I have it as my wallet so it usually stays in the purse. When exercising, on the machine. My sister and I also refer to our carrying hands as "the claw" - when we're clutching something it will stay forever in the claw and we'll barely notice! ("Do you want me to put that bottle of wine in my bag?" "No it's fine, it's in the claw.")

Mine from Breck's were Take it Easy, Violet's Pride, Cupid's Kisses. Ch-Ching, and Pumpkin Patch. From Springhill, I got the same except for Top of the World instead of Pumpkin Patch. From Gurney's, I got Take it Easy, Violet's Pride, Sunshine Happy Trails, Easy to Please, and Top of the World. I would actually have loved another Twilight Zone since it's an excellent rose, but I have high hopes for Violet's Pride. Obviously these three companies are interlinked, but it's interesting that each one was a slightly different mix. I'm happy with Sunshine Happy Trails since that one is new to me. Cynthia

For people who are concerned about their items not being appreciated at a thrift store, I live in a rather crummy area of the country and even our Good Wills and Salvation Armies have appraisers who come in and volunteer on all sorts of things from furniture to jewelry. If you are curious, go on into a few thrift stores in your area and see if they have a "boutique" area or a lot of glass counters to display items away from hands, or cordoned off shelves near the register. You might be surprised at what they have on display... Be careful not to find any new treasures though. For those of you who enjoy your stuff, KEEP IT! Enjoy it and love it. That's the whole point. I talked about my Dad having items that we knew he loved because he had so few and was obviously choosy, but one thing I didn't mention was the stuff that he kept in excess that could not have provided much value to him or anyone else. We hauled off so many old magazines, household chemicals and products that were so old that they had gone bad, old paperwork that he didn't need to keep, cardboard boxes, old broken tools, etc. For those not interested in getting rid of sentimental items, at least do your family members a favor and organize/toss the type of stuff mentioned above. I'm constantly surprised at how much outdated stuff I find in my own house (this morning a box of old paint cans- it was good when it was put away a few years ago, now not so much). It can be hard to see even when it is right in front of your eyes. Interesting thought about designating items to people in your will. My father was not a person who had much of $$ value, but he had listed a few items in his will to go to certain people. They were things that obviously meant a lot to him, but when the executor tried to hand those items over to people, nobody wanted any of the listed items. That left the executor a little bent out of shape because he felt Dad's will wasn't being honored. That's a double edged blade as well. Then also consider that Dad did not designate even one item specifically for me... my feelings aren't too badly hurt, but for some people designations could be very devastating.

I don't think I do too many things like my parents did. My Mom wasn't much of a cook but she was a wonderful baker. She made the best pastry for her butter tarts, lemon meringue pies and she was known for her date nut loaf. People still talk about her pastry. Me, I can't make a good pastry for the life of me. I don't think I do anything the same way my Dad did except I am stubborn like he was. My parents split up when I was a teenager still in school and my younger brother and I stayed with our Dad. As I got into my 20s I realized I didn't want to be chief cook and bottle washer so I moved far across the country. I moved back when I was offered a good job. My Dad had moved out of the house and my younger brother was in the process of moving so I had the house to live in rent free. Eventually, after a few years my Mom left the situation she was in and since she was half owner of the house she moved back home. Here I was at 30 years old having a Mother again telling me what to do or what time I should be home. Over the years I had changed the house, redecorated to my taste, etc. She moved back home and put everything back the way it was years before she had left us right down to the same wall paper and frilly princess curtains in the kitchen window. I sure don't do the things the way my Mom did. I stayed with her because it was the easiest option and I was travelling all the time so wasn't home much. Then she got Alzheimer's and it was decided by the "sisters" I would be the one to care of her. I think the only thing I did that was the same as my Mom was to decorate the mantle at Christmas the same way with the same items she had used since we were children. Over the years I still use some of the items but have added and taken some away but in general it is still my Moms way of decorating the mantle. I think I do more things like my Aunt who taught me to cook. I still peel the tough skin off of broccoli stems like she did and that always makes me smile whenever I do it. My Aunt's daughter moved in with me a few years ago and she asked me why I peel the broccoli, I tell her that is how her Mom taught me to prepare it among other things she taught me.