If you are concerned about cost, there is another route you can go. Zuma Canyon Orchids in Malibu has a thriving decorate display business. They contract with hotels, businesses and upscale private homes to keep a number of pristine orchids on display at all times. When they are out of bloom, or even beginning to fade, they serve no longer any purpose for Zuma. They are sold as low as $5.00 each. I don't know if you get tags or if you get to choose colors but you can score some cheap Phaelies which are in prime condition and will bloom a year from now if looked after properly. Remember, when they were in bloom, they were good enough to grace the lobby of Marriott or some expensive home. Nick

linda lou, Indeed, the "showing" --- and, better yet, the "you try it while I watch & give advice only if you need it" --- part of a hands-on skill like canning will surely be missed, though, as you say, good online instruction is certainly better than none, and hand-son courses just aren't practical for some. What I'm really intrigued by is the possibility of a mixed course --- imagine, say, if you started with an online intro in which you read about the process, learned what the equipment was, the basic rules, etc., but with a real interactive component so you can ask questions, not just "read the book." THEN, all prepared with a few online classes, you went to the city once for a single four-hour hands-on experience, where you actually did the tasks and the teacher gave you feedback, etc., and some "assignments" to try at home. Then you had a couple of follow-up lessons online, where you ask about any problems you had with the follow-up assignments, etc. That kind of approach I think might work for both copy editing AND canning, and be affordable and practical. Hmmm....... Zabby in teacher mode, musing (and looking forward to your reports!)

Hello !! I just wanted to let you guys know ... I HEAR YOU !! I am also a disabled gardener. My disablity (s) are mental.Can't tell you how many times over the past few years my garden , and how it makes me FEEL ... have actually saved my life !! Research is and has been done that PROVES gardening is a wonderful source of therapy for ALL DISABILITIES !! I am getting better...I KNOW I can help others to feel better also.I am WORKING ON not only a SITE , but ALSO software that will help all of us !! PLEASE watch for it !! I am hoping SOMEONE here might be able to advise me as to where to go for help (finacial, ((i didn't spell that right did I ? )) and advisory as to Tech problems and education required. SUNSHINE&SMILES!! shee PS ... I have MANY LINKS to help you ... contact me.

For practicing on, plain unbleached muslin is usually around a dollar a yard and as totallyblessed says, most fabric stores regularly have coupons to drop the cost even further. Many experienced sewers do practice/test pieces and try out new patterns on unbleached muslin because it's so cheap. Walmart also has a buck-a-yard table, so if you're over there for something else, stop by the fabric department - it may not be exactly what you want but if it's for practicing on I imagine day-glo orange paisley isn't quite so bad. ;-) (If your practice pieces come out well, donate them to Goodwill!) Fabrics-Store.com has pretty good prices in their "oops" and "doggie bag" departments; they specialize in linen. People rave about eBay for fabric shopping. I haven't bought anything yet but I'm drooling over upholstery fabrics for a chair and a couch (the couch is a "someday").