Just wanted to circle back and update you all since you were kind enough to share your recommendations and experiences-- and even those of your siblings (special thanks to Mtn's sis!) After a few days of pulling out my hair as SO's siblings set and changed plans multiple times, we have our plans and they worked out even better than we expected. We'll be hosting his brother/SIL here in Harrisburg and we'll meet up with his sister in New Hope. We have a night booked in New Hope and one in Phila.. which is just what we wanted. We'll spend a day meandering the Bucks County countryside and then head down to Philadelphia where we'll have a nice dinner and then shop a bit and hit one of the winter popups. Paul Strand exhibit on Saturday and then head home. We are really hoping for nice weather. We really enjoyed the summer popup at Spruce Street Harbor ad now we are looking forward to visiting the winter incarnation-- as well as the one at Love's Park (close to where we are staying). We met the urban designer who came up with the concept for Spruce Street Harbor when we were there in Sept-- the design was so fun and inventive! A great transformation of the park! Here's a peek at the winter version.. a heated tent with leather sofas and wool throws is next to the ice rink.. outdoors you'll find adirondack chairs and fire pits... and the signature shipping container outposts for hot chocolate and more spirited libations! I am so looking forward to the getaway-- a perfect winter escape! Thank you all for your part in our planning! I'll toast you with a warm drink!

Thank you everyone again for your thoughtful comments. Many comments gave me some perspectives I had not considered. As far as my SIL's visits, they are not an issue for me. At least not an issue, that I am willing to alienate her over. There would be no way to limit her visits without her being hurt beyond belief. (If she had stayed mad at me for losing my temper, I was willing to let the relationship go, rather than grovel, but since she apologized, all is okay as far as I am concerned). I don't think we are enabling her as she is who she is. If we changed our response to her, it would just hurt her--it wouldn't make her suddenly realize that she is the one with the problem. My motto as far as many things in life is to never fight a losing battle--its just a waste of energy. If I can't change someone or something, then I find a way to change me so that I can be happy with it. I only have control over myself and my reactions. We have a very open door policy as far as guests, and we often have overnight guests. BIL stays with us at least once a month for a few days as he has clients in our area. When he first moved to USA, he stayed with us for several months. As mentioned, SIL is here regularly. My sisters and family often stay in the summer as we have a pool and are close to the beach. And on a weekly basis, I host a playdate with sometimes as many as 15 kids and moms. SIL can be a PITA, but most of the time (minus times where cake is involved LOL) I can tolerate her just fine---although after the cake debacle, my tolerance for her is lower. She does make some very rude comments about our house and the guest room, but my husband just tells her that if she doesn't like it, to go stay with their parents, and that normally shuts her up. I just go about my normal life even when she is here--that is why it never occurred to me to specifically plan my daughter's party when she is not here. She has been here numerous times for my older daughter's party as well, as it falls around MLK Day, so she makes the trip up as her daughter is out of school. Anyway, now that you all know more than you ever wanted about my relationship with my SIL, I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Read her story it's on the website . She was invited to be on Oprah as a regifter she thought it was going to be about funny stories about regifting but instead she was put on the couch and a panel told her how terrible it was to do and humiliated her terribly . She was very upset and gave away all the gifts in her gift closet . She started making cuffs for herself and friends and people wanted to buy them. So she went into business making them. Gayle King has several and that's how Oprah got one . She didn't know it was the same woman she shamed on her show. So the whole thing is to give someone the cuff off your arm in a full circle of regifting with love . I love the symbol she chose . RC is rustic cuff. And they have cute ones for fur babies !

Oh I am sure they will contact you if they want to keep you as a member. $25 isn't too bad if you get something out of the club. When I joined in 2005, it was more a social club. After a year of that I asked if we should be talking about begonias. Things started changing after that. Yes, a begonia nerd starts out in some other nerd plant family usually. Begonias are secondary to a lot of other plants since a lot of begonias at the local nurseries is usually limited. Only after seeing how large the begonia family is, does one appreciate it more than ever. When I got my first PC back in the 90's and got a dial up modem, the world became a wider view of what is out there. I was saying to myself "That's a begonia?" The person who "created" Connee Boswell, did Little Brother Montgomery too - named after jazz musicians. See, I learned that these names were not some off the wall person, thing, or object but a real live famous person. Begonias go from teeny tiny leaves to giants, range in color from silver-white to dark black, and the leaf shape and overall habit are good reasons to pursue them. A lot of folks don't notice a plant until years later and I have no idea why that is. I either saw it on TV (Victory Garden) or read it in a book about how plant aficionados acquire more mature tastes as they age. Going from flowers to foliage was one of the signs of a mature gardener (according to this garden expert). I noticed that in myself. I buy a lot of begonias from the big box stores due to beauty and low prices. I got Escargot at Walmart two years ago for less than $3 and then one store marked them down 20% so it was around $2.25. Three in a very large pot grew quickly. I think I put them in 14" tulip pots. This was late September last year. and this is what they looked like late March, 2020 when I picked up two to go with my one I got a couple weeks earlier at another Walmart and two for a friend in the begonia club. What a deal! Your second picture has Fedor in it next to the tuberous (I try those most every year but they just don't do well here when it gets hot). Fedor is a very robust grower. Here is my big pot of it (two in there plus a less robust 'Daenerys'. These are in a big 12 or 14 inch bowl too. I usually buy a new one every year because they look so good. I put five (or six) small rexes from the big box stores in a 10 inch pot. This was back in late January. and back in early September, 2021. Mix it up and have fun.