Thanks Kelly and David! Kelly, they really do seem to love it outdoors, nothing like some fresh air, a little sun and rain that kicks them in gear. David, I received a couple of cuttings of diversifolia in Nov. '08...so I've had it less than two years. Like you said...it grew quickly but wouldn't bloom. I get impatient sometimes when a hoya looks big/mature enough to bloom and won't,lol...Patience has never been a virtue I've been blessed with. My mango is a grafted tree that was purchased in a 5 gallon pot. BTW, its a semi-dwarf. It's only around 5ft or so tall right now...I'm planning on keeping it under 10ft for easy winter protection and fruit picking. David, I think you need to get a mango tree...you can keep in your greenhouse(with your hoyas) in the winter,lol... Here's a picture shortly after I planted it 3yrs ago.

OA, you are so funny! Your response makes me laugh just like Jeanne. I found the plates, thought they were really cute, although there are some chips, but for 42C ea.... Since they are usually just used for a table decor and not actually to eat at, I figured the chips didn't matter that much. THEN, I googled days celebrated in April and lo and behold...there was National Farm Animals day! A perfect fit!! Jeanne, amazingly, I found the plates within a week of finding the salad plates. At first I thought they must be by the same maker, but NO, different maker, but they went together really well. The GdWls are also way across town from each other. What are the odds?? As for the smell, well, I used to love to visit my grandparents farm when I was growing up, so very familiar with farm aromas! I needed the placemats to run interference as the tablecloth is red, but the dishes are a barn red, so the placemats separate them enough that I felt they weren't duking it out, LOL. No pitchforks small enough, so had to use regular flatware. TeeHee. Karen, your monitor is correct, the dishes are a barn red. I have many happy memories of visits to my grandparents farm, including a tree house my DB and I made out of the tailgate of the farm truck! We had just seen Swiss Family Robinson and were dying for a tree house. Went to visit and found this perfect wood platform to haul up into a tree. We did and just wedged it up there. When Gramp got home from the field, he never said anything aabout it being the tailgate, just got some pieces of wood and nailed it securely into place!! We played in that treehouse until we grew up and my DD's played in it as well. The best was when Grandma would make choc. chip cookies and we would lower a basket from the treehouse, she would put the cookies in it, and then we would raise the basket and enjoy our cookies in the treetop!! Nana, part of my TS addiction is the thrill of finding different items, and then putting them together to make a new tablescape story. Since I never know what I will find, it is always fun to see what is out there, waiting for me to discover new treasures. Better the smell of new mown hay than the other barnyard smells, LOL. Janet, the farm had one of those big barns, except it was white. I spent hours playing in the hay mow as a kid, with the dust motes shining through cracks, and the doves cooing in the rafters!! Marlene, before Karen found me, I set a few tables with what I owned then, BUT, once I came over here, well...the TS addiction became a reality (problem???) giggle. Punk, Hope you don't have hay fever!!LOL. I just found those goblets and they are plastic! I liked the soft green of the stems. They went with the green neck ribbons on the yard duck napkin rings and gave just a bit of contrast to the table. I love it when a plan comes together and once I found the plates, then the milk cans, and knew I had the barn and the cow creamer, well...And then I googled April days and Voila!! National Farm Animals Day! Well, the table practically set itself!! Thanks again everybody, Candy

Nana, thank you. It needed something besides the arrangement and that butterfly seemed to be the necessary element. Jeanne, our spring came early too, and now we are probably going to have watering restrictions this summer because we didn't have our usual March/April snowfalls. : ( Marlene, yes, and it depends on the website you consult as different sites have different days!! Jane, I find a lot of the arrangements I get at the TS's just need some TLC to make them look good. In this case switching some of the purple tulips with the yellow, bending them to the right curves, and making the leaves fill in around the bottom was what made it more attractive. I see you had a double post just like I did, so it must be something with the website itself. Luvs, thanks, they were calling out to me at the TS, LOL. I liked the colors and thought the arrangement would look good with some rearranging. Thanks everybody. Have a wonderful Mother's Day, Candy

Candy, It is just Gorgeous!! It reminds me of the song: If it wasn't for the lighthouse!! I want to go thirfting with you!! You always find the most Beautiful things and put them together like they were just meant to be!! You definitely have an eye for decorating, no doubt about it!! Just Lovely!! The Colors are so Cheerful and Happy! It makes me smile!! Thanks for helping to start my day out on a good note by seeing such a Beautiful Table Setting! As I told Nana, this is my first decorating Family!!! Count me in on being here as the Holidays approach! I love this Family Group! Again, I hope and pray that everyone is well enough to return and all the circumstances get solved so we can all be together Again!! Love To You All, Creek