Babs, just put my face on Steve Martin's body...lol. Allrighty then...suffice it to say I've got gardening out of my system for the time being. It's overcast, windy and raw. There is still too much ice and snow on the ground to clean up any perennials or leaves but I did cut back a couple of grasses and a few taller things before retreating back inside. Better bundle up for my walk this afternoon. Brrrrr...I was going to start coppicing shrubs but as Chelone mentioned, the high here for Tuesday is only supposed to be around 20 F with a dip to almost 0 F at night. Best to wait another week and see how things look then. Why can't I ever be happy with the status quo? In less than an hour outside I decided my side garden needed to be totally redesigned. Now that the hot tub and patio are over there I need more privacy and the current arch, low shrubs and perennials just don't do it. The good news for Tom is I think we can move that arch over to the side walkway so he won't have to build one. Monique, you can have all the Homegoods stuff you want just stay away from Broken Arrow, Quacking Grass and all the other good nurseries this spring until I've had a chance to get there....lol. Hope you and Les feel better soon. Mary, could the violin teacher be away? Maybe she doesn't have room on her schedule and has inquired to others and they haven't gotten back to her. It would be rude of her not to respond and based on your description she doesn't sound like that sort of person. At any rate, a plan B is always good to have but certainly don't feel embarrassed or foolish-that's not like you. Darn, Chelone, I thought your Tabouli had onions...onions make me gag, scallions I don't mind. Pooh, I should have tried some. Cynthia, I saw the perfect arch for you at Trudi Temple's garden on one of our IU3 stops this past July. Custom may be the way you'll have to go. Boy Zoe is driving me nuts today. She just can't lay down and relax. She walks aimlessly around the house-in and out of the rooms over and over. Right now she's looking at her bed but can't seem to get herself to step onto it or lie down. Oh, she just walked away. None of this is frantic at all-just strolling with frequent stops to sniff this, that or the other thing or look out a window. When she does go down she goes out like a light-probably from exhaustion. Oh goody, here comes Tom with my afternoon caramel macchiato from Starbucks. Sue

This was taken last June at DD's HS graduation. We are both seriously squinting because the sun was so bright and it was so darned hot! Anyway, my hair is even shorter now-more of a pixie which looks better on me.

On the last library visit I picked up Books Baguettes & Bedbugs by Jeremy Mercer. I have ploughed though the first 100 pages and can take no more of it! I was looking forward to reading about the famous Paris Left Bank 'Shakespeare & Co' shop but found little about books and way too much about Mercer who is/was a sleazy reporter with a Canadian paper who was forced to leave the country in a hurry and finds a bed at the shop. Perhaps he is still paid by the number of words he produces but I found the style sloppy with too much American slang, and way too many 'characters' unappealing . . . how many drunken/druggie old hippies do I want to read about . .. and if I ever read the word authored (meaning written) again, it will be too soon.

Here are some pic update from my J&P sale and Wayside Gardens sale. Wayside Gardens sale roses (The Ancient Mariner x2 , Princess Alexandra Of Kent x2 , Darcey Bussell, Tess of the d'Urbervilles) were stressed from shipping in high temperature then got hit by the sun in my garden even they were under a tree, all the new growths died and it took a while with a lot of extra care before some new growths showed up again. Here are the pics of the 2 with slowest growths (The Ancient Mariner and Princess Alexandra Of Kent) taking today. I wasn't sure that these 2 could make it. I'm glad they did. The first J&P sale roses are doing great (Cabana x2, Hypnotized! x2, Daring Spirit (tree), JP 2020 Exclusive Preview Striped). Cabana Faked Hypnotized! Daring Spirit (tree)