Thank you all for your enthusiasm and kind words. I still can't believe the stuff people throw out. It never ceases to amaze me. Friends of ours saw it and said that if we were to go into a 'chi-chi' greenhouse/florist/gift store the price tag would be around $250. Works for me ;o)

There are many bargains at auctions, estate and yard sales, etc. I got several part-balls of wool (and other material) in a bag at one for $1.00 that I'll use during this winter to darn some heavy work socks, etc. And some others that I can't remember at the moment. Careful when you're at an auction, though ... don't get into a bidding war and end up paying about double what you would have paid in a store! That happens sometimes ... and a person feels really stupid when thinking what a dumb trick one played on one's self! The best deal, though, is shoopping at the roadside clearance place. I've picked up cupboards, shelves, wood, running shoes, etc. Plus a good crib blanket on the street in town last Sunday and some good sheets on the freeway ... in fact, I picked up a light jacket (CVS logo - and "Donnell"), almost new in northern Ohio on the freeway about 4 years ago - that I'm wearing at the moment, as a matter of fact: it's 60 degrees in here. There's a U.S. flag at the top of one sleeve, that I've never bothered to remove, though I can't qualify, being true-blue Canadian ... but my kids can, as they have dual citizenship, their late Mom having been an Iowan ... and daughter has worked in AZ for several recent years. Some folks on this thread got a good laugh about six years ago when I told how I found a good chesterfield a couple of blocks away, went to son's apt. downtown and pressed him into service to come out to carry the other end as I slowly drove home with one end in the back of the car, with the hatch open ... ... asking him several times whether I was driving too quickly. And he answered ... that I wasn't ... between puffs of breathing. I took a vanload of pop cans, most intact, when I helped a friend move a trailerload of scrap iron to the scrap metal dealer's about three years ago, yielding $90.00, most of them picked up on the roadside, at summer festivals, fall fairs and other joyous gatherings, when I took my son to be an entertainer. Plus quite a few dollsrs' worth on other occasions. And I've taken a bunch of beer cans and bottles, about 1/3 - 1/2 of them originating at a friend's house who likes to drink but has no vehicle, to the beer store, where they pay me 10 cents each for them, that has netted a number of dollars, as well. Being cheap - pays!! Enjoy your weekend, everyone. One of the perquisites of retirement is - every day is weekend! ole joyful ... thankful to be in good health at 80

I saw some photos of a Garden meeting of some kind elsewhere on the net. The dessert table had a pumpkin (real) surrounded by pots of mums, and I thought, 'Janet's pumpkin could recycle from place to place and year to year as a centerpiece item.' I really like it. I'll start watching for bundt pans.

Awww...man! You did a good job! Doesn't it make you feel good everytime you look at them!? You know what "humble beginnings" they came from! LOL