I know it's hard to move across country with kids and pets and plants - my poor kids had to endure being close to my two large aloe barbadens plants, which are covered in sharp thorns; the moving company misjudged how much stuff we had after they sent out a guy and he measured and counted our boxes and furniture. Our two vehicles were packed to the ceilings, plants got a bit mashed, many left behind, and a couple were put on the truck even though it was prohibited and one died. Sad thing is, I was even more of a beginner then than I still am now, so I didn't have much at all! I can't imagine what it's like to have to leave behind that much from that long!!!!!! The pets we moved with us were 10 angel fish, 3 cory cats, guppies, and a very large African clawed frog. We moved them in 10 gal buckets, my husband bought a converter for the cigarette lighter and we had bubblers going in all the buckets. Everything survived. We had to sell a lot of fish on Craigslist before hand, which was heart breaking. But I think everyone should be responsible about their pets, so I'm glad you're taking the cats. I hate it when people leave behind cats, dump them off, or put fish into streams etc. I liked the idea of allowing people to come dig up plants; if that is acceptable to the new owners - could write something into the contract about the plants. But for yourself, definitely take a division of what you want the most, put in bags with wet paper towels as suggested earlier. Just like if you were going to do a trade online here at GW. I've been trading all summer, my first year trading, and I LOVE it!!!! You could easily get a garden full of plants just from the generous people here on GW. You could trade some of your plants here on the trading forums, if you have the time for it, and tell your trading partner to hold off sending their trade to you. You might even be able to get a division off your own plant later down the road that way. Just a suggestion. I'm addicted to this plant and seed trading!!! If you aren't trading yet, you should totally try it after you get settled into your new house. If it were me, I would be wishing the new house's garden was prepped and ready for the plant divisions I was taking as I was wrapping up my stuff with bubble wrap and paper . . . I was fretting over having a window for my houseplants!!! (In addition to worrying about whether or not the angel fish would even survive! And how I was going to keep 3 babies happy and fed as I drove alone!) It was a production, and it was VERY stressful, but it was worth it. We've been at this house for almost a year, and I have been shaping the gardens to my own liking, weeding, adding tons of new plants, weeding, expanding beds, weeding . . . and I'm so happy and proud of what I've done in one growing season. I'm going to try wintersowing this winter!!! Best of luck to you, get as much help as possible, remain calm, put it all in God's hands and let go - all will work out in the end. You'll have a lush, full garden again in just a few years!

I love all of your suggestions especially the New Venetian Gold! I have chosen a beautiful Ubatuba black w/gold and brown specks. It was very pretty and I hope it will be the star of the bath. I wish I could post pics. Is there an easy way? Thanks to all who responded, suebotinct

I opened a Facebook account right before I went to Oxford in 2009. I wanted a way to upload photos to something other thn photobucket (which i just hate to use, hadnt found smugmug yet) and be able to communicate with my immediate family. I started getting friend requests from people I knew and accepted them--- and soon I had about 75 people looking at my photos, remarking, innundating me with absurd and often untrue details about their personal life. Well.... Lets just say there are very few people I want to know that well, and I defriended all but the original seven. I haven't put anything on it (status changes) except pictures of trips because it is easier for a few of them to view them on fb than another site. Mainly because fb comes to them--- extraordinarily passive way of living ones life, among other things. I see many older people who use fb to try to project a public life that is painfully at odds with what is actually happening. I see younger people who can't go out and have a good time unless they have pictures on Facebook to prove they did. There's a tremendous amount of over sharing, it's sort of like a conversation between two people who are not listening to the other because they're so busy planning what to say next. I don't think that fb is evil, or necessarily stupid, but it can rob you of any vestige of privacy, a commodity that, once lost is difficult to reestablish. Several years ago our family went to Miami beach for Thanksgiving and unbeknownst to me I was logged into fb. It announced what hotel I was staying at, and I got comments from people about their experiences at it ! This was during a time when they changed the terms of their agreement with account holders and required an active opt out. Even with that there were problems, and after a hue and cry they expanded personal control of the accounts. I think twitter is a complete waste of time and an incredible conceit that anyone would actually think his/her tweets are worth "following." I turned 57 a few days ago and somewhere along the line seem to have become a curmudgeon!

Hi musicteacher- so sorry to hear about your soapstone. I live in the Houston area and found my soapstone alternative at MSI... what they don't have is well.... they have just about everthing. I think you have an MSI in Farmer's Branch, on Valley Branch Lane. These big warehouses are always getting new stock, and I am thinking you may find something more wonderful as a result of all your troubles. I used Virginia Mist on my perimeter when my saleslady demonstrated the fragility of the soapstone I was headed for. I was so set on the color and the feel of soapstone, but the honed mist was an eye opener. Still, you should get exactly what you love. Wait a few days and go and see what the boat has brought in. In Houston, it comes right in from all over the world through the ship channel. Best wishes... keep on making music.