I haven't forsaken the Cottage Garden. My daughter-in-law kept bugging me to join FB so I could connect with my kids and grandkids and get lots of pictures of everyone. I don't play any of the games. I have found a great bunch of friends through political and gardening searches, and also reconnected with cousins, siblings, nieces and nephews, and old girlfriends of my boys who still call me "Mom", and their families. Also, my other interests, such as the Sierra Club, National Wildlife, Arbor Day Foundation, and others. I have found old band friends and have contact with DH's band members and the wives. It keeps me hopping, I tell you. But, the Garden Web is my home and as soon as it is Springtime, I will be back on here bugging the heck out of all of you again. DH's band will be going down to Austin this summer sometime for some music festival (?), so I want to hook up with all my friends in that area while there, even if just for a coffee break or lunch. I definitely plan on going to the Rose nurseries while down that way. :) I come on at least once a week and read your posts. I have posted off and on since September. Hey! I saw lots of new people on here. Cool beans! Saw that my friend Lorna had posted. I have been worried about her for months. Glad she is okay. We went down to SC to see my new grandson, as you know, and when we got home, I came down with Bronchial Pneumonia. Swell! (I think I am allergic to something down there - that's the second time that has happened) Took a long time to totally get well. My parents haven't been well, and Papa is failing, so have been busy with them too. My chickens are still laying big fine eggs in several shades of tan, brown and pure white. My girls and good little hens. We are still in drought. No significant rain for months - back to July. Fires around us. That is keeping me busy trying to irrigate in winter - fun, fun, fun! Crocheted some things. Always a busy bee. Other than getting fatter, nothing else is new! Oh, and those of you whom I promised plants and roses to...I haven't forgotten you wanted them. I decided it would be best to wait until spring to send them. With our drought, they weren't looking to spry this summer, and by fall they were down-right ugly. I don't want to send you plants that look like that! This spring, they will be pretty again. We're getting a good soaker misty rain today - it started yesterday evening. Yippee! That will certainly help. Hope this is enough news to last awhile. :) Right now I am cooking and baking up a storm, getting ready for our family Christmas gathering tomorrow. I need to go check the giblets I have simmering on the stove, so best get off here and do it. Sure smells good! Love you all. ~Annie

Well hello everyone! I too have had many family members that served for our country! I have a niece that I raised that is a colonel in the Marines right now! She has spent a couple tours in Iraq and several other places. Many hrs. of worry there, but thank God for our many veterans! Mellen and April-so glad your husbands are doing ok! My thoughts and prayers are with the many people here who need them! Melissa, I loved the pic! So cute! I know what you mean about little ones growing up so fast! I had all 3 boys here last night and I just go with the flow! No work, just play! I know someday they will have many memories of old grandma taking them fishing, going for walks, coloring, crawling around and just having fun! Hope to get ahold of you soon about the plants! Just hate to see you mail them after you already mailed a box! I will get that way soon! Well, most everyone here knows me, but a few don't I suppose. I joined in 2003. I started doing alot of gardening in 2000 after my husband passed away in 1999. It was something for me to do and keep me occupied. My mother was a member of GW and loved it so I did have her do some trades for me and we shared things for a couple of years! She taught me to wintersow and how to do seed trades, etc.So I was very familiar with some of it when I joined. She finally convinced me to join and I've been here ever since. I did seed trades for a year or so then did a couple plant trades and then some round robins. Don't see much of that anymore! Things have definitely changed since I started here. I see many familiar faces, but so many new ones! I too often wonder what has happened to some of the people that were here all the time and then just disappeared! It became quite the thing for many years as my mother and I shared and wintersowed together, planned our gardens together and just in general loved the same things and had so many wonderful memories doing them! I have a yard full of plants from wonderful GW members and also full of many of the plants my mother and I wintersowed together that last year! I know she is up in Heaven looking down and seeing how beautiful they became! Well, enough of that! LOl! No more tears right now! Anway, I tried several names and couldn't find the right one or one that wasn't taken, so I just chose the things I love! I love flowers and rocks and children so that's how I chose ilovefarac! Margaret, I haven't been in a swap that you have done before, but I congratulate you on being great at it!! And everyone who posts! I just love reading all of them! Waiting patiently on more games! Have a beautiful weekend everyone! Melinda

Linda, Your box arrived! I LOVED everything! ;) Linda sent~ Cute scarecrow on a stick (for a potted plant) 4 placemats "Fall" theme, leaves, wheat, pumpkins Pilgrim (with a pumpkin scene) Bunch of seeds! Paper, plant marker sticks (orange) Adorable crow shelf sitter, with a pumpkin/gourd body! Very pretty orange glass votive- with pumpkin garland around the top rim. Japanese cedarwood candle (votive) LOVE the smell, so clean, almost spicy! Flowering herb candle (votive), another nice scent! Orange pumpkin votive English Hyacinth candle (votive) smells really nice too, very fresh! Thanks Linda, for such a nice box! I love Fall things! All the colors are so bright, rich, my Favorite season! Hugs, Deb

Hello! Fran, below 70 cold!?! We were above zero today by 10 degrees! Christmas it is supposed to get up to the low 20's! Everyone is excited! LOL Anyone here from Deb? I was just wondering how she was doing. And what about Melissa? I hope she is in the middle of a 15 min. labor right now! : ) Diene, sorry you've been sick, hope you are on the mend. Nice box you got there! I'm hoping my SS box shows up today or tomorrow! I didn't get a chance to read all the threads (again) but you girls made some great quilts! They are so nice! Mariann, is your daughters store picking up at all? I was in the mall over the weekend here (I hate going to the mall) It seemed that all the kiosks in there were pretty slow too. I think people are shopping more for price this year than quality, which is sad. And I've talked to a lot of people (us included) that are cutting way back this year. Well, I think you girls know that I rented my house out in MI, and so far this month I have not rec'd the rent and can't get ahold of them, they don't ans. the ph or return my calls "sigh" The lease is up Jan 1st and I told Jamie that I am worried they thought we would not renew the lease because they were always late on the rent and they might be just moving out! Nothing like having to come up with an extra house payment at Christmas time! It would be nice if they would at least let me know if they are moving! Enough of that, it's giving me a terrible headache. I have to work tomorrow probably till about 3:00 then I get FOUR days off!!! YIPEE!!! I'm hoping to live in my PJ's for most of those days and not leave the house at all! Hi Kym, Nikki, and Marie! And you too Jeanne! Of course you are always welcome to stop in and say hi! : ) Merry Christmas! Vic