I see two different types in my patio area, but the two types may be dimorphic expressions of the same plant. One type is as it appears in the photo, small leaved, low and ground hugging. The other type grows straight up on a stem to about 8 to 12" high, often right out of the middle of a patch of the first type. That's why I figure it is a dimorphic expression of the first. It grows out of cracks in the concrete, spreading like a carpet out over the concrete. In this capacity it is both damaging and helpful as it roots into the crack and may be causing those cracks to enlarge, but also carpets the concrete, reducing the reflectivity of sunlight and the ability of the concrete to absorb heat and thus elevate temps on my patio. It's a double edged sword. Externally on the property, it is not a problem as the weed killer clearly keeps it in check to the point that it doesn't exist much outside the confines of my patio. I would like to know what it is.

One of the great things about gardening is that it can teach you so much about yourself! For instance, for a long time I favoured putting soft pinks and mauves and delicate lacy whites together. I still do a lot of my baskets that way. My husband told me he would like me to put in planters with "a riot of color" in them - to be bold and mix all colours together. Of course I told him I preferred to match them and coordinate them. Then I started to experiment - after all I like the colour red a lot and I figured since mother nature puts all her colours together why shouldn't I. The result was that I started to like to really like the "riot of colour" my husband was talking about. One example is a favourite of mine - Gallardia, or blanket flower - I have never come across any single flower that is so perfect in orange and red - It reminds me of a perfectly constructed work of art, and each one pops up so effortlessly in the garden, and takes my breath away as it does. So I made a perennial garden - with bold oranges, pinks, reds and yellows in a mass profusion - with those adorable favourites of mine "Nasturtiums" too in every colour imagineable. Then Tony, my hubby, decided to plant a rose garden (like the one we used to have before we had our kids) and one day I asked him "What's your favourite rose?" - to my surprise he said "Double Delight" the two toned pink one - with the gorgeous scent. First of all, I didn't know he would care that much about scents, and second he has often told me that he's not so keen on pink. So now, we're both contented in our garden, with a combination of masculine and feminine all over the place - each with its own special niche, each adding to the overall look. Our pond has just been finished and the rocks around it contrast so fittingly with the soft and fragile look of the roses. I love to dig my hands in the dirt, but I can never push a huge wheelbarrow of it myself. My husband can prune, but he wouldn't have my patience with dead-heading all the flowers. I think gender is in the garden - it's everywhere we look, and we should take it's example. Like nature, we too need to value and embrace the male and female sides of our true selves, why should we ever be afraid?

LOL, my parents didn't have twin beds, but I remember my grandparents having them! I didn't need the rhythm method - we knew we wanted at least four kids, and after the length of time it took for me to get pregnant and sustain a pregnancy the first time, we never used anything again. My closest spaced kids are 20 months apart, then the rest are almost exactly 2 years. Everyone thinks we planned it that way, but truthfully, we didn't use any preventative measures nor was I tracking my cycles. It just sort of happened that way. However, after my fourth, I knew *I* was done - dh was hoping for at least one more but four kids in less than 6 years was enough for me. The woman with 12 kids...when I was pregnant with #4, she was pregnant with #6. Her oldest was only a year older than mine, so she was having her 6th in 7 years. I couldn't wrap my mind around that as I was nearing the end of my pregnancy and beginning to wonder if I was nuts having four kids so close in age. So when she continued on to have six more kids after I was done, yikes! And honestly, she might have had a 13th - I've seriously lost track at this point. And if you could see her - you'd be amazed. She is gorgeous and always manages to look beautiful even after all those kids.

you could do a drawer similar to this one - have either 'side' open a bit (could use a dowel rod along each side to keep them in place) so you can easily see what you have (or don't have). have a 'regular' (pretty much) drawer space between the 2 to store large jars, bottles, cans (v8 juice, other juices, drinks). some on here store their can goods in drawers and even dry goods. You could have a pasta/noodle drawer, 1 for mixes (store on their sides so you can still easily see what it is). you could use a drawerstack similar to this one for snacks? canned drinks on the bottom, chips etc in the top drawer. Or just 2 separate regular drawers for them. I'm hoping to have a 'drawer' like the bottom one (a bit shorter) w/no 'inner upper drawer' for 2L pop bottles and gallon water jugs.