What a busy place here this morning. Very enjoyable reading. This Idyll thread sometimes feels as though I am reading about ten books at once a little bit at a time. [g] Didn't want Jerri to feel lonely either..[g]. Woody...thanks for posting those pics of Misty and Copper. Misty is so cute! She reminds me of a dog in the movies, but I can't think of it's name. You know the first photo you showed of Copper, with nothing else in the photo, he didn't look that large. Next to the love seat and Misty...he looks huge! lol I always loved to see dogs play together. Especially a small dog with a larger dog. It is amazing that the large dog knows to be gentle most of the time and that the small dog is usually not too frightened. So when you say you foster, you have more than one dog in the house at one time. See when I heard of fostering, I thought you would take one dog at a time until they found a home and then another. It sounds like there are more dogs than foster homes and that they keep you busy! That is nice that you and Marie are near each other, but I can see it would take a special effort to get together. So GLAD you are feeling better! :-) Jerri...... flooring that is pet friendly...well...if accidents are expected, I am not really sure which is the best solution. Our last dog had epilepsy the last three years of his life and that caused a lot of accidents. I never had a lingering odor from dog accidents. I would get to them right away with lots of paper towels, blot as much as possible, then scrub with a mix of water, dish soap, and white vinegar, then rinse and then blot. Always took care of it. We have hardwood floors with area rugs here. The Living Room has a small 6x9 rug, even the kitchen is hardwood. I have been considering redoing the upstairs floors and if I had to choose, I was thinking of bamboo, just for it's environmental factors, and I really like the look of it too. I just bought a bamboo cutting board and I love it! It is so hard and smooth and pretty. denise...what a great shot of the bee swam. As a kid,I was not really afraid of bees, but not totally comfortable around them either. I have only been stung once or twice and no big deal. It has been over 30 years since I was stung and I am pretty comfortable around bees, although wasps still give me a little hesitation. A swarm or a hive, I would not be comfortable enough for though. Cute conversation with your DH about the cats. I could just picture it. I really got a kick out of him pointing at the cats that would all have their own shed. lol 'Returnable dogs'...I have to agree with Woody. Ideally, you hope that people think long and hard before taking home a pet, and knowing what lengths shelters go to, to assure a dog goes to a good home, I can't help but think that dogs that are returned are a minor occurence, would that be right? If a family can actually have a pet in their home for more than two weeks and not bond with it enough to want to keep it, then the dog is probably better off making the change. After a year? That seems like it must be really unusual and maybe something significant changed for that family? Hopefully he will be luckier the second time around. Cindy, why are you thinking of having more than one pair of muck shoes? Mary...so sorry you didn't finish the peeps dioramas in time. [g] Maybe next year?! I would suggest saving it for next year, but with ketchup? guess not..lol. Martie, sounds like you will also have a lot to move this year, but you already have help lined up?! How lucky are you! So, I keep reading little bits referring to a previous move. Someday when you have time, you could tell me the story of how long have you lived where you are, what were your gardens like in your last house and the story of the move..etc. :-) One of my computer order boxes came today. Just a few cables and one piece of software. The machine won't ship until Monday. Definitely will let you know how it goes Chelone...sounds like you are ready for a new one, if your memory is that low! Loved that garden you all are looking at in the old Idyll reunion pics! Ok...time to go...enjoy the rest of the weekend.. :-) pm2

After lots of trying, I finally managed to bring up some early stuff from Michael's wonderful Way Back Machine link. I copied and pasted to WordPerfect and now repaste it here just for fun. What we talked about then... My husband is going crazy ... Posted by: Bev (Ont6b) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 23:24 41 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:55 Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful! Posted by: Sara (MI/z5) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 15:00 22 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:34 I Trod On Alex Again! Posted by: Janet OH/Z6 on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 14:57 4 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:30 If I won the Lottery Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) on Thursday, November 21, 1996 at 17:27 13 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:21 What is it about Martha? Posted by: judi z./(RI/Z6) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 21:42 25 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:01 A Thanksgiving success! Posted by: Fran on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 16:01 2 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 16:31 'Tomorrow is 'Buy Nothing Day'' Posted by: Bev (Ont6b) on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 13:01 8 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 16:12 Nursery Food Posted by: Andie Rathbone Mo/Zone 6A on Saturday, November 23, 1996 at 23:06 51 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:47 Where to meet Posted by: Clare B (MO zone 6) on Saturday, November 23, 1996 at 00:32 8 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:32 Thankful For YOU! Posted by: Cora Lea (Iowa Z5) on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 21:17 9 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:21 Zinfandel Grape BONSAI by--Z- Posted by: Z CA z/9 on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 19:16 7 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:04 Town Celebrations Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 08:47 2 follow-ups, last one posted on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 11:52 Garden Webring Starting up Posted by: Teresa on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 08:17 Look at Kirk's Place! Posted by: Clare B (MO zone 6) on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 23:25 Too cute for words Posted by: Fran on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 01:32 11 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 22:00 Grocery Store Hell Posted by: Andie Rathbone Mo/Zone 6A on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 20:36 22 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 21:09 Chickens Posted by: Becky GA*z7B on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 07:29 21 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 21:05 Essential Thanksgiving Foodstuffs Posted by: Tia (MI 5) on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 09:15 12 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 20:32 Object in the Sky Posted by: Skip MNZ4 on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 21:24 5 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 19:17 Dogs in the garden Posted by: Jean (IN Zone 5) on Wednesday, November 20, 1996 at 18:24 25 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 18:46 Too Much Party Posted by: Eduardo (LA/Z8b) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 02:48 13 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 14:03 Canadian Thanksgiving Posted by: Kim Fisher on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 21:59 10 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 13:05 HAPPY THANKSGIVING NEIGHBORS Posted by: Doug ONT/Z5 on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 22:00 5 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 12:31 Black Friday Posted by: Kim Fisher on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 22:50 14 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 12:29 Happy Thanksgiving, One and All Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 19:04 3 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 12:25 What's *always* in your fridge? Posted by: Kate Lykins on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 19:34 28 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 02:26 Garden Party Trivia Posted by: Janet Menke MD/Z6 on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 18:48 4 follow-ups, last one posted on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 01:36 Mint Capitol of the World? Posted by: Janet Menke MD/Z6 on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 21:58 4 follow-ups, last one posted on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 18:46 How many workers? Posted by: Andie Rathbone Mo/Zone 6A on Saturday, November 16, 1996 at 15:21 73 follow-ups, last one posted on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 18:33 Future Telling Posted by: Doug ONT/Z5 on Wednesday, November 20, 1996 at 13:21 39 follow-ups, last one posted on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 18:23 Next 30 messages... And some early Martha bashing... What is it about Martha? 1. Posted by judi z./(RI/Z6) (ezimm@ids.net) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 21:42 On several of the sites I visit regularly, Martha is the woman we love to hate, yet we can't wait to try some of her suggestions. We make fun of them, but wouldn't miss a show or an issue. I am this way myself, but I have yet to figure out what it is that inspires such opposite responses. Call me whimsical, but I am just curious--what is it? Follow-Up Postings: What is it about Martha? Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) (drrj@snd.softfarm.com) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 22:24 Judi - I confess, too. She bugs the bejeebers out of me, yet I wouldn't mind having a 'summer kitchen' and the time and money to experiment with new ideas like she does. It's probably alot of things - a bit of envy, a bit of annoyance, mix in a dash of suspicion that she doesn't really do all that stuff on her own and she'd like us to think that she does, and you've got the recipe for the 'Martha Dilema'. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Fran (buckwold@cyberhighway.net) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 22:59 In the beginning I really enjoyed all her fun ideas but as of late she has become too darn much of a "good thing" - I don't think anyone can buy off on the idea that she does all this stuff she keeps claiming she does because there aren't 40 hours in a day, nor is there 20 days in a week....but if that could be changed I'm sure Martha is the person most capable of arranging it ;) What is it about Martha? Posted by: Janet Menke MD/Z6 (menkesjg@erols.com) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 23:03 Don't know but she has the same effect on me. I'm embarassed to admit this because I've bashed her here quite a bit myself but I have two of her books sitting on my coffee table! Worse yet when I got married the color of the bridesmaids dresses were from inspired by one of the weddings in her weddings book. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Bev (Ont6b) (waverley@hookup.net) on Monday, November 25, 1996 at 23:35 I only saw Martha for the first time earlier this year. I don't think she's been in Canada all that long but I could be wrong on that. At first I thought that she was OK. I liked her show on Oriental Poppies and that basket to die for! Now I find that she mugs for the camera too much and really gets on my nerves. I can only watch her when noone else is home as they all hate her. My daughter really dislikes Lynette Jennings, especially her voice. Really, who would be having a dinner party, go to their garden to pick nice flowers and then not have a vase/jar or some kind of vessel so have to use potatoes to put them in? Please. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Kate Lykins (klykins@roman.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 00:56 Strange as it may seem, I've only seen her show once. I have her Christmas book because it was easier to pay for it than send it back - it was sent to me unsolicited. It's a pretty book and has some things worth doing, I think. The one show I saw was fine, too. But I have read about her overdone style, seen parodies, etc. I think we want to bash her because she's overexposed. She should lay low for a while. (It wouldn't hurt if she could be a little less perfect, either.) What is it about Martha? Posted by: Fran (buckwold@cyberhighway.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 01:04 Like Martha, I think Lynette Jennings was much better in the early days, I wonder if they ran out of good ideas on a reasonable level and thats the real problem. What is it about Martha? Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) (drrj@snd.softfarm.com) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 01:12 Check out 'Interior Motives'. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Kathy PA/Z6 (markathy@epix.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 07:14 Fran, I changed that to 40 hours in a day 8 years ago when I opened my own flower shop! Please....I know Martha will get the credit somehow! Kathy What is it about Martha? Posted by: Kim Fisher (ckfisher@redrose.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 08:31 Kate, if MS or anyone else sends you any more unsolicited stuff in the mail, DON'T PAY FOR IT!! Unsolicited merchandise is considered a gift, and you cannot be made to pay for anything you didn't order. Contact your local postal authorities if a company starts giving you any bull to the contrary. What is it about Martha? Posted by: judi z./(RI/Z6) (ezimm@ids.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 09:48 Ruthanne--is Interior Motives the one with the guy who is "way over the top?" I think he is really playing up that awful stereotype of the swishy decorator, and doing a dis-service to all people in the field--he's going to give himself an aneurysm with that gushing. I asked the int. designer who helps me what he thinks, and he was very offended. My designer, David is gay, but recoiled from this show, saying it was almost as homophobic as true bashing. What is it about Martha? Posted by: ruth anne (IL. zone 5a) (drrj@snd.softfarm.com) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 10:23 Judi - you nailed that one on the head! What is it about Martha? Posted by: Grace (PA/Zone 6) (kfmartin@epix.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 13:53 I'm of German/Austrian background and enjoy making stollen at Christmas. I've tried several different recipes. Martha was making it on her show one day, I believe with her mom. Her recipe used ELEVEN cups of flour! Do I have a bowl large enough in my kitchen to hold that mess? It was such a massive undertaking for a regular person with standard size utensils and counter space. Now I have my recipe that I got from Good Housekeeping and have success every year. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Andie Rathbone Mo/Zone 6A (andier@cybergate.org) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 19:54 Like I said before. Martha Stewart is the anti-Christ, sent down to earth to make all normal women (especially those who work full time) feel like worthless slobs. It's not that she doesn't have good idesas sometimes, but she always does things the hard way. She can't just go to Michaels and buy a grapevine wreath like normal people, she has to cut the twigs, soak them, and make the damn thing herself. She also is into really, REALLY expensive stuff. Check out what she charges for her paint. I like to take some of her ideas and recreate them for 1/10th the cost. By the way, have I been under a rock? Who is this Jennings woman? What is it about Martha? Posted by: Janet Menke MD/Z6 (menkesjg@erols.com) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 22:03 Yes do tell, who is this Jennings person? Finally figure out that Englebrecht person is (have one of her nifty cannisters just didn't realize it) and now a new MS wannabee to learn about! What is it about Martha? Posted by: Kim Fisher (ckfisher@redrose.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 22:08 Lynnette Jennings has a show on The Discovery Channel, daytime on weekdays. I really can't comment on her. I caught about half of one show once, decided she was too much for me, and reached for the remote. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Kathy PA/Z6 (markathy@epix.net) on Tuesday, November 26, 1996 at 22:48 I told my husband that Martha was the Anti-Christ! I wonder if her birthday is on Feburary 4TH????? The Anti-Christ was to be born on this day! I wish Martha had a web site, I would LOVE to e-mail her. Kathy What is it about Martha? Posted by: Glenda (IN/Z5) (fletch@tctc.com) on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 08:30 Poor Martha, I admit I have said it all myself, but we should proably be ashamed of ourselves. We should applaud & be inspired when one of us manages to build an empire. If a man had done it, people would be praising his abilities to delegate not saying don't forget he has a staff. I have her old house book, and she gives full credit to all the artisans who painstakingly renovated her home. And described the process for those of us who can't afford the artisans and would like to believe that we are talented enough to do it ourselves. I wonder if the criticizims (sp?) of her poor treatment of her staff are deserved, or if they would exist if she were male. Sound like a raving feminist don't I. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Bev (Ont6b) (waverley@hookup.net) on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 14:02 Glenda, in all seriousness I think that you might have something there about us knocking a woman for being successful. I have tried to think of a man who would be like her, sort of set himself up as the epitome of good taste and as a representative of the western version of masculinity, but I couldn't come up with one so it's hard to know if we would knock him too. I think that what frustrates us so much is the very mixed messages we get, that we should be modern women who don't have to stay at home in the kitchen like June Cleaver but that our families should be well looked after. It all comes back to mom. Martha makes us feel inadequate because she seems to do it all: have a growing, successful business and career and do all of the home warming stuff that looks so fuzzy and cozy and perfect. We can never be like her, nor, I suspect, would we want to be. Hovever, we still feel uneasy and ambivalent about her and what she represents. We criticize her but when you read the postings about all the wonderful dinners, handmade decorations and Christmas gifts that we are capable of handling we're more like her than we realize. Martha just goes WAY over the top. She's a lot like us but out of control. On another note, I think, although I haven't had it confirmed, that Martha-wannabe Lynette Jennings is Canadian. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Andie Rathbone Mo/Zone 6A (andier@cybergate.org) on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 at 18:48 Maybe I should take a day off work and try to catch Lynette, just to check her out. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Becky GA*z7B (aesculus@ix.netcom.com) on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 21:09 If Ralph Lauren (who's clothes etc. I can not afford) can make the coolest paint I've ever seen for $29/gal. why is Martha's araucana series over $100/gal? And I've heard it can be toxic to pets & kids. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Janet Menke MD/Z6 (menkesjg@erols.com) on Thursday, November 28, 1996 at 22:37 Are you guys serious? Does Queen Martha actually have her own line of PAINT? How have I missed this? Where do they sell it- Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany's, and the like? What is it about Martha? Posted by: judi z./(RI/Z6) (ezimm@ids.net) on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 11:58 And get ready for this one--CNBC has announced that Martha is going public!! We can all own a little bit of Martha! I'd love to go to the shareholders meetings--will we have to decorate the room? Serve whimsical little tidbits? Instead of a printed annual report, will it be festively stencilled, decoupaged and adorned with ribbon? What is it about Martha? Posted by: donna PA 5 (pwaldron@sgi.net) on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:40 I'm an old "fan" or enemy of Lynnette Jennings--because she is my style of sit-com. We used to get her show on satelite when I lived in Japan and we were all so hungry for any English television that the Americans watched her religiously. My favorite Lynnette tip--she reassuringly told us in one episode that beige and brown go together! (sorry, I think I may have mentioned this before somewhere). She also made a vase one day from houseplant leaves and an empty peanut butter jar that sent us rolling in laughter. And just think--her show has been expanded to 1 hour! What is it about Martha? Posted by: Janet OH/Z6 (jkp@one.net) on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 15:44 MS is genuinely insincere! Her smile rarely reaches her eye's. What is it about Martha? Posted by: Becky GA*z7B (aesculus@ix.netcom.com) on Friday, November 29, 1996 at 17:01 Glenda - I met someone in NYC that worked on the food section of MSLiving and loved her job, so rumors of employee abuse are probably just that. Perhaps confused with Leona Helmsley. Has anyone seen the cartoon Sylvia? She has one she does called "The Woman Does Everything More Beautifully Than You" that has to be based on Martha.

Jack, No, I'm not organic altho' I try to use a minimum of chemicals. When I'm sick I use medicine, not ten pounds of jewel weed. I treat my crops no differently. As for the pond, I plan on damming up a holler on the north end of my property, and the state boys have already approved it. Now, I just have to come up with the money. The size will be approx. an acre, and I'm thinking at least 14 ft deep. That should be enough to irrigate all I want-- I hope. If any gators show up here, I'm afraid they're goners. I've got an additional 18 acres of timber and am blessed with a lot of native fruits like pawpaws, persimmons, dewberries, and a lot of nut trees. It's pretty good for morels in the spring. Josh, You went to the wrong part of Illinois. Southern IL is pretty much the same as southern IN--good mixture of prairie, rolling hills, and a lot of creek/river bottoms. Mercy, is there ever a lot of deer!! They get pretty big here too. Because of them, we never buy beef. As for the hoop houses, I'm afraid I may just have to add that to the ever growing list of wants. My farm is undeveloped, thirty miles away, and has no water or buildings on it. There is electricity on it tho' if I wanted to tap into it. It is so remote that the edge of the world drops off just around the corner. Of course, that's what I love about it. My most pressing needs right now are water and a building. Marla, I live in Effingham County, which is where I57 and I70 cross. My farm is in Clay County, which is well over a hundred miles south of Pana. Best of luck, Brook

See phylis's link above for some wonderful stuff. Through houzz/gardenweb and another site, I have been SO blown out of the water by tormato's swaps! The main swap is Mostly Mystery 'Mater Mailing (MMMM), with some pepper seeds, misc. veggies, flowers, etc. In one year, I got so very many tomato seed varieties that I almost groan about participating again. But...if he's going to include "everything but the kitchen sink", there are still some pepper and various bean and pea varieties I would enjoy trying. You can send in your spare commercial seed if it's not too old, as well as seed you may have saved, with reasonable effort to avoid much crossing. Also, there are people with a super-abundance of seed who might be able to sponsor you, in one or all categories, if you are very seed-challenged. If nothing else, you can purchase a seed variety or 2 (preferably not very common, if you can find it) and send some of that in to the swap. Recently, not as many peas came in to the swap as people wanted to get back - hint, hint... One of the "mysterious" parts of Gary's swaps is the rules (or lack thereof). In the link noted above by phylis, Post #170 might get you started. However, reading through the entire roughly 300 posts might get you a few laughs...your mileage may vary. In previous years, the legume swap was separate, but I'm not sure it will be this time; part of the mystery. Gary's online access will likely be curtailed until October 3 or so; if you have a question for him, Patience is a Virtue. Since I do have a vested self-interest, I will especially invite people to participate if they have any of the following seeds to share. Pepper -Cayenne, Sweet -Corbaci aka Sari Tatli Sivri -Chimayo -Kaleidoskop -Melrose -Orosko aka Orozco -Ot Chi Thien -Santa Fee Grande aka Caribe aka Guero Bean, Common -Carr Virginia -Florence -Fowler -Lazy Wife (roundish, not oblong, seeds) -Red Eye Greasy -Robert's Royalty -Seay Cut-short -Sequoia -Tennessee Green Pod -Waterloo County Mennonite aka Mennonite Purple Stripe -Zuni Shalako/Four Corners Gold Pea -Green Beauty -Minnesota Sweet (not a "sweetpea") -Sugar Magnolia There may well be 100+ participants in this swap, and some of them are quite generous. Whether you have much to contribute or not, you might be able to jump in and participate. The deadline to have seeds arrive at his end is November 10th (or November 1st if you are a procrastinator). Thank you, houzz/gardenweb, for introducing me to tormato and his swaps.