LOL, just saw this thread was popping up again. Buford, I also FREQUENTLY use the timer feature when I'm out using drip irrigation, soaker hoses, etc....I've got so many all over the place that it's impractical right now to buy timers for every single one. That's a great idea about the zippered or velcro pockets. I will only wear blue jean pants in the garden, even in hot weather just because I'm always on my knees so pants and sometimes knee pads protect from sharp objects. And I don't want to contend with bug bites either which they prevent. I'm pretty handy though, I bet I could sow on my own zippered pocket if I couldn't find any cheapo jeans that had it already. Herboil, that's an interesting theory about the cell phone waves. I had heard that idea before several years ago when people were starting to realize the honey bee populations were dropping. I hadn't heard much about it lately.

My total packet bet is 7979.43 by the law of average, should be right on the button. Now while we wait can we talk about my poor pumpkin seeds that were so fresh when I sent them, I mean I was still turning them every hour in the sun coming thru my french doors,before bagging them. Anyway, today, to my horror, the Musque de Provence seeds were moldy green!!!!I did not figure tha tthe time from when I packed them and the time we will get our seeds back would be enough to mold them, as I din't want to treat them with chemicals or bleach but maybe I should have!!! Looked on line for answers , someone mentioned rinsing the seeds in hydrogen peroxide before drying them. I panicked and use what was close at hand , put some bleach in water and filled the little baggie with it and slooshed them around until they cleaned up a bit, then i rinsed them further with my fingers, and planted them in a peat pot to see about germination. I don't know what to tell you. It's really sad to loose these, they were beautiful pumpkins, of the brightest orange flesh. If they are really lost then I will have to make sure mine grows and distribute the seeds again thru another swap.I am so sorry about that, thought i was doing the seeds a favor by not using bleach or other chemicals...and look what happened. Chris

PerfectMemory, It's perfectly normal to feel mad at losing your mom. Grief can take many forms and sometimes bring out in us a person we don't even recognize. But I wanted to talk to you about life not being pointless. Nobel Prize winner and Nazy Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once called it 'the most important question a human has to face: Why are we here?'. Think about our capabilities and the use of our brain, we barely scratch the surface. We only use a small fraction of our brain yet we have done so much. It's true, our present life span allows us barely to scratch the surface of what we are designed to do. Think about the beginning, I know you may not be a believer in God but hear me out, God created mankind as an expression of his love and surrounded us with beauty and plenty under peaceful conditions. The first humans were given a fulfilling and meaningful assignment: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is living upon the earth." (Genesis 3:8,9) Things did not immediately work out as Jehovah purposed, for we are here, the poor choice of our first parents we have inherited sin and death. NEVERTHELESS God's original purpose for mankind WILL be fulfilled. Few things are more distressing to the human spirit than the thought that life has no meaning, no purpose. But, if you make careful observation of the natural world, you will see that the mind-boggling complexities found in nature, from unicellular organisms to galactic clusters millions of light years away, tell us of an intelligent Designer, or Creator. "For God's invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable". (Romans 1:20) Regarding us humans, we have an inborn desire to live and to know the meaning of life and seeking those answers is part of being human. We were not created to die, and because things changed and we are now here God has given us the hope of seeing of loved ones again in perfect conditions to restore His original purpose. The thought of seeing them again is the hope that Jesus gave us when he was on earth and resurrected some who had died, Jesus was only giving us a preview of what was to come in the future in a much grander scale. We WILL see our loved ones again. The Bible can answer all of our questions it's just a matter of looking. There is no tradition there, no lies, no imperfect human reasoning, just pure, loving guidance. I can assure you that if you look, you will find. Much love, Ada

Thanks, everyone. I am still waiting for the kidney transplant, but my son has passed all tests to be my donor and was approved by the committee today. They have one more test they want me to have, so perhaps the surgery will be next week. I'm ready to get back to gardening and other fun stuff. If all goes as expected, I will be recovered and back to normal activities in a few weeks, perhaps in time for a seed swap. We may have to rethink how we do this swap, but there is a way for it to happen whether I host it or someone else. I don't want to see it die as it has brought a lot of pleasure to many of us for many years. I have not been on GW for a long time and don't yet know all the changes that have been made.