Ok, here is the easy way. Mow the grass short. Mark with a rope or hose were you want the new edge of the bed to be. Get a BIG stack of newspapers. Lay down newspapers directly on top of grass about 8 sheets thick. You need enough sheets to smother the grass but not so many they can't wet down. There really is no exact correct number of sheets to use. As you go along make sure you overlay the edges of the newspaper to prevent gaps for any grass to get thru. Now put mulch on top of newspapers to weigh them down. You can use bagged mulch like you buy at the store, fall leaves if you have lots of them or Straw that you buy in a farm feed store that comes in bales. Now that you mention compost you deffinately could use that also and would really be good for the new garden. Just lay the compost on top of the newspaper. Since you have a long area to do just start at one end and go along and do a section at a time so that you get the newspapers covered so they don't blow around. And you don't have to do it in one day! Do this now in the fall and you will have a gardenbed ready to plant in as soon as you want to wortk in the spring. No digging required. I have made many beds this way.

We did this last year as we joined my new neice by marriage and her family on CHristmas Eve. They had a range of $25 to $50. The idea being that you should spend at least 25, but most were actually 50 or more. I know that most of the 50 ones were probably the half off sales. The men all brought something for a man and the women something for a woman or of course something unisex. I was amazed at the variety of things from power tools, firepits, electric appliance grills, stereo stuff, etc. We are doing this type of thing within our own family this year since it was such a hit. I am still looking for the perfect things to carry. DH is picking out his own to take. Last year I took a large basket of Bath and Body Works. I didn't buy one of their pre=made baskets. I got a pretty basket of my own and then filled it with lots more items than I could have if I would have bought a pre-made basket.

I am shaking my head in amazement! Just when you think you have seen it all, a package like this comes along! That cookbook looks like a lot of fun, but it's those pans that are the "eye candy" for me! LOL And ya just can't go wrong with anything from Penzey's! Great job, May! Nancy girl, now you get a-bakin' and a-BBQ'in and a-photographin' and a-postin'! (she says in her smoothest Texas drawl...) Linda

Sometimes life gets in the way of mailing swap boxes...my box will be sent out before the end of the month! I have the box...now just to find time to pack it up the right way! It should leave no later than this Wednesday!