For you, Kathy, Happy Birthday, a little late! This Hosta is Frances Williams, one of the first I ever bought, and a split of my original, brought here from my other house. I raked up the Cenotaph garden today, took about ten minutes, and a good thing too, as it is absolutely freezing cold, and really windy. The sun is out though, so all is not lost. Gee, Eden, that Bella is a sweetie! I chuckled though, at the egg-hunt photo, because I could tell that you had had many pots on those steps in the past! We got TCS to church on time this morning, shirt and tie, understanding that he has to be quiet and not squirm too much. It was a communion Sunday today. In the past, TCS has always declined, but, feeling very grown up he decided to participate. Who in their right mind would give a seven year old a small plastic cup of grape juice and make them sit there and hold it for 15 minutes? By the time he got to have it, he had split the cup and had to drink out of the side of it. He got his piece of bread and played around with it until it no longer looked like bread. He ate it anyway, and pronounced it delicious. How spiritual. DH and I could hardly keep a straight face through the whole service. Having a lovely quiet day today, counting my blessings and thinking about my gardens. I had lots of stuff I wanted to say to you folks, but I have been interrupted so many times that I forget what I was going to say. So, on that happy note, I am off to cook a wonderful meal of mac and cheese (home made, at least) and hotdogs for the masses. Cheers, Julie

OMG there are so many I don't know where to start! I used the fun and done method and mine looks terrible so I'm taking it apart and trying it again. I have searched QAYG on the Net to find different methods. I want to make a Log Cabin QAYG without it being stiff. I searched for CW patterns to that's how I found out I did it wrong. I am beginning to doubt how well it will wash with the hand sewing so I have found a tute for machine stitching. I also looked up DWR in books and the Net when Linda posted about hers. I use my books, Internet, and library a lot. Rosa

((((Hugs and Love and real Christmas Joy from me to you)))) You're very wise to spend a happy Christmas in your home with your family instead of somewhere else with a drama-rama going on. I have a friend, with two children, that has been married for 29 years. They have never, ever, once had the Christmas holidays in their own home. It's always been pack up the kids, pack up the gifts, drive half-way across the country, spend exactly the same number of hours at first his "family" and then her "family" (and reverse the times and meals for the next year, AND keep a diary so you can prove that they didn't slight anyone) and then rush home to get back to work. Their kids are in college now, and don't have a single memory of their family having a Christmas in their home with their parents and tree of thier own. I don't understand it all. I'd rather be by myself, in a hotel room in a foreign country, than have to deal with my bickering, stressed, angry, hurtful, at-each-others' throats extended family. There are a few family members I'd love to share a holiday, any holiday, with, but they are few and far between and most of them are under the age of 10 or over 80. You hang in there. Tell the people you love that you love them and make happy holiday memories for you, your kids, and your home, and your hubby.

Thanks! I seem to have quite a few roses that are vigorous growers, and others not so much, but I can see improvements in a few. I think something I need to learn, is that even though I might like a particular variety, it might not be a variety that was meant for me to grow, that's difficult for me to do. Unless something dramatically changes with Heirloom and Angel Face, I should definitely SP them. I am especially disappointed with Angel Face, because it looked so good last fall. What you both said mudpie and Ingrid, is true. I do have to remember, they are just plants though.