I wouldn't use straight peat as a substrate. I used normal potting soil at first, but recently I replaced it all with shredded cedar bark, and I like that much better. It looks nicer, is a more aerated substrate (important for plants), and will decompose much more slowly. It also smells nicer. Soil that stays constantly moist can get really smelly, and the charcoal will only absorb so much! Wild-collected moss is what you have. Moss that you are collecting from the wild. =) You shouldn't be harvesting wild sphagnum, because it is already vastly over-harvested. Just let the stuff that you have grow, and then snip it when you need more for another plant. The reason I asked is that we don't know how long wild-collected moss lives in terrariums. You may be okay, living in zone 9, but most wild moss requires that cold winter dormancy that it gets naturally outside, but it won't get that in your terrarium. As a result, it may die after two years, because it will just get too 'tired' from growing all the time without a break. But, since you live in a much warmer climate than I do, and your moss would be adapted to that climate, it might do just fine for years and years. Only time will tell. I have some wild mosses in my terrarium as well, but they haven't been in there for very long (just since this spring), so it's too early to tell how they do long term. If your moss does eventually die, I would replace it with a tropical moss like java moss (sold in aquarium stores). As for cleaning it, I'd do more than just hose it off. I soak my pieces of wild moss in RO water (which you should also be using) for an hour or so to drown bugs. It also helps to loosen any debris, like pine needles. Then inspect it for snails and the like. I have some snails in my tank now, and i strongly suspect that they came from some wild moss. They can be really hard to see, so check carefully!

I snuck out to the computer while our oldest son is visiting. I even bought a cappichino (sp?) and found a fountain outside and just sat and listened to the sound of the water until a storm with lightening ran me back inside!! 22 days here today. He is grumpy so I guess that means he is better THANK GOD!!!! Love y'all. Betty

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! I had a good birthday and the Drs finally said the H word. If his gall bladder passes the cat scan Friday and he has a good weekend we may be able to go home sometime next week!!!!!!! He will have to have home health nurses come at least 3 days a week and physical therapists coming in working with him to get his strength back, but HOME!! What a wonderful word. I can never thank all of you enough for your prayers and messages of encouragement every time I could get a chance to check in. Can't wait to get home and post some pics of something or anything!!! His birthday is Thursday, maybe I can take a picture and post it when I get home. He has lost so much weight he reminds me of those news pictures of all of the war refugees who had to flee their homes and looked like thay were starving. And he is as weak as a newborn kitten. But he is alive and I thank God for that. Love Y'all, Betty and Alfred

What a nice way to start my day! Thanks Lee, for thinking of me and sharing. Now, go slap that camera around and give it a good talking to. I'm so excited about seeing what you have. We need all of the inspiration we can get. But, please don't use those words- get rid of some things. As soon as you do- you will need them for a tablescape! I think I posted that the space behind the sofa was 9'X14'. DH said it was only about 6'X14'. I just went and measured again and it is only 6'X14'. DRATS!! Oh well. I'll take what I can get. It won't be anything fancy. Anything is better than the jumble of boxes and bags piled in the floor that I have now! Karen, You make me laugh! I love my kitchen even though I live in a double-wide. It is small, but is white. I love the feeling I get when I walk in there in the morning. I have started trying more recipes since I found this forum. Kathleen started it all. Her Irish Soda Bread was the beginning. I followed her to the cooking forum and - OH MY!!!! The pictures they post on the "What's for Dinner" threads! Then I found all of the blogs with recipes galore! The only problem is, the extra money I'm spending on new ingredients I could be spending on dishes!! But, I've found that DH encourages me to buy new dishes more often when I fill them with good food!!! Even though he did raise his eyebrows PRETTY HIGH when I put 4 sets of the Target bird S/Ps in my basket! LOL Lee, Kathleen's DH cooks, too. And the pictures!!! That man can COOK! I believe I would rather have a man that cooks and use the pantry for food than dishes! I would climb those stairs for dishes If my DH would cook! Punk, Come on, Girl! Jump on in. My first tablescapes had very little on the table. Lots of open area!! And, it's sad but true. We can't get Karen to do a tablescape, yet. When you look at her house decorated so beautifully and can see the talent there.... But, we still have hope. After all, she did set a mighty fine tea that once! I love that line about her DD and DDIL telling her to just bring drinks!! BTW Lee, babbling is what I do best! Have a great day, Betty