Morning all, well it is still raining but it looks like we we'll get a reprieve for a couple days and I think I'll be able to work outside this afternoon if we don't get the predicted thunder storms. So very much to do still. I've got the back gardens in pretty good shape but haven't done a bit of work in the front except to do some clean-up. Heather's boyfriend has been working for me a day or so a week and he really can get a lot done in a short period of time. He's gotten the entire back gardens mulched! I edged everything and he traipsed the mulch up, down and around and got it all spread. I cleaned out the borders but he did all the raking and cleanup in the back and behind the pond which is a huge job. Now I need to get to work on the front. The driveway garden needs a ton of work and I've got to replace or change a bunch of plants from the rodent damage. My worst casualty there is the enormous clump of Oriental 'Bergamo' lilies, there were at least two dozen last summer, anyway, they are all GONE! every last one of them. drasty rodents. The good news is that Doug FINALLY listened to me and took Zicam and his cold magically disappeared in three days. This morning he told me to stop gloating, LOL. Saucy, love Ginger, what a cutie. She looks like a sweetie with a bit of mischief in her. LOL about putting bacon in the boy's pockets. Whatever works right? ~~~ We need to touch bases about getting those hosta leaves here. I'd like to get them painted and think about situating them. No need to worry about the stands at this time. WE can do that later. Sounds like you've got a very full plate these days. Bug, the furnace is running here as well. I can't believe I'm wearing a fleece turtleneck with a sweatshirt the end of May. ~~~ LOL, love those buggy Pj's, so cute and that sweater is great! ~~ I'm the same as you with running at half speed when its so gloomy out. Can't wait to see the sun again. ~~ so cool you checked out Neos and vrieseas, they are so cool! Here is a pic of a few of my Neoregelias The coolest thing about these plants is the ease of culture. They don't need to be watered often, almost no feeding. The Vrieseas grow well in filtered light to light shade and the Neos, depending on the variety grow and color up well with a half day of sun. After they bloom the mother plant dies off in a year or so and the plant throws off multiple pups so you now have replacements at no cost and very little effort. Kathy, you are so lucky you dont' have to deal with the woodchucks. They are so terribly destructive. I wouldn't want to deal with banana slugs though. yukko! looking forward to seeing pics of your new hoyas. Julie, yes, we are going to be on the Garden Conservancy's Open Days in July this summer but we were also on a local garden tour last year. Next year I'm taking the year off from tours. Too much work! OKie Dokie, waving hello to one and all, have a great day and lets all hope for some sunshine and warm temps. Deanne

Hey Myrle--SO GLAD you're able to post again! I see hubby had the time to work out those kinks--good man!! BTW--you need to post that thing you sent to me, about housework--I LOVED IT!! I've never figured out how to post things like that to a forum--no link when it's by email, usually!!! I guess I'm going to have to do what I can do and hope for the best and yep--they ARE hosta, right! Of course, you can do all you can imagine to give one an advantage and lose it, and yet you can "throw one on the driveway...", you know the rest! I'm thinking they must love to be abused, or at least have a high tolerance to it--unless you love it and have only one eye left!!! :o/

Here's a welcome from me to Becky! Sorry, I got confused, too, about how many new members we had. I now have you added to our member list. I hope you want to join in on the October Swap. Let me know. I was re-reading the posts and found I called Anita "Annie" back when she was talking about planting her bulbs. Sorry, Anita. You mentioned Annie in your message and I got confused there for a minute! LOL It happens every now and then. Anyway, I am posting the list one more time so you can recheck it. I will be looking to see who you sent to in September so it will be different for October. It's 47 degrees outside here this morning. The temperatures just dropped like that all of a sudden. Maybe fall will make a mad dash and arrive here making us forget all about summer! OUR MEMBER LIST - And those signed up for this swap Amybabyboy Beth_b_Kodiak Brittneysgran - yes for October Cedarnest Debbya - yes for October dieg01991 - yes for October Dirtundermynails - yes for October Earthly Delight Hazelnutbunny - yes for October Swap Ilovefarac lil green thumb LLbean Lunamoon margaret_2007 - Yes for October Mellen - Yes for October Missg - No for October Momcat Nyvoices99 - No for October proudgm_03 Raggedyann - No for October Remy - yes for October Sandlapper Rose - yes for October Squanzon - yes for October Skohler - yes for October Susandonb Theresa24 - yes for October Veeja11 - yes for October Wynative - no for October Jeanne

4/15/08 Drove to the nearest K-mart an hour away to buy my DS his birthday gift. He's getting a nice charcoal grill and a bunch of accessories. He has a very small place with a very large deck so it will be used a lot I think. He loves to cook. Then I stopped at a Target and a Walmart. Got hungry and IHOP was the only place open nearby. I had their green eggs and ham special. I subbed corncakes for the stack of pancakes. For once everything was cooked to perfection. The ham was well browned and the hashbrowns were crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. Check out the link. Here is a link that might be useful: Green Eggs and Ham