--I want to try some hypertufa and/or papercrete. --Finish some totems and glass flowers that are partly done. --Try some mosaics. I have boxes of stained glass that was given to me a couple years ago. --We have a boring metal storage shed. I have an idea for jazzing it up a little. I want to put a trellis on each side of the end door and fill them with flowers and leaves made of glass, metal or whatever. --Think of a hobby that won't take up as much room as the totems, etc. (to please DH) and that will sell well on etsy. Haven't tried that yet and we really need some extra money for the medical bills that have piled up over the last year. Any ideas???? On ebay I can see what's selling and what isn't, but haven't figured out if there's a way to do that on etsy. --Thoroughly clean house. (Notice that's the last on my list of priorities). Here's to a great new year of junkin' to all of you!

I'm very happy for you! It sounds like you'll be busy potting up bulbs and planting roses this weekend! We, also, received a couple of rose orders... though ours will be mostly potted and sold, with only a few planted in our own gardens. Ours are all hardy rose types, including Iowa Bucks and Canadian or Sub Zero varieties. All are "own root" roses, just breaking dormancy. We also received several tree peonies, which I've never grown before. The photos are lovely, and they are supposedly hardy in our zone... again, most are for sale, but we will be planting one or two in our own gardens for show. I'm glad your news was good, and glad you're having a good time gardening!

I got 3" pots of celosia, alyssum, coleus, and iris(don't know if they are Dutch or Bearded) from a landscaper friend of mine and all are growing healthy. Here are my other plants: two lilacs - one died, the other growing good and healthy S facing fence Celosia pulled when they died but wow they are beauties so I will plant them again White alyssum has a nice scent which I can't describe, the purple one has none. Will someone please tell me how to propagate them. They are planted on my north facing wall. Iris flowered last spring hoping they will flower again next year. My favorite is clematis as soon as the one I planted in the fall of 2004 showed the most beautiful blooms I had ever seen. So this year I planted more and have 44 planted in my 800 or so sq. ft. of garden with a few more coming this spring. 3 bush and 3 tree peonies - the trees all bloomed, but none of the bushes bloom at all. Rose of Sharon standard form on container growing good and bloomed all summer in direct sunlight. Tulips and daffodils all rotted last 2004 (heavy rain on clay soil) so the replacements were planted this fall so I hope to see some blooms this spring. I now have a raised garden because nothing seems to grow on our clay soil. Fraxinus Americana and Fraxinus Pennsylvanica are planted in my front lawn - mostly clay but it now has a drain system. What are my chances that they will not die as we are having lots of rain again this year? Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated especially plants good for clay soil as my north facing wall only has a 6 inch raised bed. This is celosia: This is a clematis named 'Bees Jubilee'

Alison, that was a VERY creative and clever theme! My favorite is also 'Why? Because you wanted one and 2 are okay." I personally have (ahem) 5 wood and 2 plastic. And yes, the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem. Just make sure you're not cutting alone too often or people will start talking. I too love The Tassajara Bread Book! What a great box!! Enjoy, Marcia p.s. I have yet to get around to writing you a Thank You note. I can't seem to find the time when I'm home. I still have a White Elephant gift I have to send someone too. Shame on me. Please don't hate me. p.p.s. All four cats are CRAZY about those catnip treats. I sure wish I could find them here! Yum-MEE! You are a Godess to my kitties.