A couple of notes because the rest is going to be rather long and involved: Lynda, I have the Vitex marked for you and in your baggie! And thank you for the marigolds! They will be very interesting with my others! Dessie I would be more than happy to receive your little helper's seed packets! I think it's great! Wendy Try some Chai Spice tea, it works wonders in helping clear up colds and flu. I always add a dollop of honey to help sooth the throat. It's a staple in our house and really does help. Alright, here is my take on this.. I can understand how many were hoping that the two swaps would not coincide, but, we all knew there was a fair chance of that happening. For myself, I know that I continued to update my list, even well after Patty's swap's mailing deadline. I did my updates using the same method we did for Patty's swap- using an updated date. Even had I not, I knew there was a good chance the two swaps would overlap. I joined this one knowing full well- according to the guidelines posted for it- that I may NOT receive as many as I sent in. That I would receive as many as were sent in FOR me, up to five packets of the SAME item. I recall there being some issue with this and a member who became very rude in their comments about this fact. Yes, my package from the What's Left swap is in the second batch to go out. No, I did not keep strict record of what I sent to those who were in the What's Left swap. I did keep better records of what I'm sending for this swap. I also know that a lot of people will be sending in baggies of seeds marked as extras- not dedicated for anyone, but to add in when it's seen those items are on someone's list. No, these may not be some of the rarer or more exclusively wanted items on someone's list. But if someone has some of those rarer or more specific items to share, I'm sure they would have put them into your baggie before they mailed. So, I don't see that anyone would be missing out on anything. The only way I could see having updated one's list further as complicating Patty's swap would be if someone had removed things from their list. Updating and adding items would not have conflicted. Because if there were any extras of what you were wanting, Patty would have included them. So, I guess I'm not really understanding how there is such a need to update the lists just because one is in both swaps. If I receive duplicates, wonderful! Because the things on my list are things I want! If I don't receive something on my list, then no one had it to share. If I receive so many of something that I can't plant it all, then I can bless someone else by offering it up for a trade. So, perhaps I'm being dense here, but how would one not receive something sent in specifically for them (up to FIVE packets of the same item!) that was on their wants list in this swap? Everyone has the chance to see your wants as posted and you have had the option to add to that list, as many including myself have this whole time. The only thing I could really see the two swaps happening almost simultaneously possibly affecting would be one's have's list. I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset or offend anyone. I'm just honestly trying to understand why this is such an issue. So please don't take this as meaning to offend or as pointed to anyone in particular. This is just me trying to understand why so many are upset about this. If you prefer to email me privately and help me understand it, I would be pleased with that and please do! Perhaps there are aspects and issues with this that I'm not readily seeing and should consider. I don't want to keep the thread off track by my question becoming a debate here. Perhaps there can be some adjustments of dates if this swap happens in the late summer or again next winter, but for this year it is as it is and personally, I'm really enjoying it! Nancy, I hope you don't decide to drop out, because I know that I should have at least a couple of things from your list, perhaps more. But I'll respect your choice and be your Garden Buddy either way :) Fran, you have a real job ahead of you and I don't know how those like you and Patty do it! Leave me hosting my "pair em up and let em go" or true RR type swaps! I think those of you that host this kind of swap are awesome! Angela, you have been a wonderful help to Fran and all of us in this swap! I know the time it can take to code pages like that, though updates are easier once the initial work is done, and I want to say THANK YOU for the time and work you are putting in on this swap for everyone's benefit! Kathy~ heading off to stuff more little baggies and envelopes.

Hi Cinful...I know exactly what you mean...when the doctors told her 3-6 months left, I thought I would never stop crying, and I didn't want our last moments together to be miserable. I know we said everything we wanted and needed to say to each other, but in the end, I still worry that there may have been something else left unsaid, something I forgot to ask her, or something from the past that we just wanted to remember. We only got about 2 months together at the end, and even when it finally happened it seemed like it just couldn't be happening already. I am sorry that you are alone, I do have children and a husband, but we all lived together, and they really do not understand what I am going through. I feel like I am alone, except that I can't just break down all the time, I have to be strong...it feels like it is killing me to do that though. I really just want to crawl into bed and stay there. The one thing that keeps me going is that my mom asked me to. She told me to be strong for HER, and to be happy for HER. I am not happy, but I am being as strong as I can be. That means not thinking of her too often, or all I would do is cry. But I know she knows that. She bought me a journal at the end, and I didn't think it would help, but it has. I write to her as much as I can, everyday in the beginning, and I tell her the things I would have told her if she were here. It does help. My mom was my everything too...even though I have other family, and children, she was it. Every moment of the day we were together...have been for 42 years. She has sent me signs since she's been gone, I know a lot of people don't believe in that, and think it is wishful thinking, but it's not. Keep an open mind after everything is over, don't shut yourself down. Stay with your mom till the end, try not to feel guilty...I know that even though my mom and I talked about everything, I still felt guilty when she passed, like maybe there was more I could have done. I am trying to get past that. I feel so bad for you, and your dad...maybe try to be strong for him, as I have to for my baby...it helps to be there for someone else, when all you want to do is go with your mom. I know at least for me that is true. When she first got sick, I thought I would go with her in the end, but I cannot go right now. My family needs me, my baby needs me. I think that is why he happened so late in my life...he was my lifeline from God...Take care, please let me know how you are doing, and I will do the same.

"Holly--hate to break the news to you, but you ARE part of this world..." msjay "In your comment to Holly that you need to break it to her that she is in the world...you lack the understanding of religion and their beliefs. I do not know what religion they are, but let me use menonite as an example just to explain. Can you see and understand that menonite people are in the world, but not "of" the world?" bnicebkind Thank you for your argument in my defense, as well as Tara's, bnice. :) Msjay, I have to laugh. Your response to my statement that you have to break the news to me that I AM part of this world just smacks of intolerance and judgment. You obviously misread my original statement wherein I wrote to Tara "we know we are in the world but should not be of the world." What part of that sentence did you misunderstand? The first seven words state that we DO know and are perfectly aware of the fact that, as you say, we are part of this world. But as bnice so eloquently stated, we choose a road that is different than that which most who live in this world take. We strive to live in accordance with the laws and commandments that our Creator has set for us, while much of the world accepts and chooses to live with worldly ways that have become acceptable to many, if not most. Pornography, fornication, adultery, unchastity, dishonesty, selfishness - are glaringly opposite what we believe is right, but they are only a few of the "ways of the world" we try to overcome. Yes, I will go so far as to state outright that these ills are fostered by Satan. Reread my original line and you will see that I did not say we are perfect, or consider ourselves better. I said only that while "we know that we are IN this world, we SHOULD not be OF this world (ie, that we SHOULD strive constantly for higher truths that will bring us closer to God, not take us further away from him, which is the mission of Satan, or the devil, whatever others would call him). It is an unfortunate truth that the above mentioned ills are destructive in ANY relationship, marital or otherwise. Because we are evolving beings, though, it IS possible to change. Just because Tara's husband made mistakes - whether intentionally logging into porn sites or not, or lying about it or not - does not mean that his desire to change cannot be stronger than the desire that he had at the time he chose to do something that both he and Tara had agreed, in their belief system and relationship, was wrong. That is the glory of repentance and forgiveness, IN this world. We have the opportunity to wipe our slate clean and begin anew. I am hoping that Tara and her new husband will always be able to discuss their problems, mistakes, and strengths, and be able to become closer in their relationship. Marriage is difficult, at best, and being able to work through problems strengthens marriage. Msjay and asolo: Usually, when a person attacks another, they do so because they are not secure in their OWN life and beliefs and the rush they feel when they do so comes because it helps them feel better about themselves. It sounds as though you are angry individuals who feel threatened by others' beliefs which differ from yours. I hope that the day may come when you feel secure enough in your own belief that you do not need to try to tear another down because they differ from you. Don't you think that this might be one of the main causes of the troubles in today's world? I wish you both happiness in your lives, and do not judge our differences.

DC, I appreciate your post. I remember some of the push-back you received regarding souls vide, and I’m glad you didn’t get miffed. I always appreciate your posts and your willingness to stick with this forum. You shared a lot during the earlier days of the pandemic about what you were doing. I may not have been able or willing to go to the lengths you did, but it was good “food for thought.” To me, getting different perspectives is always a good thing — whether it’s about food or politics or whatever. It keeps us growing. My two cents: I like the Cooking Forum. It’s fun, informative, inspirational, and helpful. Sure, we have our issues and tense moments. But that’s to be expected when you have such a diverse group contributing. But after all is said and done, this forum is a pretty nice place.