LOL, Sierraeast! A height variance? Considering the house behind me is smushed up to my property AND the foundation is 4 feet above grade, I didn't think I needed one (can you tell I'm a bit annoyed?). I too grew up in a house where practically every room had different colored carpet. AHHH, the good ole 70's! Nascat! That's is so hilarious! I wonder if our kitties will watch anything in particular on TV. They are just so cute right now. We did discover that they were peeing on my DH's work papers. PLEEAASE tell me they won't do this forever. They're female, so I'm surprised. Well,the entire structure isn't even screwed together yet. I wanted to line the inside of the little house before the roof goes on, but the pieces are cut. I bought a big plushy blanket at Marshall's that I'm going to cut to size for each section. The rubber on the bath mats had me concerned. Thanks for the tip about wetting the just as well. The kids are bugging me to finish the structure right now so that's where I'm headed.

MaryAnn, the fountain ones were summer. It's 18 degrees here now, all the stuff with water is put away for the winter, and Liv is wearing far more clothing these days! JoanMN

Ice cave testI am home and catching up on everyone and want to try posting a picture Lavender- so sorry to hear about Mandy. MissyMoo also sorry for your loss and anyone that I missed. CampHappy- sounds like fun! I am so glad everyone is enjoying this post Test on pictures - not sure any are successful, so might need to edit Fourth try- ok, I give up on PB for now - will have to read the hosta post in gardens to figure this out but here is another cave with DH inside from my iphoto Pancake Bay Ice cave 2014

Campanula - I am still in an urban environment and I do find I have a lot fewer critters to deal with than those on GW who are more rural. I think trying to resolve critter issues must be very draining. The few times I've had to deal with them in anything more than a minor way, it took away some of the fun of gardening. But then again, dealing with heat and drought is no better. This is the first summer out of the last four, that I didn't have to drag the hose over every square inch of my small property on a regular basis. I appreciated it very much. I find I've expanded my interests to include more than gardening alone. I was so intensely invested in gardening for so many years, that I found I was burned out to some degree. I believe I will never have any pursuit that will replace the number one position that gardening holds for me, but my expectations have changed quite a bit from when I first began. You have to take the "should" out of it. And having other interests, keeps gardening in balance for me. My expectations are not nearly as dependent on outcome now. It's a process and you may as well get the most out of where ever you are in the process and enjoy it. I think we are saying the same thing. It's lifelong. As for the long season of bloom. I have only that front bed that I have that expectation of. The rest of the property has to be about what is the best fit for the conditions. I have a lot of fun, tinkering with just that one bed to see how much I can fit in there to keep the interest going. And it's not too large, that a change from year to year is a monumental load of work to accomplish. And it started out with a loose plan of how to accomplish that but since then it's become the most spontaneous decisions I make in the garden. I love annuals when I can start them from seed, otherwise, it's too expensive to use them in numbers that make much difference. Cool fall weather will get the same enthusiasm from me that spring does. I love to get out there when it's comfortable and try to get a jump on spring. This year though, indoor projects are competing for my attention. So maybe a mad dash next spring instead. I am planning to get some bulbs in though. If I ever get an order made.