Hello everyone! Thank you very much for your replies!! I repotted the plant into a 4in clay pot....all my other plants are in clay pots, I feel like I have a little more control over moisture that way... What I thought was a fungus, might have just been where something from within the soil leached out and into the perlite, and crusted ontop of the soil. The roots looked good, just very wet. I potted it in a mix I had on hand....1 part african violet soil and 2 parts perlite. I would have gona out and bought new soil...but, it's getting close to Christmas, and I sorta felt a little guilty getting myself something before I had all the presents for my kids bought. I think it will be fine as long as I made diligent about how much water I give it. I appreciate all of your adivce!

I looked at the Jitterbug for myself and would have gone with it except I was told it the reception where we are is "iffy". Probably just as well since with DH and me on the same service, we get free cell-to-cell. But the numbers are nice and large, the buttons are high contrast, and it's very easy to use since there isn't all that cra...um...other stuff to contend with. I really wish our cell provider offered something even remotely like it.

I second a gift of real ginger chews from the "Ginger People" as a stocking stuffer for all your ginger lovers out there. I got my husband a huge bag one year for Christmas. Probably too late for ordering now, but if you ever see them in a store, great products. That's the actual name of the company, Ginger People. I had to run out to find some sympathy cards and the only place they sell them in my town is either the mart marts which I was not going near, or the chain pharmacies, since we no longer have locally owned ones in business. Just as a side note, Rite Aid had a marvelous selection of gifts and Christmas decorations. Nicer than any of the big boxes in town. Some nice toys and books and activity books, specialty magazines, ornaments, etc. We really dialed down Christmas shopping this year due to financial austerity, but if you are looking for some last minute stocking stuffers, that was a surprisingly nice place to go. Lots of interesting toiletry products too. My husband has very little sense of smell so I don't get him fancy nice scented things, but they had some cool body washes and scented soaps and aftershaves. Natural products. My one suggestion of a last minute gift that I always loved getting as a kid were the candy Lifesaver "books" of assorted flavors of rolls. They now have activity pages too. I just loved the glamor of having so many types of Lifesaver candy. It combined my two loves, books and candy!

Many gift cards are just debit cards so if doesn’t matter which store. But they do expire, and after that date if you want to reinstate them they deduct monthly maintenance fees. I just checked on five expired cards, four of which had an original value of $100 not sure about the 5th, all worth nothing now. Money out the window. I’m sure there are more floating around the house. Cash seems impersonal because it is. That’s not to say it’s not appreciated, but let’s be honest the only thought that goes into it is how much you feel like giving. If it’s impractical to find out what they might like, then go for it. But please no gift cards unless you’re SURE they will use them.