're not the best for quickly reading the plant's ID. And they're time-consuming as all heck. For readability, my FAVORITE tags (I'll have to go 100% this route eventually) are an idea I stole from Joni when she sent me one of her "mother" plants. She used one of those really heavy duty T-tags and put it inside the pot, so you could read the name through the transparent pot. Either she actually found some without stakes, or she'd cut the stake off super neatly. In those I create, I usually bend the stake under the dirt - then it stays neatly wedged in place, during re-pots. I used a "Garden Marker" pen and they have never faded and are always super easy to read. They're unobtrusive, in the same spot on every plant, and out of the way. I did poke around and there are enough applications that I think you'll be able to find what you're looking for. I haven't seen a grower use what you describe, although I did receive cuttings once with printed, slightly laminated (probably 'water resistant' paper) labels that had just been staple looped onto the plant. Those have really held up over time, surprisingly, are really easy to read, and I like them a lot. I don't think they're what he uses on his own collection, though. You will just have to look in more of an industrial setting - I'd be inclined to think you'd actually find it in the food industry, since those labels have to withstand harder conditions.

Oh my gosh, what a surprise to see my old thread pop up! It was, all in all, a great trip for them all. What worked? Just about everything . . . and thanks to everyone for the wonderful advice! ~ Sleeping arrangements: DD and 2 of the girls fit nicely in DD's room (bed, window seat bed and single mattress on floor). The two other girls slept out on our living room sofas. That room closes off with 3 sets of French doors, so they had a bit of privacy, at least. The 2 guys slept in our guest room. Bathrooms: I decided before anyone arrived that, with seven 18 & 19 year olds in one house, there would be no long baths; only quick showers. So, I put 2 wood tv tables in the bathtub with a laundry basket on each. One held big stacks of folded bath towels and washcloths. The other was for the used ones. I told them not to hang the damp ones. The nightmare of many wet towels hanging everywhere inspired that decision. Great one on my part!!! I just washed and replaced the towels every afternoon while they were out sightseeing. I also had stocked both guest bathrooms with a box of essentials: from travel-size tubes of toothpaste, deodorants, Kleenex; small combs, Tylenol, Tums, Chapstick, toothbrushes, girl essentials, sunscreen. Thank goodness, as they were pretty much all used! ~ I put a supply of local postcards, stamps and pens in each bedroom for them to send postcards quickly and easily. Also a supply of local travel books to inspire their daily outings. ~Food/Meals: as I expected, they ate like they were all starving. They loved my meals . . . even the vegetarian. I'd stocked up on enough snacks to keep them all happy. Thank goodness! ~Sightseeing: LOL LOL LOL!!! None of them had been to New Mexico before and their expectations were funny, to say the least. We have small herds of wild horses, but they're wild, not kept in pens. Our visitors wanted DD to drive them , wherever they were so that they could "pet them" and take pics! That didn't happen (LOL), but they did see some occasionally here and there. Same with coyotes. DD had to warn them not to make a big deal about any Native Americans they saw. They tried to speak Spanish to people here, which was met with patience and kindness (thank goodness!). Our chile was "too hot", but they loved exploring Santa Fe and Albuquerque. And Madrid, NM, where the movie "Wild Hogs" was filmed. What didn't work? Well, getting 7 college freshmen to agree on anything, such as where to go exploring next or what movie to watch, was a PIA for DD. One gal turned out to be a hypochondriac, which frustrated the rest. And, DS & his girlfriend decided at the last minute to cancel their hotel reservations and sleep on a queen-size air mattress in our foyer (the only place left!), as they stopped by for a few days on their way to his new job in Tucson, AZ. So, we ended up with a real houseful . . . but it was a lot of fun. Would we do it again? Yes, if DD asked. Would DD do it again? Absolutely not. She said it was fun but exhausting. This Spring Break she's bringing (just) two of her close friends/sorority sisters here to celebrate her 21st birthday. They'll dance at some of the higher end (read: safe) clubs. Shop Santa Fe and ABQ Uptown. Visit Madrid and The Tram. Eat out at some favorite spots and generally spend all the money their parents promised them for this year's Spring Break on themselves instead of an expensive hotel room. Their first choice, Austin, TX, was pretty much already booked up, as South by Southwest will be there at the same time. They were looking at $500/night for modest hotel rooms and super-inflated SbSW ticket prices! So, we'll be entertaining again, but on a much more sane level! Lynn

Wow. A bonanza of good advice. Thanks to all of you, I now have 25 tabs open on my laptop. Am I easy to shop for? I am, but my hips are not. Always a problem where pants are concerned. My feet are more cooperative -- 7M. I saw some Merrills that I may get. They are the hiking look, with a sort of fat rubber toe. I also have an ancient pair of Josef Seibel shoes that are super comfy. I plan to be buried in them. They are more like a regular shoe than hikers. The Naots are nice and seem to have some shoes that cover both hiking and city walking. Kswl, wish I could just click on "buy" on that page and it does give me good ideas. Mtn, my tour includes porterage for one bag. I love saying that -- porterage. I have visions of a man with white gloves, bowing and scraping. Anyway, he can carry the heavy one and I must tote anything else.Of course, it's up to me to get it off the carousel and through customs. I'll be doing any laundry in my hotel bathroom. Yes, we do move from place to place but stay three nights in most places, so that should give things a chance to dry. I'll bring some liquid detergent and some clothes pins, as well as one plastic hanger. I have to have my own shampoo and conditioner as well as hair gel (Redken 06). I have little plastic containers for those. I like the idea of a black silk turtleneck. Hhi, thanks for the reassurance that there will always be someone who looks worse than I do. Seriously, that is kind of my mantra. I've never gone anywhere where I was the biggest disaster there. I LOVE those Lucy pants! Thx, Bac. I have an Eileen Fisher top very similar to the Judy P, so I will pack it. It's gray and dries quickly. Yes, we are going wine tasting somewhere near Montepulciano and in Chianti. I mean, how could you go to Chianti and not have wine? I don't see Orvieto on the list, darn. So my colors will be black and plum, since that is what I seem to have mostly and different things work together. You all are the best! Oh did I tell you I bought a Samsonite spinner. Seems okay, but those wheels take up a lot of space that could be holding clothes. My small bedroom looks like a suitcase factory with my recent purchases (one to be returned) along with what I already owned. I also had a suitcase shopping tragedy. I saw a terrific Hartman bag (kind of a camera case size) that would have been a great carryon at TJ Maxx for only $67. Stupid me did not pick it right up and while I was checking out the Samsonite, someone else bought it. I almost snatched it out of their cart when they weren't looking.

A few years ago, we were having a huge cookout,bonfire etc, and a storm came up and started blowing chairs into the fire etc, so everyone packed up in vehicles and went to our house. It poured all evening, and we stayed inside or on the porch. Around 1 am, I took my mother and sister home. I carried up sis's crockpot and shut a window for her. I had left my car running on the street. I was in there no more than 5 min, and went to leave. No car... just my footprints in the mud. We had to call the police who questioned if it could have been reposesed. (paid cash for several years before that). we had to call BIL home from work to drag soaked ticked off me back to the country. I couldn't call anyone from home, as DD had DH's car, out on weekend from college. My car was found 10 am in town, still running, windshield black from wipers running, half a tank of gas gone, and my stick on clock missing. Still had cooler of beer and pop in trunk, half watermelon in back window, and 2 crock pots in back floorboard, bag of chips and loaf of bread in trunk. guess they just wanted a ride across town in a dry car? Funny thing was that I walked out to get mail Sunday morning, and got the info from JC Penneys charge card in mail. Had a benefit that if your car is stolen they offered a 1000 reward if it was found by anyone other than police or family. HaHa. The car was still missing at that point, and I called just for a laugh. The lady thought I was making it up when I told her that it had been stolen 8 hrs before. The police found the car, so there was no reward, and I was happy to get it back. I did attend a wedding shower that afternoon and we heard on scanner that they had "found the red bonneville stolen last night" I had driven it there!