Lizalily, thanks for that...I love hearing good stories. We are not sure about radiation/I-131 treatments yet, just that surgery is what is the most likely first step. Yes, the thyroid controls so much of what happens in our bodies that when it's off, everything goes batty... I am looking forward to CALM energy, as you said...not this fluttery anxiety-fueled energy that I've had for a while. And yes, it will be the hard part - to sit on my swing and relax in the garden instead of working on it...that will be the hard part. Sitting and listening. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I appreciate it a lot. More, perhaps, than you'd know. Nanadoll, it's not a hole that bothers me...rather, it's a good location for a new rose. I'm struggling to figure out where all the roses go now, let alone a new one. LOL. FM does indeed sound like a gorgeous, fragrant, perfect-under-window rose, though...so I may just have to figure it out. Tomorrow is another day, as Scarlet O Hara would say...I'll be getting some things done in the garden tomorrow; now that I know I'll be putting Q. Liz in a big tub until I know where her final home will be, I'll hopefully be getting that whole area handled tomorrow...Queen Liz out and replanted, and then both Gruss An Aachens into the ground. To be able to get that done would make me happy indeed...because then that front bed would be mostly complete. BTW, does anyone know when it's a good time to put bands into the ground? I've got two that I want to get into the ground, but they're still sort of small...both, however, have bloomed for me (a Fragrant Plum and St. Cecilia), so they're doing all right so far. But I don't know when I should put them into the ground...what height or age, or whatever. If anyone could give me that info, I'd greatly appreciate it! Best- Herding Cats

Thanks Peke, for your recommendation. I've always wondered how people pick their names. Mine is also pet-related. I found myself to be the mom of a stray pregnant cat about 8 yrs ago. Me, who had always hated cats and had always said I'd rather have an elephant in my house than a cat. Well, she was named Butterfinger by my daughter, and that name quickly morphed to Fing, among a few others. Her babies were named Nuggly (because he was so ugly as a newborn) and Snuggly (she was very cute and snuggly). I tried to get those babies adopted out, but we all fell in love with them...including me!...and couldn't bear the thought of trusting someone else to take good care of them. They stayed, their names morphed to Nug and Snug, and little ugly Nuggly is the most beautiful long-haired orange kitty with the personality of the sweetest angel! Our precious Butterfinger is no longer with us, and I think I cried the most when we lost her, because she taught me so much about opening my mind and heart to all possibilities. So that is my story of FingNugSnug!

Well, I'm not sure which way to go, but I REALLY do appreciate all the responses. It seems like 'the vote' is leaning toward NOT putting fabric behind the glass, which was the majority opinion in the first place!!! Like I said, I just had to satisfy my curiosity. I may play around with putting the fabric I puchased inside the cabinet on the back. As with most any project, there are quite a few options and no ONE right way to do it. BTW, sharon, I just wanted to clarify that I'm using this cabinet in the office/sewing room to store my sewing supplies.

I got three tea roses back than. One didn´t make it, the other two are simply adorable. It´s the Comtesse Emmeline and a Sawyer´s Plot Tea. They´re both vigourous and very healthy, not at all the "divas" one assumes when it comes to tea roses : ) Somebody upthread asked how it comes that these roses are still in existence in the USA but not available in Europe anymore. Once there where so many roses on the market that not all of them survived changes of fashion. Because of the mild climate in the South the US many roses survived on old plots, gardens of old mansions, in parks and on cemeteries. There are rose afficionados over there who systematically search for these roses and identify. Some nurseries put them back on the market.