I've been a devotee of Ruth Stout since the 70's!!! Her mulching books are great fun to read. I've tried lots of types of instant beds--but now I'm older, and after 2 back surgeries--that digging just ain't a-gonna happen! I'm thinking---cover the grass with cardboard, cover that with straw (not sure whether to use books or loosen it for air flow), and shortly, when the place opens, cover it with free compost from the local pile. All the while I'll be burying green shtuff as I find it, along with my usual things I'd normally compost. I know the green is missing--but my original grass will still be there, and tho dormant, it IS still green... When it is time to plant (mostly plants, not much from seed until further into the spring) I'll open up areas if need be, dig it in, then pull the coverings back gradually as mulch. Now I need to know the flaws, problems and hitches I'm going to run into! Ideas, anybody? THRILLED to have found this thread...Thank you all for a great time reading the full thread! Paula in St. Louis

Thanks for all kind comments & good wishes...I am getting better...tomorrow will be day 7 of the antivirus med & dr gave me 3 wks worth of pain meds...the way I understand this "shingles" stuff is that when splotches/blisters heal up that you still have nerve pain for awhile. Well, it is so much better & I thank you for your caring words. My dr.'s won't give me the shot as I have a weird chronic disease & don't know what triggers it...so they would rather not (which is ok by me)...but hoping no more shingles! Quite painful...I thought I had muscle/shoulder blade problems from too much fun outside gardening! LOL! Not talking to Babydoll now...so don't worry about that issue either. Love finding her dishes for the seasons! My Mother would be proud that I am dressing & playing with my inheritance doll! :-) Happy Memorial Day! Jeanne S.

I have been looking for the milk disk doll pattern/disks/photos for years! A very special lady who took care of me made these in pastel colors and they were beautiful! This was in the late 1950's. I would love to make them for other little girls and pass on the craft. If anyone could please send me the pattern/disk info/photos I would be so grateful! send to: Minc073@aol.com

Mary6971 these were made with the milk filters they use on the farms.. not sure about a pattern I think you can google it and find one.. they are put together with yarn My idea of a bed doll is one that when I was a child many many years ago is a model type doll and a dress made that is a big circle and lots of ruffels and very fancy.. she normally would have a big fancy southern type hat and the bodice of the dress is also very fancy..They are sometimes call " Boudoir dolls." here is a web site for the milk filter dolls http://gailsdollpatterns.com/MilkFilterDolls.html