There does seem to be an overloading of advice about how people shouldn't throw their leaves away....putting it at curbside--- or dreadfully, burning it. We speak of leaves as though it should be treasured....never to let it get away. To compost it, to steal it from neighbors or to beg, borrow or otherwise to keep it however it fills spaces in our backyards. Well, there is a limit to what a composter can use all that gold and to fill it with an overabundance of leaves is just asking the pile to quit working, to end up next spring with nothing usable. Even spreading the gospel that we should mow over it, make it eeny, meany, teeny weenie, polka dot size, it can take up volume of too much of a good thing. You know, some people don't have the properties that they can waste space by building a bin worthwhile to hold such quantities that are expressed in these pages.....yet they are chastized for not having a bin. A bin....one bin, is to me, not worth the effort...there's just too much work involved to separate what results sometimes from its make-up. So two bins is a must...three is worth the effort.....and that is impossible for some...they just don't have the room. So while we cajole people to start composting, let's use common sense and suggest people either give it over to somebody who can, or if one cant build a bin, then do the next best thing...bag it. A plastic garbage bag can hold a fair amount of leaves, kitchen scraps, soil, those annuals that have been hit by frost, NO WOOD of any size, and otherwise the garden mess that shouldn't be allowed to rot where it lies...add some lawn fertilizer to speed things up, tied up, poked finger holes into the bottom to let the worms in, placed behind a bush....and by next summer, you'll have something wonderful for your garden...especially for your roses....they'll eat up all that leaf mold...black gold. The rest....give it to curbside where the local people will throw into their garbage and help it compost down. Most communities though do have a special day for collection---so bag what you can, and save it for when it can be picked up.

Tigerwiggy, you are a great collector! Get over the perfectionist part and start putting something together. Start smal and simple. When you first start mosaicing, you often ask yourself, "is this going to look okay?" The grouting really brings it together but you have to glue your glass or dishes FIRST. You will learn from each project ----- but you can't learn if you don't do. I'll bet you have some great dishes and tiles ready to go. Can't wait to see your first project!

Wasn't that a great idea! I have yet to do it - I have to clear a path through my shed but I'm totally stoked about the prospect of potentially being able to walk through our shed w/ tripping over rakes, shovels and brooms! And, yes, I can totally see Martha painting and decopauging! Don't forget the glitter!

Ooh you went to Poots:). Was it amazing:)? I have yet to go. It's a little over an hour drive for me. I really want to go when all the Echinopsis/Trichocereus are blooming.