Well, Ladies, I owe Nicole, and every one else, sincere and heartfelt apologies for not getting my package out on time. Nicole, I spent the last two days on the couch with breathing treatments of all kinds, just made it down to the Post Office today. I am so sorry! The PO Lady said it should be there by Monday. I surely hope so! And, is this swap completed? If it isn't, it's probably my fault for being late! Would like to start the June swap, but I won't if this isn't done. Let us know, Okay! Thanks! Heading outside to assess damage control! Shirley!

It was great to meet and talk roses with Anita, Catspat, and Romogen yesterday! Highlight of the event for me was Anita's talk about the cemetery and its roses We got to see and smell Bloomfield Abundance (the one now thought to be *real* -- which resembles Mlle. Cecile Brunner not one bit) and the lovely Jesse Hildreth, among others, and learn the stories behind some of the amazing roses of the garden. Now I want to go back again. Some of the roses on the display tables that made the strongest impression on me this year were Jaune Desprez, Henri Martin, and Clementina Carbonieri. Incredible fragrance and loveliness, all of them. And oh my, the albas and gallicas and on and on . . . . I was very interested in Etoile de Hollande and spent some time searching for it at Miriam's booth, with Romogen's help; it turned out to be the climbing version, which I had to pass up, sadly. Nancy, I'm glad you took one home with you! I was pretty good overall and bought only Mons. Tillier. I have no room for him, either, but I weakened. I do love that rose, so . . . . I was very sorry to miss hearing Gregg speak, but as I was the only person who showed up at noon to hear him, it wasn't to be. Maybe next year. Sheba

Rita -- we have you beat! I've been eating chili for Halloween for probably 60 years -- my Mom made it one year thinking it would be a warm meal before we went out trick or treating and we liked it so much that she made it the following year and then the year following that and . . . when I left home I continued the tradition and now my DD serves it to her girls Halloween night. So we're a third generation Halloween night chili eater! To us, not having chili on Halloween would be like not having turkey on Thanksgiving!

Except in obvious situations with someone not known to you (as when speaking to someone whose appearance or speech suggest an obvious recent Asian background), I don't think any offense would be taken when offering the secular greeting of one's choice. Saying a "holy" or "blessed" Christmas crosses the line for me. And, as someone mentioned above, a stranger saying this " I usually ask if they celebrate Christmas before I wish them a Merry one. " is rude and inappropriate. I would reply with something like "whether I do or don't, that's a matter that is private for me that you don't need to know". Others may say something similarly snappy or might otherwise be offended by such an out of line personal question from a stranger. Edit to add - I think most understand that polite conversation with people not well known, and sometimes also with people well known, avoids the big three - religion, politics, and socks.