Wow, this trade is such a cool idea for african violets! Does it include streps or gesneriads? Don't count me in although I would love to. I have 3 violets, only one is named (Optimara Hawaii), the other 2 are NOIDS. My only affordable resources are my local stores. Lowe's and Meijers in my city. Mail order is quite above my budget at this time. BUT that is why trading and exchanging is soooo awesome! I love this site and the posting and pics!!! Take a look at my trade list! I will trade for Violet/Strep leaves or plantlets!!!! If I ever build up my violets again I will sooooo be in on this!!!!~~~Rosie

Okay, I'm still waiting for that other swap box to be delivered. It must either be coming from or going to Lisa in Germany, I think. Otherwise I think it would have been delivered by now! Anyway, that is my current guess. Is Colleen playing? If so, then it could be to or from her. I received a package in one swap that was sent via a slow boat from Japan, and it was more than well worth the wait! Lars

I actually enjoy waiting - it increases the suspense! One swap I waited three months for a package from Japan, and it was sooo worth it! These packages are very much like Christmas, and I guess they bring out the child in us at times! Normally, I would try to figure out which senders have had their packages received so that I could narrow my choices of which person is sending to me, but I've been a bit swamped with work lately (which is good, for a change). Lars

You know, it just dawned on me yesterday that Pat's popovers look far and away nicer than the ones pictured on the popover pan box. And I never thought to check Joy for a popover recipe...guess what I'll be making this weekend? I agree about the clean oven too, btw. If you've been bitten by the Fiesta bug (I feel like a drug pusher!) many stores like Macy's, Kohls, Boscovs & Dillards carry it so that you can see the colors in real life. I'm thinking that Peacock might be perfect with your dishes. Granjan- my husband did about three books and then the firm stopped calling him. I know that the freelance work was slowing down but it's been a few years. I know that he enjoyed it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Personally I thought that his indexes were great and I always half jokingly compliment him on Raising the Bar because I, too, would always complain about the indexes in cookbooks and how bad they were. The one in RtB is ideal! It's like he took all of my complaints to heart. So of course every time I have to look something up in the index I go "wow, this index is fantastic" but I really do mean it. Diana- the only thing that would make me happier than sending you the recipe would be sending you the popovers themselves but I'm afraid they'd be pretty stale by the time they got to you so the recipe it shall be. I'm so happy that my partner likes her stuff! And Pat kindly posted the recipe for the Maraschino cherries over in discussions. It's time for a new batch in our house as well. Nina