Mercy me, lots to read this morning. And that's a treat because I have to go into work late this morning :( ! and this will amuse me until I departure time (7 AM). Count me as another admirer of that nifty wreath. Please tell me about the plant with the amazingly colorful buds/seed heads... is that color for real or a trick of the monitor? The baby jacket is wonderful; I am not a knitter but perhaps I'll give it a whirl as Mum was very accomplished and there are scads of pattern books (dating from the late '30s-early '90s) as well as countless sets of "knatting noodles". Cat names: Sir Thurston Bottomly, Sam, Fred (slept in the basinette with me), Thomasina, Tosca, Millicent Friendly (Millie), Oliver Orange (all over orange, Ollie), Nicolette, Salvatore, Floey (Florence Griffith Joyner), Robert E. Lee (Bobby Lee), Mr. Sleek (Junie, short for Junior), Polly, Spencer, Vera, and Minnie Pearl. Nick names are too numerous to recount without putting you all to sleep. Hey YOU asked! Smitten with kittens we are indeed. Wow, Drema, I had forgotten about your daily commute. I'd hasten a bet you won't miss that too much. I have between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on which route I take, but it's early in the morning and is unfettered by clogged roadways. Gas is just over $3/gallon and my usual route takes me by all the places I need to visit routinely, so I accomplish much "on the way home". I don't joyride much these days. I hope the impending "vacation" doesn't add too much stress to you life. Any thoughts on what you might do as a "second" career? Mary, have you ever heard of LAGQ, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (or quintet, never can remember)? I occasionally hear something by them when I'm allowed to listen to the classical program on NPR (workers generally veto that selection, sadly). Anyway, they're terrific, Deanne would probably like them, too. Bedbugs! uck... who would ever have thought we'd be revisiting those detestable creatures? Shudder. I'm not particularly squeamish, but they give me the creeps (ticks, leeches, included). OTOH, I have to confess to a certain grudging respect for their adapability... . Sounds like an intersting research project for you, Cindy. :) There have been a rash of grisly domestic violence incidents in our area over the past couple of years... the weirdest was the guy who killed his wife and entombed her fibreglass at a marina. What's up with THAT? I sympathize with the worries about friends/children and the loss of one's "space". Having had one dreadful room-mate some years ago, I know how it feels to come home and see their car in the driveway when you were hoping for some ALONE time. The best I can say for that idiot was that he paid off our mortgage for us! haven't seen him since and don't care if I ever lay eyes on him again. Hang in there, you guys. The seamless gutters were in place when I returned from work yesterday. The estimate for the drywall came in yesterday, too. I still don't understand how anyone can do that sort of work for that price. Sheetrocking and insulation rate as the most odious of home improvement tasks, at least to me. Rich will understand, huh, Martie? Rex has become quite a pest when I get home. He follows me everywhere, sitting directly in front of me and staring at me with imploring eyes... are we going out for a walkie, Mummy? WHEN, pleeeaaase? Jeez, I can even use the bathroom without him. He apparently missed the memo that I hate dogs. Time for the "rain locker" and raiment selection and then off to an interminable day at work. I'll probably be alone (mercifully) but will be faced with the final round of huge curtains for the largest of our commercial accounts. Greeaat. Hope your day is a fine one, everyone.

Okay, Medo and CarolynP effectively twisted my arm! I'm in! I see some things that I can fill requests for, too, which is going to be such fun! I am concerned over the names that noone else has picked to send to yet. Is there any way we can pick from the list of people that haven't been picked yet to be sure we're sending something to everyone? I'd love to volunteer to send things I have to several of them to be sure to spread the holiday spirit more evenly. Just LMK how you want to handle that issue, Kym, okay? I'd be happy to wait until you get a list from other people of who they're sending to before I pack up my seeds. Here's my list. The first two are my biggest wants; the rest are simply in alphabetical order: 1. Fruit - (anything that makes good fruit for eating/canning when grown from seed) *BIGGEST WISH* 2. Vegetables - (just about ANY not on my list as I'm collecting seed from tons of stuff to hopefully have an insanely huge stash to plant from and share) * Bay Laurel Tree (Bay Leaves) * Berries (any edibles) * Chinese Lantern (prefer named varieties) * Corn, Ornamental - (any variegated variety) * Custard Apple - (any variety) * Figs - (any variety) * Grains, Ornamental - (any variety) * Grapes - any named * Hazelnut Shrub/Tree (or any edible nut shrub/tree that comes true from seed) * Kale - Redbor * Lettuce - Merlot * Miracle Berry / Miracle Fruit * Passion Fruit Vine - (I would like to grow any named varieties) * Saw Palmetto * Squash/Gourd/Pumpkin - (any uncommon varieties) * Tomato - Hawaiian Currant * Tomato - Ildi * Wonder Egg (tropical fruit plant) Blessings, Angela

Hi all. Ten minutes ago, I finished The Forgotten Garden. There was so much going on in that book that a synopisis is rather difficult to formulate. At first, I was interested in the book but could definitely put it down. Then slowly, it grabbed hold of me. I found myself out in the garden and having to stop my gardening to grab a quick chapter. How do I rate it? An enjoyable read but not a book I will keep or re-read. I will be getting it in the mail to my aunt tomorrow morning. Next up? When I figure it out I shall let you know. As I sit here typing, I can count my downstairs TBR pile... 36 books. And before you ask, yes, I have an upstairs TBR pile, too. I am afraid to count the titles in that pile. I have come to terms with the fact that I shall always have a TBR pile (Or two, or three) so rather than worry about their sheer volume, I am rejoicing in the fact that I always have so many choices at my fingertips! PAM P.S. to both AnnPan and Woodnymph, Thank you both for your dog breed suggestions! I had friends who had Samoyeds. I always felt that they were lovely dogs. But the long coats have me wondering about grooming and bathing. Scottish deerhounds! Never heard of them before! I will look into them because I don't even know what they look like. Sadly, I am still a one-dog person. The good part is that my black lab, Captain Nemo, is really bonding more deeply than he had before. He was always second fiddle to Snoopy. Without Snoopy here to guide him, Nemo is becoming more confident, and more protective of the family. It is nice to see him growing up! I will keep you all posted on my doggie status. My daughter (12) has petfinder.com memorized. She was ready to jump in the car and have me drive her to Indiana for a puppy just last week. (If the puppy had been within a five-hour drive from me, I would have jumped in the car and consented. But Indiana? That's a bit too far.)

@ital mover @bluemarble @aprilneverends Here is the photo of the painted office. Though it's gray to match the first-floor paint, it looks much more inviting than before. I placed the gray green/ beige rug and brought the green plants in. I hung the NASA posters and left the other walls empty. I have the seascape oils and ladies waiting for their proper space in the house :0) @bluemarble I also just updated the bedroom thread that you asked about ;) TY for following up. Cheers to you all.