A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

OFFERS TODAY: Tuesday Feb 10, 09 1 offer Bi-color Mixed varieties? 1 offer Watermelon Sugar Baby 1 offer Melon: Honey Dew 4 offers Maltese Cross 1 offer Watermelon Jubilee 1 offer Large Pear Shaped Tomato 1 offer Passion Flower Passiflora caerulea yr unknown Comm. pk 1 offer Lavatera Mont Blanc Annual yr unknown Comm. pk Full Sun 1 offer Euphorbe Summer Icicle Annual yr unknown Comm. Pk Sun to Part Shade 1 offer Thyme (Organics Biologique) Comm.pk yr unknown 1 offer Lettuce Mesclun Bon Vivant yr hand written on it 2008 1 offer Dill Chia Brand Herbs Comm year unknown 1 offer Morning Glory Heavenly Blue Comm yr unknown 1 offer Tomato Brandywine (Oragnic Biologique) yr marked out 1 offer Castor Bean feels like 4 seeds comm. pk unknown yr 1 offer Tomato could be black no other info 1 offer Heirloom Tomato Basinga 2006 1 offer Isis Yellow Flag 2 offer Asclepias Soulmate Pink zone 3-9 Please note I have NO clue what the first one might even remotely be, your guess is as good as mine! Also remember anything you are requesting could be on your list and if I have put one pack in your bag already and you request these extras too, then you have 2 I will not pull the first pack or the requested. It would be too confusing to try to keep up wiith I think so you will just have 2 lol. :) Fran

@applianceauthority & @davidro1 I have worked for the DoD, and several defense contractors. I wrote the software, they supplied the hardware. I learned a lot from the hardware engineers. The difference between an average component and a DoD spec'd component - may just be in the statistical testing of the product. Some lots are great, some are terrible - same part - same vendor. Naturally, simplicity wins. Ranges with standing pilots will probably last 100 yrs with no maintenance. But there are laws.... Same with fridges. If SubZero has two compressors - with two different thermostats with simple (no circuit boards) controls then it might be a great fridge. Once you introduce complexity - repair becomes expensive - especially once the product gets outside of the 'lab' where you have unlimited resources to test problems. Even for the DoD self testing is too expensive - most manufacture's test their products to have a confidence interval of 99%, thus this is their insurance policy that there will not be a lot of warranty work. From my experience most of the hardware problems are either connectors, contacts (buttons), or heat realated issues. With 400+lb fridges - how easily are they accessible from the front? - without having to pull them out of the enclosure? This alone might be a deciding cost of ownership item. Control panels are another issue. What happens if the dishwasher works - except the 'start' button is worn out, and that button is flow soldered to the circuit board? Bingo - an $500 repair. Lastly spare parts. They cost money to manufacture and stock, spare parts are money sitting on the shelf. I'd venture to guess that a circuit board for a 6 year old dishwasher costs more than to replace the unit. I was attempting to say (in my 'blaming', 'sexist', 'know it all') original post - that it is very hard to claim which mechanical item is best. The design/features might be the 'best' for your requirements, but that doesn't mean the device will last any longer (although you would hope so.) I know you people are not morons, and I don't want to turn this into Consumer Reports - which I detest. We have Viking appliances - which most god's on this forum loathe. But they have performed very well for us(in the six years that we have owned them). Before that we had a Garland range & grill since 1980. We had a really ugly experience with getting the fridge repaired - but that's what happens when you buy the top 2%. Maybe if the manufacturer actually came out and published their unit testing / acceptance requirement, and realistic cost of ownership - then you could compare 'best products'. Otherwise 'best products' is a historical perspective.

The best way is to create bookmarks for your favorite forums and then navigate that way. Alternatively, you can select "Advice" and then GardenWeb Forums. That will show the list and navigate to your desired location. It's a little clunky at first but you'll get used to it!