hi you got mail whisst

All the pictures are beautiful, aren't they, Trixie? No flowers here either, but at least I have snow instead of wet mud and grey skies. I hate it when it's grey, I like my nice, white, clean snow. There won't be anything blooming or growing here for several months yet, although it's supposed to be up to 40F here tomorrow, an occurrence unheard of in Michigan in January. Lars, I've never seen aloe bloom before, I didn't realize it did. I have a pot full in my kitchen, but it never gets big, it just gets a zillion little aloe plants. I separate them and replant individually in pots and promptly they multiply and I get another zillion plants. I've started dividing them and just throwing them away, I can't even get anyone to take them anymore. My supply seems to be endless, but all stop growing at about 4 inches tall. Maybe I don't get enough sunlight or something..... Annie

How many times did you fold the snowflakes paper? I made couple last year for 1st time in years & just too xerox paper & made a square & then folded it in half total of 4 folds then I rounded off the wide edge & started cutting. Yours are more delicate looking & much nicer!! I finished making my seashell ornaments. They are beautiful, Wish I could put my pics on computer. They just glisten. I told how to do it over on Holidays forum under Beach Tree by a lady that asked how i did them. Hers are made of glass. I thought why not try real fan shaped shells. Prettiest ornaments on the tree!! Light really makes them look like they are covered with tiny lights. The Beach Tree is way down the page so might have to go back to last page of posts before this 1. So simple, so beautiful. Even kids can do this. I can just see them on your tree with the grapevine, Cherry, would be so elegant. WalMarts sells shells in craft, glass area if you don't have any. Could use other types of shells but the most beautiful are the fan shaped. The light actually is showing through the 1 from the mini-light behind it. I did not paint the backs.Secret is the DecoArt"Twinkles" glitter as it is so fine, like grains of sand sparkling!! Do you get the idea I liked the results??? LOL Twinkles would look great lightly brushed on the snowflakes too!!!It's 2 oz bottle over in with the paints. Get it when you get champagne or pearl white metallic paint & supplies would be maybe $5 & make lots of shells & snowflakes look great. Jan

Bowl emptier could be a raccoon. For the first time in daylight, I saw one about noon yesterday. Large, walking along the perimeter wooden fence until the neighbor's yard. I figured he was going for a drink in her many ground bird baths... but she was busy scrubbing them out. About 3 pm he appeared at one of my table birdbath dishes, standing with his hind legs up on the tree trunk behind, and his paws on the table... I think he was familiar with this dish! (And then he spent a long time nearby digging in the leaves for uneaten birdseed thrown earlier.) I had suspected raccoons were pursuing water in my yard at night, from the overturned containers. Like you said, DG, we are in the midst of a SCORCHER! Thankfully the alligators don't need to hunt for water!