Hi Nancy, Here is the link to the blog created just for this campaign by Sewobsessed to help us all participate. It has all the contacts, updates and background. As to posting this on other forums, I have done that already.I posted to all that had activity in the last 5 weeks to make sure it would have a chance to be read. I met with some back lash, told I was Spaming the GW and over stepping the rules. I'm a newbie who has now learned the hard way. Sorry. But, the responses have mostly been positive. I returned to all these forums where it was posted to let them also know about the new blog. The GW is not the only place to find people to participate.If you have any connection to a garden community at home, let them know too. Here is an bit of my early reply to this thread. April 13th, I'm there. My garden is 6 years old. Each spring for the last 5 years another garden show dropped away and my continued education with them. ( thank G-d for you all at GW) How could we get word to the First Lady? We could Email every Nursery we use, on or off line, to join us on the 13th. What about every and any vendor that advertises in garden magazines, most list a www.com to contact them. Any college or high school that has a horticulture program. Directors of food banks. Garden clubs and Societies. Oprah! Sewobsessed, let me know how to help. email me. I am in Niagara Falls NY Elizabeth Glad for your support, I think a steady persistent drum of protest over time is a Great idea. It would be great too,if we build in numbers with each wave of communication, each protest event. A great building Hue and Cry. Many people and certainly most Corporations need to be told many times in many ways before they will listen. I wish us all the best. Here is a link that might be useful: Where and how, full info

thank you all so much. i am in the middle of such hell right now, i completely forgot i had posted this. marcy: thanks for posting that interesting article. i skimmed through but i'll go back and read again. latimore: i'd come across that NCIDQ website before, and then lost it so i really appreciate the post! breezy & boxer: it made me smile to read your kind words. i needed to "hear" that, so i owe you a debt of gratitude. thank you so, so much! growlery: you've given me some very good jumping points to research and it helps quite a bit to have it there in black and white. TY! and mamadadapaige: it doesn't really seem as if you've been gone, as your beautiful kitchen is constantly resurrected in posts, newly discovered by the ever-changing community we have here! i think a newbe just posted a shot of your kitchen only yesterday. did you mention your plans to switch careers? i seem to remember someone -but not sure if it was you. but i'm thrilled things are going so well for you! and of COURSE you're busy! why wouldn't you be? your kitchen is a GW favorite of mine. i wasn't really worried about getting work, but more concerned about fulfilling the requirements. i have a lot to think about and i'm a bit preoccupied while we try to finish up but i'm copying all the responses in this thread so i can come back and consider all the wonderful advice i've received. i was thinking about the economy and how it is all cyclical, and WILL come back eventually. i'm sort of throwing ideas back and forth and have been wanting to pick up some starter homes that need work in better areas -and give them ultra-fab face lifts. i didn't mention this to my dh since we obviously have invested a lot in our home. but we were discussing my options and he said i should look around for some real estate and fix them up "because," he says, "your pretty good at this stuff..." i couldn't believe, that man read my mind! i don't feel the timing is right for that yet, though. and i would still want to work toward accreditation of some kind ...do you see? i am so confused. no matter how grim things seem to me right now with the build, things will settle in time and i am sure i will figure it all out. it always happens. things always work out for me. a friend once told me i should give seminars on how to MAKE everything work out. it's laughable really. i just have faith. i just want to be sure and let you all know again, how much i really appreciate your kind words and for sharing your information and ideas. like i said, when things settle i'll go through your posts again and formulate a plan. i knew i would get some replies when i posted but i'm always amazed at how truly giving you all are.

Tomorrow my neighbor and I are doing a yard/craft show thing here in our yards. It's only from 8-1, but what a pain getting ready! I am focusing mainly on selling burp cloths, binky bibs and some bonnets that I had made for a craft show we were supposed to do that got cancelled. That stuff is already and priced but then I just hauled 4 boxes out of the basement to price...hahaha. I'm kind of sad, this neighbor rents the house next door, and the landlord just told them that when their lease is up in August he is selling the house. They are trying to buy it, but that might not work out for them. This is the first time any of my neighbors have become good friends, even her DH and mine getting along really well. I am keeping positive they will be able to buy the house, and they won't move, and I won't have to worry about breaking in new neighbors!LOL That's the side Lucy's pen is on, so it takes special people to live next to her...hehehe Jayme and boyfriend will be over Sunday to watch the race with us, and Wednesday for a bbq.... have a safe and happy weekend all! Lisa

My sympathies for this heartbreaking turn, Nik, and I am glad you are seeking another love. Sissy was beautiful, as is Lara -- I think gold-colored dogs are especially beautiful. Funny about the "wrong color". My late uncle, Bob Zimmerman, among the last of the true cowboys, was renowned for his line of "yellow" McNabs. McNabs are a local (originating at the McNab Ranch) lineage of Scotch collies that are usually black and white, but he got a gold-colored one in one batch of pups ("Gyp"), who went on to father offspring where the occasional pup was that color, too (recessive mutation, I suppose). Gyp was an exceptionally good herder, who won sheepdog trials at the county fair, as were many of his yellow offspring, so rather than being shunned, the yellow pups were highly desired by local ranchers. They seemed to consider them a sure bet for a good dog, as well as being of that relatively rare and novel color that lent prestige. But, as Camps points out, not so practical, considering that most of lower-elevation California is the same color as these dogs in the summer and fall -- Gyp, son Teddy, and grandson Rowdy (the ones I knew best) were hardly visible at a distance, at all, on the range.