I have the same sad experience with my MIL and others. She recently mentioned in conversation (forgetting that I give homemade gifts) that she displays homemade items for a period of time and then 'gets rid of them'. I wish she would at least TRY THEM!!!! Homemade milk bath is not a cheap gift - the milk nor the essence, nor the oatmeal milk bath. Not to mention the handmade fabric bag. I give what I use myself so I test the item first to make sure the quality is there. On my don't bother anymore list is chocolate spoons with hot chocolate, bath products, handmade xmas cards.... I would love to put the ingrate snob on a 'off my list' but she is my MIL. Now I just stick with the main purchased gift that DH gets his parents - we now ask them what they want. No fun in that at all!!!!! This year I am making myself my own bath basket to myself under my tree. DH keeps asking why I haven't made MIL that queen sized quilt for her bed I said I'd do years ago - why should I? After all, she doesn't appreciate home made gifts so why would I spend a couple of hundred on gorgeous fabric and time hand stitching a quilt for her? If she doesn't appreciate the small things, why on earth would I spend the time and effort on a larger item? Her loss. Bah Humbug to her! Which is funny because she loves shopping for xmas all year long for everyone. You figure it out and let me know. I appreciate everything I get because the gifts are from the heart.

I said,"Well Frog, it could be worse, that poor bee lost his stinger and now he will suffer a slow painful death." Frog Says,"No he won't" I said,"Wadda ya mean he won't?" Frog says, "Cause I ate him!!"

I heard from the company I got the original shipment of ladybugs from and they sent me a replacement batch. These were very much alive and unlike the first batch went straight to the aphids and are doing a good job. The first ones didn't seem to know what an aphid was and just walked past them. Not these! They climbed straight up the tree to the aphids hanging out on the flowers and new leaves. Sorry, I forget to take pictures of them vaccuuming up all the aphids and my battery ran out. These ladies can fly too and have spread out to all parts of the greenhouse. Unfortunately one of the resident spiders spun a strand and caught about 15 of them in a matter of minutes. I knocked down the thread as soon as I saw them trapped in it but am not sure the ladies escaped. They are fun to watch but I already spend way too much time in the greenhouse. I hope they like it in there and stay a while. Cory

For those wondering about Laguna..she is a hot pink not red at all. I have her own root' came in a tiny pot. I put her temporarily into a 3 gallon and she grew her roots into the ground through the pot and I believe, has headed for China! No way is that pot coming up without a LOT of shoveling. Nematodes must not bother her. She went 12 ft in all directions and started grabbing or should I say, stabbing at anyone/thing in reach. So far she's more evil and vigorous than my Mermaid of the same size. I think Kiss Me Kate has to be a better option. I am ordering her for spring I hope she is a little better behaved than Laguna.