Good to hear about the Camellias, TY Rhizo. As old as they are, we weren't worried about them but it's still strange/difficult to see. They've been through 2 bouts of temps in the teens so far this winter. We moved here to get away from crap like that. Ewww! As if! Paul, TY for asking that, I was wondering too. The CW I was given about succulent plants exposed to sub-freezing temps is to try to have them dry at the time, (so have put sheet on mini garden when the rains started, to keep the rain off of it,) but I don't think the advice about watering first was in regard to anomalous plants like that. But I am also curious because one of the features of a successful microclimate is often that it's a fairly dry spot for various reasons. Avoiding the combo of soggy+cold is often attributed to successful zone-pushing/cheating. I would like to know when to do the opposite. Is this to help the 'normal' plants to cope with an unusual situation, not those with questionable hardiness? So, some schools are still closed here, some counties say their roads are closed. After days of wondering, 'cuz the news never did say, and the idea is foreign to someone who used to face daily driving in much more 'stuff' than even fell from the sky here, I finally figured out what closed roads means - they don't put up signs so you know, but insurance won't pay, according to a friend of a friend who did wreck from sliding on ice. That makes about as much sense as everybody thinking they are safer if everyone is insured. Yes, removing financial responsibility from drivers makes them a lot more careful, yeah, right. Got it, made a note of it.

Christie, I have been buying hen scratch at the Ash Grove MFA for the birds. The larger ones are eating it well. I am out of smaller seeds and completely forgot to check for them when we shopped before the snow....back on the list again. I had the processor save the beef fat/tallow when we butchered last and rendered it out like lard and then mix it up with seeds and various things and make my own blocks for the replacements in those little green cages. They are eating them, but slowly. I did see some smaller birds on it, so at least they are getting something. There are some smaller seeds in the hen scratch, but mostly it is cracked corn.

Hello everyone!!! Hi Greg!!! I have always enjoyed taking pics...I would love to take a class sometime...but I just love looking at things from a different angle!!! I really miss the old cameras...35mm where I could manually work the camera..I do love the digital cameras..but I feel that I had more control from the old timers!!! "trying not to show my age!!!" LOL... Jim..I would love to see pics of those icicles...I find them quite fascinating...I especially love the ice covered tree too! There is a pic when I sign onto the photobucket page...there is an ice covered tree that look like yours..check it out!!! It;s a beauty...but yours was more massive than this one... ncpalm...I wish that it will be 2 months...more like 3 for us...The sabals are very hardy!!! But I'm not going to take a chance on the weight on the fronds...My hubby helps alot...when he needs help tying up the boat during hurricanes...I don't complain...because I know that he will help and paybacks are great!!! LOL... Take care everyone...Happy New Year!!! Laura in VB

Aunnie thanks for the kind words. i will admit i hate snow at the best of times and we don't need it in may. however, it went up to a balmy 46 today! - lol. yes, i will also admit we have great kids, no problems with the law, no drugs or drinking, infact ds dropped his long time girlfriend of 2 years because she started running with the wrong crowd. right now he is going out with a delightful young lady also of 2 years and is catholic as well and comes from a great family, so we are blessed. i hope you didn't think i was rude about you caring for your mom, but we are kindof the same age, -- i 49 and am home ALL the time, 24/7 with Al, and i have no help except for the kids (oh, everyone, his mother and sister came by for 15 minutes yesterday, to whine about something stupid, but they didn't get the answer they wanted so they left!) i keep busy by quilting and knitting, and mostly donate things i make for worthwhile charities, if i don't have crafts i don't know what i'd do, they are a God send to me. i wanted to tell you that i was worrying so much that i lost alot of weight, - i am 5 ft 10 and weighed 119 lbs, no good, with the paxil (or if you go and see your doctor he will put you on what he thinks is best for you), these pills have made me eat and very healthy i must admit (we never did eat fast food stuff) but now i weigh about 130 so alot better, i would also be up all night, believe me when i say there is nothing on tv at that time - lol , but i now can sleep almost all night. aren't prescriptions draining, we have a plan where you have to put out 100 percent and wait and wait for get 85 per cent back, and with bills of about 600.00 a month - oh don't get me going - lol, but atleast Al still has benefits from the college where he works (he has academic upgrading, math, english and a computer lab to help adults get their high school, so they can get into a college programme, it is very sad to see a man of 58 come in with a grade 7 or 8 education, but worthwhile when they finish the 3 year programme). anyways, aren't everyone just great here, as i said before, we will probably never meet, - except linda (glitter) and i, and i hope we still are linda! - lol, but see you are writing back, so that's really, really good because you can divert your mind on something else and you get to just chat with super nice folks! anyways i've rambled on and on to much, and my furry friend wants me to take him outie (too afraid to go out alone, he needs his momma!) so try and have a restful sleep! Gabby, i'm going to try that cyanne pepper, next time i have a being of amigrane, i did try the feverfew and it didn't work, al said it only gave me really bad breath! he tried grape seed extract, for pantom pains, i read a couple of articles, but they didn't work for him, but then again, everyone is different, but right now, i'm game for anything! thanks for the tip! debbie