I do believe that we can very strongly enhance moods and mitigate moods we want to get rid of. I thought I said that pretty clearly, but a lot of people seem to think I said that we can't affect moods at all. What I did try to say and what I do believe, is that we can not create a mood from scratch. Maro, if you relax through gardening, I would suggest that the physical motion, sense of accomplishement, or the distraction relaxes you from your description. That is much different than having someone enter a garden and having their mood changed by what they experience by being in it. It is, however, creating a place through design that gives you an activity which you do with the purpose of gaining a certain experience. Anyone remember the three things that I mentioned were taught to me - activity, experience, requirement by a very brilliant professor (James Kuska). It took him a half year of beating us over the head with it until only some of us got it. Activity = gardening Desired Experience = relaxation Requirement = x SF of garden space, full sun for most of the day,... Relaxation is the mitigation of the stress. In order to relax in a garden you need to have brought stress to the garden in the first place, I think. (dark vs. light, Eric) If the cops chase the violent criminal through a well designed peace garden, does he give up? If you are sad and blue and sit in a beautiful colorful quiet garden that feels private and to yourself, do you feel better? Of course. Are you completely elated and turned around completely by it? I don't think so. The design enhanced a littlebit of your good feelings and reduced some of the bad. It did not create a mood from scratch. Planning activities that you already know evoke certain feelings are a great place to start. Don't dismiss the actions of looking, smelling, hearing, ... as not being activities. Some activities are very passive, but they are important activities. The physical landscape that you build will effect the experiences that people get out of whatever activity they do. Predefining what that experience should be certainly frames what the physical landscape should be like to attain that experience. Does that make sense to anyone, but me?

I'm taking it to the state level. Just filled out the paper work/ application form for the State Fire marshall to review and now working on state health dept. paperwork I have a 20 hour flight to Singapore and had thought about doing a letter and photo campaign , but the 7 inch thick file that I have is so dense it would be considered as major pc. of carry on luggage, so I will just wait for that phase for when I get home. .... photos of rats - no problem on that, as disgusting as it was to take that photo. I won't bother to post it but it is on the Picasa photo page that I am uploading the past 12 years of documents and images to as an onlline source. Between my fairly well connected and affluent client base and networking with other resources at my disposal I am hoping to get this situation resolved. It's been way too long and way too stinky , not to mention the fire hazard that all that oil soaked cardboard and wood pallets that are piled up against my wood fence, ... which by the way, Novato fire chief Bill Tyler does not find to be in violation of the CFC - which boldly stipulates that "waste accumulation is prohibited. I'm not ready to plaster photos all over the neighborhood. I want to go about this as legally as systematically as possible in the advent that I hire an attorney and want to present the most compelling and level headed case. Personally I think the past 12 years worth of photos and pathetic lack of documented response from the Novato City offices is pretty compelling and damaging evidence.

TOM...WOW!!...those MorningGlories never look that good in my yard! You must water yours...;-) Mine look nothing like that! Be really careful with those Ruebellia...very hard to kill and the 'non-invasive are 'invasive'. I want to get rid of my Flame Vine which is in a large pot/container. It would look great in that front space of your yard on a trellis. Hummingbirds love it. Let me know if you want it. JungleGal: I'd love to see your garden. It sounds beautiful. Plus, it seems that we are practically neighbors! I forgot mention, I now have a new 'family' member. As most of you know, I lost 3 of my older cats in the last 3 years. I also volunteer for a local cat rescue shelter and was asked to "Foster" a 3-week old kitten. He was found abandoned, orphaned, no siblings and smaller than the little stuffed duck they gave him for company. Who can say 'no' to that? I was supposed to give him back....(yeah, right...). He's now 12-weeks and a crazy kitten! Anyway, meet Saffron:

MizAnnThrope, I too have little family left....all of the immediate family on both DH's side and my side, siblings and in-laws, are gone and we never had any children. I was feeling down about it. (We had spent a number of xmases alone.) I wanted to share my house and my decorations with people but everyone kept putting me off until January. I kept trying though and now I've had friends over a couple of times already, there will now be 10 of us for dinner on xmas day, I have more friends coming over for dessert after xmas, plus I have another few coming over maybe between xmas and new years, another couple on the sat after xmas and another couple the following weekend. Another friend reached out to us and invited us to join his family for xmas dinner, and I had to turn him down, but I was so touched, nonetheless. So I went from a dearth to an abundance with a little effort and putting it to the Universe to provide what I need....I'm thinking now what I need is a little more refrigerator space! ;) While there is sadness with having no family, there is something wonderful about being able to create your own new "family" with friends and neighbors. Each of these events is like a holiday to me, spreading my holiday cheer over a whole month instead of just on a single day. Xmas to me means children, and since I don't have any, every year, I do a "secret santa" thing where I sneak presents onto the front porch for the neighbor kids late on xmas eve....I have more fun doing that, I think, than the kids have receiving the gifts. You are not alone. If you choose, you can reach out to those in need. You can contact a food bank or a place that provides meals on the holiday. You can put together care packages (combs, lotions and the socks with the rubber grippers on them are always needed...even small teddy bears are welcome) and take them to a local nursing home. You can contact your local hospital and see if there isn't something you can do there. You can reach out to neighbors ...make batches of cookies and deliver them. Contact your local senior center and see if they can recommend visiting people who are shut-ins. Or you can choose to be alone and find the peace and comfort you need in your solitude. But even in that, know that you are not alone. That you are part of the cosmic wonder that is the universe. That every cell in your body is made up of atoms that came from the stars. That when you walk, the entire world is under your feet, supporting you. And that an abundance of gifts surround you every moment. All you need do is notice them. I'm wishing you the very best for the holidays, and asking that you receive that which you need the most.