When you have some time on your hands do a search for ...philosophy of gardening. Many thoughts and history expressed there to get your mind around. Lots of memories flashed through my mind as I read the original post. Through the years good fortune has blessed me with customers who taught me that gardening philosophy is unique to each gardener. The 85 year old famous military person who wanted to buy a single English holly in a small pot to be planted where he could watch it grow. Another woman of fame who would wander into the nursery, garden gloves in her back pocket offering to give me hand. " I have pulled all my weeds. Nothing to do in my garden today. May I get my hands dirty here for awhile?" The numerous customers who would leap from their cars demanding to know "what is new? I must have it." And those who would wander with enjoyment through the growing fields touching and smelling, reading labels. Then leave without buying anything. I learned that each customer had his/her own agenda, own gardening interest and philosophy. I tried to take time to talk with them all and they in turn became friends. We were partners in the earth, each growing plants for our own interests and needs. Every customer had a gardening story or growing tip to tell me. I listened. And, as you all know, thoughtful gardeners are kind and sharing people. Today, many are turning to organic gardening and are begining to understand the frustrations it presents. We all understand the philosophy of organics, but how to cope with the day to day problems discourages many. Do I grow a lawn? Am I a bad person if I grow a lawn? Etc. Etc. We get many questions on this Forum from those encountering growing problems in their organic yards. Sadly they do not do a Forum search before asking as many of these questions have been answered over and over. Some of us have tired of responding and pretty much dropped out. To define the Philosophy of Gardening each gardener should question himself, why he gardens and what satisfaction level he receives.

susan I have bought from the Shopping Channel when occasions such as birthdays are nearing, I will tune in to see what they are selling. I purchased a few pieces of jewellery over the years that were extremely good buys, becaue I later had them assessed at several times the price I had paid, and they were very impressed with the quality and could not believe I had ordered them from a t.v. show. I have returned two things over the years, because they looked much better on t.v., but they will cover the postage for any item if you write on the return invoice that you are dissatisfied with the quality. My daughter bought a great winter coat at a really good price and I bought a really beautiful imitation Tiffany lamp for $180 that I saw in a lighting store for $650, so there really are some great deals to be found. However, I am not hooked on watching it and only tune in when I would have to go shop for something anyway. DD has already informed her boyfriend that when they are ready to get engaged, he can buy her a wedding band, but she would rather get her engagement ring from the shopping channel, because they sell amazing look alikes for a few hundred dollars that would cost upwards of $10,000 if they were real diamonds. They are actually more beautiful because they are set in real 14K or 18K gold, but the fake diamonds are flawless in cut, clarity and colour and there is obviously no risk they are blood diamonds. I bought a tennis bracelet about 10 years ago when DH was wanting to buy me something for our 20th anniversary. Whenever I step into a jewellery store, the jewellers compliment me on it, and when I finally told one that it was a fake, he did not believe me until he tested it with a little electronic gadget used to test diamonds. He kept shaking his head and said he thought it was a $20,000 bracelet because it was so flawless, and added that the gold setting alone was worth far more than the $400 we paid for the entire bracelet. So needless to say, DDs boyfriend is thrilled she would rather have a fake diamond engagement ring for a fraction of the price, that will leave them all that extra money to invest elsewhere. I agree that the talking is very tedious, but I guess there are only so many ways they can keep describing the same item, so I usaully shut off the t.v. after seeing something I want and just order it directly from their online website. I never put the t.v. on when company is over anyway, so if I bore my guests, it is my own fault, lol.

pollyanna: "There is so much evidence that Sadam was involved in supporting terrorism," Pollyanna, Saddam was an evil, immensely controlling dictator..who did not tolerate terrorists....as he was the only one to have any power... Terrorists only took a foothold and then gained strength in Iraq once WE toppled Saddam.That said, you side stepped the issue that Osama was ignored by the Bush adminstration in favor of Saddam. Why is that...when even the Bush administration stated that Osama was the one behind 9/11 (and the '93 bombing of the WTC, the USS Kohl, etc)....yet under the Bush/Cheney/Rove dictum all efforts were concentrated in Iraq? This is a main reason why over 70% of the country disapproves of Bush...he has lost the ability to bamboozle them.....no one believes him anymore...as he lied way to many times to have any credibility. And...the link you provided was to a supposed, unverified "military" website...so, again, your point is moot. rar1, The link I provided was the first that popped up on google...feel free to google on your own; you will find numerous links stating the same....maybe even one that you actually "approve" of...LOL! Here, for your convenience, is Bushy boy in his own words, retracting his statements re: Saddam & Terrorists... Yes indeed there were many attacks on US interests abroad while Clinton was in office...and indeed his distraction of his own personl issues (Monica, Whitewater et al) left him little time apparently to do much else. However, I made that point about no attacks between '93 and '01 only to demonstrate that just as he (Clinton) can't be credited with no attack on US soil...neither can George. In addition, George is responsible for the loss of almost twice the number of US lives, as well as the destruction of countless others via the miltary he has sacrificed in his "war". IMO military lives are just as precious as those lost in on 9/11. He has weakened and decimated our military to such an extent, if we ARE attacked, heaven help us.

I agree with 1929Spanish about the testers. I like being able to try things without having a salesperson hover. In our store the samples don't always look hygienic so I usually just use my forearm to test things. I like the tarte gifted amazonian clay mascara. I use a heavy eye cream and most mascaras smudge on me and this does not. It's also very natural looking. I also like benefit coralista blush.