Awwwe! Thanks guys! Its nice to be back. Jenny, Nice to see you are still here! So there is ANOTHER "vine guy" here now huh? LOL! You see, im not the only nutcase thats obsessed with vines, lol! Im not exactly sure what im going to be doing this summer, or where im going to be doing it, but you can rest assured that there will be vines involved. I already have 6 MF seeds that are now just sprouting, and 14 MG seeds that are all sprouted too, and ready to go in thier starter pots. =o) Girlsaylor, thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate that. I just try and pass along what ive learned myself here or just from my experiences. Im not sure yet if there is anything I want or need that I dont already have, but rest assured that if I do come across something I want and cant easily find, ill definately be asking YOU! =o) Greenfrank, Yep. That would be me. The MF vine was growing into my bedroom window. LOL! And yes those were my storm photos. We had WAY more than out fair share of sever thunderstorms here last summer, and most of those photos were takin one night when we got hit by 5 severe thunderstorms in a ROW, one right after the other. I still dont know yet exactly what my living situation is going to be, but you can rest assured, as I said earlier, that I WILL be gardening, and it WILL include vines! =o) I will definately keep you all posted on what im growin and how its doing. I can tell you my Clematis has already come back, as well as my Catmint, and some of my hosta's too. Theres other things just randomly coming up on my balcony now, but im not exactly sure what they are. I belive that some of them are Catnip seeds, and some are the lambs quarters. Last year I allowed a couple of lambs quaters "weeds" to live on my balcony, but I dont think I will be do ing that ever again, as they are PROLIFIC seeders just like Catnip , and then some. I havent done anything to my balcony yet, its still in the same sad, sorry, and VERY MESSY state its been in all winter. I havent gotten started on it yet because I am unsure if I will be living there this summer or not, and I dont want to start my garden there only to have to take it all down when/ if I move. If a move is going to take place, it probably will happen before the end of may though, so Ill still have a whole summer to get stuff going. Right now, im just starting things for my S/O's balcony. He is also interested in gardening too, and wants to do a very nice garden on his balcony. So well both be d oing that together. =o) Thanks again for all the kind words!

Mmmm, all this sounds so good--well, maybe not that pork roast that got this thread started (you go out with your oven on? You have an amazing sense of adventure). I've made Wellington a couple of times and while it turned out fine, I finally decided I don't like to go to all that trouble. So I'll just come to your house and eat yours. I'll bring the cosmos to make sure no one will notice whether it turns out wonderful or merely terrific. I want to know how the standing rib roast turned out, so please post an update. We had a crown roast of pork--mindless preparation: season, put in oven, cook until done--plus garlic-mashed potatoes, and veggies (my fave was the braised red cabbage with apples, yum). The topper was my DIL's pumpkin pies which thankfully she didn't do lo-fat this year. I whipped heavy cream to go with it. Ice cream is nice with pie but there is nothing like freshly whipped cream. I must get back to my ordinary and a lot more abstemious diet, starting soon--but not today. I'm taking my "girls" (daughters, DIL, granddaughters) out for an elegant lunch today. Maybe next week. . . .

Hi Kristopher, I'd have to (respectfully) disagree with blazeaglory by saying you SHOULD try to grow the Improved Meyer Lemon (IML), [particularly if your heart is set on it, which is what it sounds] and not let others' difficulties dissuade you. In regards to whether to plant in the 5.1.1. or gritty mix, I've attached an older but useful post on the merits and perils of each; it also has a nice picture from greenman on the size/type of bark you should look for to use for either mix. Like you, I was a new IML grower last summer and I couldn't decide on the 5.1.1. or the gritty. I finally decided to bare root my IML into the 5.1.1. mix since I found the ingredients so much easier to source AND this mix is lighter overall, which has proven useful in transporting my tree to and fro. BTW, if you do go with the 5.1.1., you'll need to use dolomite lime and NOT gypsum (for recipes of either, do a search for "5.1.1." or "gritty" on this forum. Here are some pictures of what my tree looked like from the onset (starting July 2011) to the present. My tree immediately after planting in the 5.1.1. mix and top dressed with about an inch of the bark. The tree was a rescue from my local nursery and was on the decline when I potted it. Within a short while after potting (a couple weeks or so), I lost all the leaves which seems to be very common and causes a lot of people useless grief. Within a couple months (and keeping the plant away from sun and using only water/no fertilizer), I started to see new growth and commenced my regular fertilizing regimen of 1/2 tsp of Foliage Pro (can be found on Amazon) + 1 capful of vinegar per gal of water at each watering. I only watered when, after sticking a wooden dowel all the way into the "soil", it came out dry (which was anywhere from a few days to a week). Late this past Winter/early Spring (on advice from a friend on this forum), I removed all the leaves in an effort to force more dense growth on the tree during the coming growing season. ...And fortunately, the new growths (pics taken earlier today) have just come in and it looks like there will be tons of new and denser leaf growth and some flowers as well this year. I hope this encourages you to give a try to the IML. Best of luck! Tim Here is a link that might be useful: Gritty vs. 5.1.1. mix - older post

I, too, have finally settled into the idea that when it comes to a good hair cut, you do get what you pay for - this is my truth. It makes me mad, but I'm resigned. I have also found that the same person will give me a great cut (how well it grows out determines how good the cut was) for about a year, then she will mess it all up twice and I'm on the hunt for another stylist. In this area, there are a bunch of them, so I'm lucky in that area. I tip very well. Which is another thing that bugs me, those who are renting their space (better stylists do) set their own prices and work for themselves charge the earth already - but still expect the big tip. I want a great cut so I pay my dues and tip very well. It keeps them happy when the sissors hit their hands. But I have my own little revenge - I color my own hair! I learned how to do it and I get great satisfaction out of keeping that money and doing it myself for about $10 in product.