Cool, thanks for the ideas. As for the basket, I didn't think to check the $ store! I check them for everything else, lol, why not the baskets? Luckily if I don't find what I want at the dollar store, the 3 tier basket is only 2-3$ at walmart so it's not too high. I went to the thrift store the other day and they have tons of wicker baskets in different sizes. Many for under 1$. I'm thinking of just buying up a bunch of those and maybe hanging some small ones below a big one so I still have multiple planting areas hung in one spot! Plus, with the wicker baskets, they'll hold dirt and I don't have to worry as much about lining them real good while with the metal baskets from walmart, I have to line them because the holes are much too large to hold dirt.

Get yourself a drill and drill a set of holes every 2-3" apart forming a set of "rings" which are 3-4" apart...all the way around the barrel itself. Also drill 20-30 wholes into the bottom and lid of the drum as well. These will be your breathing and drainage holes... You'll also need several bricks to raise it off the ground so air can pass underneath it properly during the whole process... Remember to only fill it about 2/3'rds of the way full and never compress the materials down when loading it. You need them to be light and fluffy and you need the extra space so it can be "turned". Take the lid off, water, replace lid, kick/roll it around the yard a little bit, and put it on the bricks upside down. Next time you "turn" the pile, kick/roll it around the yard a little bit and put it back on the bricks right-side up. Repeat until composted. I heard about it as a great way to create premium compost in an urban setting and yea, it works wonders - from what i hear.

I haven't made that cake but have made or eaten rose flavored desserts for Shakespearian, Elizabethan, or Persian dinners. Rose is somewhat of an acquired taste so if you want to make a pink birthday cake for your GD, I would stick with a more conventional flavor like strawberry or raspberry and make the Ispahan cake for an event where other desserts will be present. Here's a drink using rose water that is made in Iran for special occasions. ALMOND ROSE WATER DRINK (Schraab el'Loz) - 4 servings 3/4 cup blanched whole almonds 2 1/2 cups ice water 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. rose water 20 ice cubes In a food processor, grind the almonds until very fine. Transfer the almonds to a blender, add 1 cup of the ice water and process until frothy. Spread a large piece of doubled cheesecloth over the top of a large bowl and pour the almond mixture into the center of the cloth. Gather the sides of the cloth together to form a bag and gently squeeze the bottom in order to extract the "milk" of the almonds. When most of the liquid from the almonds has been extracted, open the bag and pour in 1/2 cup more of the ice water over the almonds and squeeze for another 5 minutes. Once the almonds have lost all their taste, discard them along with the cheesecloth. Transfer the almond "milk" to a small saucepan. Add the sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat until the liquid is thick enough to coat a spoon, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the rose water. Refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours. (You may freeze the almond syrup in a covered jar at this point. When ready to serve, defrost completely and continue with next step of recipe.) When ready to serve, place the remaining 1 cup ice water, almond syrup, and ice cubes in a blender and mix on high speed until frothy like a slushy drink (add ice cubes 2 to 3 at a time, tasting as you go so as not to dilute the drink too much). Serve in tall glasses or champagne flutes.

Here! Here! I second the motion! made by Dan. Thank you Linda for starting this thread. And thank you to all who gave options instead of buying yet another template. $$ is why I didn't buy one the first time I saw it! - I'd much prefer spending my hard-earned dollars on FABRICS!! I've checked out all the other sites you've all mentioned & any one of them will work just fine. Now I can't wait to finish up a few more birthday swap blocks so I can justify beginning a new project! LOL Especially since I told myself no more new projects until you finish at least 3 WIPs!! Oh well, rules like resolutions were made to be broken, right??! Or is that resolutions, like rules... Either way, the end result is the same! :) I'm cheating on my vow to myself that I would get to some of these WIPs :) But this winter has been so long...I need a new 'spring-y' project! Like a wonky pinwheel table cover:) Sharon, I'm w/you on the TOTs---all the wild prints in some of the samples were just too busy for my tired eyes! Where in those crazy patterns is the eye supposed to rest? I was always taught you need a place for the eye to rest somewhere in a quilt. (Lately not many of the magazine samples have had any such place! :( Reading a few more threads - then off to my sewing domain!! ~Cindy