Wow! 100 posts!! I've been checking in to see when the next get together will be. Bustin my hump outside!! I have a "Real Garden"!! We had dirt brought in to cover the rock ledges and (so far) it's looking great. It's so dry though. I've been watering in the evening because the morning sun hits directly on the garden. Is this the "right" thing to do? I grew many tomatoes from seed and have plenty to fill in the row for ones that are dying. I'm not sure if it's because it's so dry or what's going on. I have a yellow squash bloom and a zuccini!! So exciting! The plants really don't look established enough for it to have happened already. I also made more or a decorative garden or kitchen garden. I have some bamboo teepees and morning glory seeds planted around them. If anyone needs 5 ft bamboo poles (they're the thin ones), I found mine at the Christmas Tree Store at the Shoppes at Montage (WOW!! That store is incredible for decorative things! I thought it would be Christmas things....not! I also bought a "Garden Party" rose bush for $3.99 and it's growing strong right out of the bag. (not a "collectible" rose or anything...but, it's a rose! Before I forget and my blooms die, I've got a few different colors of iris going on outiside. If anyone needs one, let me know. I can hold it for the next swap or even mail it. It should be safe to dig after the bloom dies, right? I have the light lavender color with the pale yellow vein (common) & a golden yellow with a burgandy veining. The lavender are larger blooms and the golden are medium sized. Now that things are growing nicely out of the ground, I think that I'll have more things to offer (if we'll be swapping again). Well, I'd better get ready to go, I'm off to the Dollar Tree and the Christmas Tree Store in the "big city" today! lol It's a big day!

Hi All, I've been so busy. I made cookies and stuff all night after work and then I answered some email. I wasn't going to write anything tonight because I'm tired. I was ready to go to bed but I realized it may be awhile until I can post again. So I want to tell the story I promised before. 11 years ago in August, Gary's brother, Joe, died helping a motorist who's car had been hit on a major highway. He got struck by a motorcycle that was speeding and then a car driven by a drunk driver. It was as you can imagine was quite an awful time. We as a family decided to donate all of Joe's organs. We felt that he died trying to help someone and it is what he would of wanted. Thanksgiving with Gary's family wasn't the best that year of course. Christmas as far as I could see wasn't going to be much better. On Christmas morning Gary and I got up. He was watching tv, and I was reading the newspaper. I started to read the letter to the editor part of the paper. There was letter from a woman from NJ writing to thank the family who made the decision to donate the organs of the man who had died on the highway. At that point, I just started to whell up with tears and Gary of course couldn't figure out why the paper would make me cry. I tried to read out loud to him, but I couldn't get it out and by that time I was bawling. The woman's brother had received Joe's heart, and surely would of died. It was a wonderful thing she did sending that letter. We were very sad, but we were also very happy to know that people were alive because of him. It made a tough Christmas bearable. So the best gift we ever got cost no more than the time it took her to write a letter and the stamp to mail it. (As a side note,Gary's parents eventually found out about all the people(info without names) he helped. And they did meet the man who got his lungs and became friends with him. They also are active members in UNYTS, the local organ donor group. Also the next year Gary's sister had a baby, the first grandchild. There's nothing like a baby to help lift people's spirits.) Ok, I've got to go to bed. Tomorrow is a long day at work, and then I've got to visit my baby brother and his family in the evening. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Remy

Yes Jasmine's family was there and her Mom fired the starting pistol. No that wasn't me! I was grilling at the time- but I could see the start. Cooper had his ACL surgery on Weds so the dogs had to stay home. poor Coopie. Next year, our DD will run and my DH and I will bring up the tail end with Cooper and Bailey! Thanks for reading the post.

I live in Canada so we don't have State Fairs but next weekend is the 157th Harrow Agricultural Fair which I love going to. Lots of judging contests for fruit, baked goods, preserves, crafts, photography, hand stitched items, quilts - you make they judge it. Love it. I love going into all the barns to look at the animals - pigs, cows, goats, chickens, horses, turkeys, rabbits, etc. The young kids that belong to the 4H Club are so proud of the animals they have raised. I love walking through all the buildings and of course sampling the food offerings. Ribs as soon as you walk into the fair grounds are the best. We eat and drink our way through the grounds. We play corn bingo which is a lot of fun, we even bet on where the cows are going to plop. Just a lot of fun. We always stop for a piece of homemade pie right before we leave. Too many pies to choose from so you just close your eyes and point. LOL I always buy a pie to take home. Pies are auctioned off for a lot of money. I went to the Corn Fest last night but it wasn't very good this year. Most of the vendors and craft people had booths down at Art by the River which really wasn't good for the Corn Fest. Our Lady Peace played there last night so they brought in the crowds and the charity beer tents did good business. We were disappointed though and most likely won't go next year. Ruthven Apple Festival should be sometime in September. I live in a Essex County which is very agricultural so there is always some kind of fair or food festival going on which focus on the bounty from the County LOL We also have some award winning wineries so there is always some kind of Wine Festival. Anne