Njdjs, The gallon-sized baggies are a good idea. Debra, I can bring her seeds of lots of things.....most of the heirloom winter squash and melons do best when direct-seeded. I have a Texas Indian Moschata that should be perfect for her research. I am bringing lots of the purple-flowered Angel's Trumpets. They reseeded prolifically in three different large pots that had the plants in them last year, so I have a lot. I'm not sure if any of the Angel Trumpet sprouts I have are the yellow, pink or white-flowered ones-now that they are larger and I can see the leaf shape, they all look purple. When it stops raining, I'll go out to the garden and see if they white daturas there have sprouted. They usually pop up about the last week of April and I haven't seen any yet, but there might be some lurking underneath the mulch. Next fall, I'll start pink, white and yellow angel's trumpets from cuttings and grow them inside so I'll have them for next spring's swap. So, everyone can get purple ones this year but may have to wait until next year for the other colors. I'm bringing some tomatoes, but don't which ones yet. Usually I have all mine in the ground by now and know exactly which ones are "left over". This year there are barely any in the ground, so I'll just have to look at them this afternoon and decide who stays and who goes. I'm bringing a few extra muskmelon (cantaloupe) and squash plants--common hybrids. I haven't planted any of the heirlooms yet since it has stayed so cold. I'm bringing a few Malva 'Zebrina' which have just about replaced my hollyhocks this year since they are so much more vigorous and quick to come out of dormancy in early spring. I'm bringing 4 O'Clocks too. They are a great plant--they won't die and you can't kill them. : ) On top of that they are gorgeous and very fragrant in the evenings. I've also got paper products covered and plasticware and Okiegarden is bringing cups. I know Lynn has the nametags covered, someone is bringing drinks, a lot of folks are bringing food, a couple of people are bringing doorprizes, and a lot of us are bringing plants. Can anyone think of anything else we might be forgetting? It looks like rain, so bring your a windbreaker, raincoat, jacket etc. Oh, and George is bringing his new Lee Valley tools with their ash handles for "show and tell". Wait until you see the quality of these tools--you'll know why I always recommend them. : ) We are less than 24 hours away and I can hardly wait. Dawn

Thanks so much, everyone. It has been rainy and chilly here today. Apparently farther north in SC they even got snow. I had expected to get the prizes mailed today, but I've just switched our TV service and they came out today to do the installation so I didn't get out the door except for here in the yard. The prizes will go out on Monday - and maybe tomorrow. There's a meeting I have been planning to attend, but we'll see if I get up and get myself moving early enough. If I don't go to the meeting, the little "post office store" I use most of the time is open until 1 p.m. Otherwise I'll head out with them on Monday. JOY is having such special friends here at FOTESS. Happy last day of January! CLEAN: Yes, one more. This is about books, especially paperback books. I read that most books cannot be recycled with paper recycling because of the glue used in the binding. I never tried to recycle any, but I probably would not have thought about that. If you are a book lover, you may do like I do and keep them for a long time. Guess what, some of the pages (especially paperbacks) get yellowed and brittle over time. Books that are in better condition can be donated to our local library and then they are sold to raise a bit of money for the library. If you are a reader you will know of other places that accept donated books. My report is that for the most part old paperbacks (and I still had a few from my days in college) are not fit for anything unless that specific book has a special meaning for you or is a rare collectible. I decided at some point that I would rather buy a book again or better yet borrow it from the library than read an old musty book that makes me sneeze. (Okay after that talk, I will need to go through my bookshelves again!) I've had fun with this theme and am glad you did, too. I certainly didn't get all of my cleaning projects completed, but the information did a lot to keep me motivated.

UPDATE on swap seeds. I spent the night watching SB and updating my tomato seeds. someone took the whole bags of A-B tomato seeds. Which is fine. I hope they can grow out or spend the love of tomatoes. still holding quite a few . The ground hog and FA have me felling anxious. this is farmers almanac notes. FA says March avg. temp 43. 1 to the 17 th light flurries to rain. 25th to the 31st rain then snow showers April -ave temp. 53. - 1-6 sunny and cool 10 to 12 rainy warm 22nd to 31 few showers mild My avg temp 67 few thunderstorms warm

Danny, I'm so sorry. I haven't had to deal with this yet....and fortunately (so far) Mom and I get along very well. My Dad died at 53. Mom is 74 now. BUT, I can (sort of) imagine how painful all of this must be for you. And complicated. You're a good son to continue to try to care for him even through all the pain and hurt. Prayers! Around here, I can't seem to get it together. And I can't seem to say no. Next week. Next week is my new year. Fingers crossed. I'm cleaning today. I really, really wish I wasn't one of those annoying people who have to have my physical environment a certain way for me to feel relaxed and creative and settled. HU worked on the GH on Thursday. It's pretty solid. He's doing a great job, but I'll let him tell about it it more when he's ready. I held the hammer a few times. LOL Larry, I think you mentioned something on one of the threads wondering how we all grow everything that we grow...and how you don't have space for it all. I think the deal is that a lot of us only grow a small amount of a particular thing. While you go all in and grow a lot of each thing. That is HU's way too. I'm trying to do a combination this year. I want a LOT of some things--things for canning. Even tomatoes of a particular type. All of this is our survivalist garden. Then, I want to grow one or two of a few other things in the kitchen garden. Certain tomatoes and peppers that I don't need a lot of. The exception is onions. I think they do better in raised beds, so they'll go in the kitchen garden. I'd better stop sitting and get back at it. Alone time at home is a rare and treasured thing, so I need to take advantage of it.