How absolutely lovely of you, hopflower! The weather was pretty touch and go there for a day or so, and at one point, it looked like we were the center of the bullseye, but, thank God, the storm turned about 20 miles south of us and for the most part passed to the north. I am very grateful for your concern. It could have been ever so much worse. I have been thinking of you too, hoping that you dodged the mudslides and other California disasters we have been hearing about. In the meantime, I have been reading, reading, reading. I am so utterly fascinated with the two bulb books I got! You really put me onto a winner.

Hi Poaky, The mac's I grew were all from river basin origin and do very well in all ranges of soil. It's easy for me to remember because I grew only (2) types: one a big & round acorn, and the other an egg-shaped & very large acorn. If you sift thru the soil you should be able to find which of the types you have. As to suckering, no worries. Just remove any lower growth spurts from the trunk as the graft scion matures. I see growth from the wood at the base of seedlings but never from below the soil. If you do see any from below the soil, remove them and soon enough you'll not deal with those anymore. You guys are talking about black root emergence and slow germination. No need be concerned. The root will regenerate (actually a more fibrous set of roots) as a result. I sowed 1000+ seeds this winter and maybe 1%-2% are up. Just wait before you throw in the towel. Dax Photo of large-round mac's;

I e-mailed excessfroufrou & this morn she answered with the following: Thanks for remembering me. Our storms started Monday and a tornado that killed four passed about 10 miles from our house. Our round of tornados Monday and Tuesday were nothing compared to this last round in Al, TN, and GA. We are fairly used to them here, we are in a path that they seem to follow quite often. I feel so sad for the latest victims. Thanks for the prayers. Thank you, PM, for starting this post...so much loss of lives...it is so horrideous ... keep the good thoughts & prayers coming in the days ahead as so many good people will reach out to help in the destruction. Jeanne S. (thank God you know your GD is safe)

It is not so beautiful here in central Indiana today. It is cloudy and only up to 37 right now. I rode along with Amber and Alyssa for her doctor's appointment and then we went out to eat lunch. Alyssa is to start drinking whole milk and give up baby food except for the cereal. She is a petite little one year old. It has been a good day, but the weather is chilly and cloudy. Sue