Just a bit more. Day length mid summer 14:12 Day length mid winter 9:53 Just had an extra glass of wine to celebrate reading all those posts from guys who no longer post. The good old days syndrome. Actually we are not having Christmas Dinner with the Nazis (relos) this year. This is because the Chief Nazi (the Dragon Woman's mother) got out her calculator and worked out that there would be 13 sitting down to dinner....and if that happened it would be on the cards that one of the 13 would certainly die. So we are having dinner here where there will be no arguments about politics, religion or anything at all. Heaven!!!!

Hot here for the past few days. Today should be the last really hot one for a while. Means getting out to work in the garden early, 7a or earlier, and finishing by 10. The summer roses are looking really nice. Teas are in the midst of their second flush, as are most of my cluster-flowered Noisettes. Climbers are particularly nice this year, with a continued bloom on the roses on my Arcade (Parade, Pink Perpetue, White Cap, Rhode Island Red, etc.) Polyanthas are doing their thing, too, with tons of flowers on Marie Pavie, Cecile Brunner, La Marne, Perle d'Or, Gartendirektor Otto Linne, and others. Blackspot came early and stayed. I got caught unaware and most of my bs susceptible roses are looking pretty shabby. I'm on the spray now for the past few weeks, and most of them are starting to refoliate. We won't talk about the weeds.

Karen, it's been a number of things over a lifetime, including being over 70 now. The weak muscles are from Grave's disease and inactivity after radiation and chemo. The bad spots are from degenerative arthritis, both knees, and in particular the result of having been thrown from a horse many years ago. You know, just life happening, but I'm a true "never say die" kind of girl, just as determined as ever to keep gardening. Thanks for the link, but I want my muscles to do the work, and because I seem to get stronger every day I believe I can do it. We have a membership at a gym and can walk at school after classes are over, so I shouldn't get cabin fever this winter. Getting older is a b----, but I like it better than the alternative. Mary

Isn't that poem perfect for the theme of this swap? I too received that card from Chelsie and was very pleased to hear from her! Thanks, Chelsie! Well, I've checked and everyone who signed up to send cards this month have done so. I want to thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your busy lives to participate in this swap. And thanks again for sending the extra, last minute cards! I love this swap and you all helped make it very special for me. Many, many thanks! And I was so glad to hear from our other members too! Nice to catch up with everyone! Please remember, everyone, if you can't join in on any of the swaps, we would love to have you stop by and visit with us. Cards were sent to ALL members of FOTESS, but there are some who haven't responded yet. To those who haven't posted, please let us know if you received Winter Solstice cards, okay? Posting on this swap site will be fine. Jeanne has posted the January FOTESS swap and it sounds like it is going to be FUN!! She always has the best ideas! Check it out and join in! To close this swap, I want to wish all our members a peace-filled New Year, and remember, the Winter Solstice Season lasts for a few months, make the most of it! Shirley! PS - one Winter Solstice Season activity I totally forgot to mention was: feeding the birds. I'll leave you with one last WSS pic.