Thank you, Xuan... best wishes for a wonderful 2009 to you and your family... my best to you, too, Al... and to everyone on the forum! New Year's resolutions for gardening include actually locating all the necessary ingredients for making a huge batch of Al's Mix! I'm determined, even if I have to order online and have it shipped to my door! I'd also like to add more roses to the gardens and get my bulb collection outdoors for some healthy sunshine and fresh air!

from me, too, GJer's...& here's an old pic I found in my Mom's boxes of pics...she was the genealogist of the family so this must be some distant relative's table decor! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Jeanne S. Cute, uh!

Westelle, this is why he had to retire early and he's got an appt with my neurologist. He couldn't find any of his specialists to take it seriously or pinpoint what does it. Whatever causes it has not showed up in any of the tests they've run on him. All the ABC tests and they did that one that they check the heart & neck arteries. All were fine. He has dizzy spells but this is the first time he's passed out since we moved to this house 1-1/2 years ago. One of us has to be able to drive so we take care, we don't leave town often and on 'bad' days we don't even leave the house. This is another reason why we moved to town, to be closer to doctors. We can't afford for it to be reported because none of the countless doctors he's seen have any idea what it is, they put down dizziness. He's even been hooked up to a heart monitor for a week reading his signs 24/7 for the cardiologist, nothing, though I remember him having dizzy spells during that week. We even kept record of his blood pressure 3 times a day for a month for that dr. If it can't be diagnosed and fixed he can't get to see all his other specialists up and down the state. In the mean time we have to live with it, along with all the other old injuries he has that he needs surgeries for. I'm sorry you've got that flu/virus, DH has it and so does the son here in town. DH has now given me the cold part of it, I'm hoping it doesn't mutate into anything more. I've survived 3 bad colds recently from grandgirl by taking Airborne every time she's been here freshly ill. Then DH gives one to me. Before Airborne grandgirl would get me sick every time she comes down with something and she's well in a week and a month later I'm needing antibiotics:) I hope you feel better soon though, it takes awhile for the antibiotics to kick in and do their thing. I like the saying 'Getting Old Is Not For Sissies':) I also like the one that says, 'You Go First'. DH is 10 years older than I am:) Did you ever get your loom set up? If so do you have anything made? I can't find the thread where you were talking about what you wanted to do. But, I was curious if you ever got it all set up and got anything made for I think you said your sideboard first? Maybe when you're better if you haven't yet, that will cure your ho hums left over from the holidays and not feeling well:) I have yet to get any crocheting done, but I also just put all the cement and things away just before Christmas and have been trying to feel better after the new med the doc put me on. I've been reading a lot but not doing anything creative right now. Feel kind of guilty about being so lazy, but this last year was a very busy year. We only got an inch of rain here BTW, not much of a storm but it was windy! Hey Brenda, I hope you're feeling a lot better by now also. This is rotten weather to not feel well in, makes it worse. But I've also have the opinion the dark skies make it easier to stay in bed and not feel as guilty about...

Hi Kathy!! I agree, you just never know... life does come from things least expected sometimes!!! I was really pleased to see these little stems. The funny thing about this is that i have this tree just sitting in my greatroom. The others are under lights and then some of my active trees are with this little sad looking tree. Im going to leave it right where it is. It must really like the conditions there. So...i will let it be! Dave, I was wondering the same thing!!! Tomorrow i will call Carol and ask her. I was always under the impression that they used seedlings as well. I will let you know!!! Happy New Year to you !!! Hi Kevin!!! If it is a Celadine, that will be wonderful!!! It really doesnt matter what it will be. It will still mean somethinng to me since it really wants to live! It looks so pathetic right now. I really didnt want to even take a pic of it, but it was so cute in its own way, i wanted to share!! LOL... I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!! Dont forget to eat your "Blackeyed Peas" today!!! I think i will even put a bean on this poor tree just for luck!!! : ) Take care, Laura