I'm going to try this again, having lost it yesterday. :( 1.) Michelle has beautiful gardens full of carefully considered combinations that please me greatly. Your front entry project looks sensational and I can't wait to see the door and the storm door you select. I'm sure it will be terrific. I'll bet you really miss the Little Miss when you wander through the Secret Garden. 2.) I see the Grim Reaper has paid to calls to people I like so much and I'm sure the spectre of departure hangs heavy in those homes. Brenda, I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I don't know how you feel, but I know how much I love my brother and how special memories shared between only we two are. And so it must be with you. I think hurling yourself out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft will be a perfect way to blow off some energy. You know, I STILL laugh when I think of your description of middle aged flesh flapping in the wind as you plummet toward Earth. Lol. V., the world would be a better place if all people who undertake the responsibility of one of those base creatures carried it through to the bitter end. It's comforting to know our ranks are not as thin as so many news stories imply. I'm sorry Sunrise's condition was not attributable to too many berries. I'll beat Wrecks, "just because". 3.) The Green Man makes a sensational Best Man, Woody! Wow, I really like him... really plucks at the appreciation for all things formal that lies just below my "devil may care" surface. What a thoughtful gift. I went to a wedding on Friday, too. Don't get sick at this time of year, it's too early and too nice outdoors. 4.) Weather calamities have layed waste to Deanne's beloved containers but the recovery was swift and diligent... great save! I had to chuckle at the mental image of you buzzing around fretting and grooming the victims. Good to know all is well once more. :) I suspect also that there is some serious baby withdrawal happenin' on the Farm (though I have no idea why! ;) ). I smiled at the chubby leg and foot nicely adorned with the bracelet. First thought to cross my mind was, "did we all enter this world with such perfect skin?". What lies ahead for your family is the conclusion of the awful "first year", 'bug. Good friends know how to help, sometimes just listening and reassuring is all that's required. Praise be good friends, huh? (and dogs to beat). I know I will spent some time in reflection on Sep't. 8th., as will every other Idyller... solidarity, baby! Actually, I think I'll put some wine in my IUVI glass and toast Reed's perfect life and all the love that was lavished on him in too short a time. Woody and Julie will like this one. We have dear friend who has two dogs, aka The Wrecking Crew. She is now a very regular visitor to the Compound and whenever she comes we do some obedience work. And yesterday we worked them pretty hard. We did "down/stays" and then we worked on "polite greetings" in lieu of the full frontal assault that usually occurs. It took a solid 30-40 minutes to get both of her dogs introduced in a quiet, controlled manner, lol. Poor Rex was beside himself; whining/yipping, and fussing. But he was much more controlled than her dogs were. When they'd done what we required we turned them loose to run, rassle, and go into the "pool". Later, while we were preparing dinner and eating we worked on "down/stays", patiently correcting the Commando Creep by putting the Crew back in their original d/s sites. Wrecks has that one nailed... he lies down and chills out while we're eating and working in the kitchen. We have volunteered to take the Wrecking Crew for the entirety of Labor Day weekend and let me assure you there will be some very serious obedience work (and beatings) over those 4 days! Hehehe... bbbwwwaaa! Charming story of TCS, Julie. Time and beatings is all it takes. :) I have to quit blabbing and get to my latest JulieJob, hoeing out the screen room under the deck, and some screen washing.

I have been there! We just finished a bathroom remodel after our tub chipped/cracked (not taking any chances with the horrific experiences we've had so far). It took so much longer than I thought, it included one of my really long weeks at work followed by an out of town conference, and any time I had off was spent on the couch trying to be conspicuously occupied or out of the house doing whatever I could think of. I sooooo just wanted one lazy day lounging in my pajamas reading in peace! Even the daily progress checks went from exciting little bits of progress to inventories of everything left. Hang in there! Is there anything you can schedule time for that you really enjoy doing? Lunch with a friend? Massage? Quiet afternoon in a corner of the local library? I hope you get the dream kitchen you want, it will all be worth it! I am having immense fun obsessively researching stuff for our kitchen remodel, but DH is still psychologically scarred from having all the people here for weeks for the bathroom project. And he spends much more time in the kitchen than I do. Might be a year before we can think about actually starting.

I remember when Glenda bought the last pillow. I got one around the same time. Still happy with mine, but of course, I don't remember a name. All I do remember I got one that was marked for a side sleeper, since I do sleep about 95% of the time on my side. I fluff mine up every morning, several big hits from both sides, and several big hits on each end, all while the pillow is between my hands. Fluffing your pillow up in the morning when making your bed makes a big difference on how fluffy it stays in the long run. Moni

There is some famous garden in England where I saw a topiary fence made out of Pyracantha - some orange berries, some yellow. I didn't want to have one, but it was pretty cool. Where I grew up in NJ just about everybody had espaliered Pyracantha on their chimneys. I was so surprised when I got to CA and found it growing in bush form.