Tammy: You're smart and nice. :oD Thanks for the sedums! I started them in a pot I have basil in so they get a little bigger before I set them in where the pansies need to come out. I looked up what the cleome plants my sister gave me look like, and I wanted some of those, so I'm very happy. Called my sister to thank her and discovered she couldn't find her original plants. Somebody had given her her original plants last year, and she didn't realize they were annuals, so now she's upset she gave away all the seedlings she found. But I'll just share seeds back with her, now that we know, LOL. Hey - how are those lizards settling in to their new yards? Agrowingpassion: Thursday afternoon or evening would be ideal for me, although I could do other evenings as well.

You should have a lot of fun! My DH and I did this trip in 2000. What are you using to help you find the original segments of the route? We used the Route 66: Travelers Guide and I think we had another book but I can't remember the title for sure. Sometimes it was a challenge to puzzle out some of the directions but we went on a lot of the original route including a brick section and one of the few sections of single lane road that remains. They were having trouble getting enough money to complete the route so they built some sections just one lane (9 feet wide) to finish paving the path at about half the cost. Mostly each evening I planned the travel for the next day. The path of Route 66 changed during the time it was in use so there are often alternative routes to choose between. One of the places we stayed was the Blue Swallow Motel in New Mexico - built in 1939, each room has a garage next to it for your car which was typical at that time. Drive carefully. Here is a link that might be useful: Route 66: Travelers Guide

Good Saturday Morning (26th), Everyone. Yesterday it was fairly warm for these Western North Carolina mountains - maybe 80-85. But, around 7PM I took the Miata out for an hour or so. To be honest the breeze felt a little cool - pleasant, but cool. A sign of things to come, huh. Today, I must mow. I wait until the neighbors have finished which was Thursday and Friday. I guess if they didn't do theirs mine would turn into a hayfield. We moved to the house in 1965. The road was gravel; the neighborhood consisted of four houses; dogs ran free; land was for cattle and hayfields; and we slept with windows open. We were the first house on the right. Now I'm the fourth house on the right and there's more than a dozen houses in the neighborhood. Times they are a changing as someone said. Great pictures, Gurley157fs. I think anyone would be impressed with the layout and picture content. You did well. Before my wife died we did travel along the North and South Carolina coastal area. We didn't camp. If you travel after Labor Day and after schools start back I'd suggest Oak Island. The beaches are almost vacant. The town is Long Beach. Although the motel is old we stayed at the Pier House Motel. I would metal detect and I would pier fish more just to talk to others doing the same as opposed to really catching anything. The place has a huge deck just steps up from the beach. My wife would read and walk the beach looking for particular shells. Things seemed so much easier back then. Saluda (NC) is closer to the foothills than to the mountains. It's a very small place and really about as convenient to S. C. as it is to places like Hendersonville and Asheville. I live a little west of Asheville but still in the same county. I consider Asheville the stepping off place to Western North Carolina. There's a lot of campsites all over. I drive toward Waynesville/Maggie Valley as often as I do Asheville. Sometimes I take a little roundabout way and drive to Cherokee on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once above 5000 feet I stop at overlooks and try to absorb nature's beauty. Somewhere along the way I lost the ability to truly enjoy what I see. Many years ago I use to view a site; take a breath of fresh air; and have a rush of euphoria. I really miss that. Life sometimes seems unfair. Going west from Asheville I just think there's more to see. Of course if one drives about an hour NE of Asheville they can be on top of Mt. Mitchel (highest in the east). And, the Boone/Blowing Rock/Banner Elk/Newland area (Christmas trees and skiing) is very pretty but, for me, I need a little more to see. I've been to Harrahs only once but know it's there if I want to go. I've picnicked and watched whitewatering in the Nantahala gorge(sp?). Maggie Valley CC is on our monthly list of places to golf. From the back nine the views are pretty. They're building around the front nine and have taken something away. There's not much I don't like about Western NC. If you had specific questions I'd be happy to try to help. My Sumatra from Intelligentia is not as good as Starbucks, in my opinion. Starbucks Sumatra is organic and the beans come from like trees and like regions. I have yet to try the other two. No, what I've said doesn't sound much like a single's forum discussion, does it. I'm sorry. When one is alone there's no telling what may generate discussion. I hope all have had a good summer and that the rest of the year, and life, is enjoyable and rewarding. Gene

A guy I knew in high school - a normal, honor roll, good kid - said he went to Woodstock with his older brother. I'm pretty sure he was telling the truth. Woodstock was 1969, so this guy had to have been about 14. My DS is now 14. I have to ask myself two(rhetorical)questions: how cool is it that he was at Woodstock, and what were his parents thinking? Although melaska and linelle seeing the Beatles, that may beat out even Woodstock! And less muddy. Oh, and DS explained to me that Jethro Tull isn't "hard rock" it's "classic rock." I explained to her that they weren't "classic" yet when I saw them. Reminded me of the line from the hilarious song "1985," "When did Moltey Crue become classic rock?" which segue allows me to go sort of back on topic. Debby just hit the wall She never had it all She wanted stainless steel Just couldn't make the deal She wanted Shaker doors And Brazilian cherry floors 1200 cfm fan What happened to her plan? She was gonna get some marble, Backsplash of subway tile, She was gonna put in drawers, Pull outs with lots of style. Her UCL LED Is just a fantasy She looks at her fluorescent lights And nothing is all right It's still Coil stove, tile counters and over-the-range Microwave, Oak cabinets, partial overlay And double sink with separate spray. The kitchen design rules, They tell her that she's uncool, Cause her kitchen still looks like... 1985.