Who are we?????

Hi to all,
With all that`s going on in the world I wondered if anyone was game in getting to know each other? Like where we come from who we are ,kids,age(yes I said it the big one...lol),married or not etc.
I`ll be a good sport & start it even:
My name is Jennifer, I live in Minnesota(soon to be siberia),I am 39,my birthday is aug.21,I enjoy interior design(If I can I will make it or do myself)love to craft,like to sew,love to do floral arranging & I LOVE to play in the dirt.I am currently unemployed (due to many circumstances beyond my control)I have been married for 21 yrs. 22 on march 22(hmmm...22 on 22 cool.....)to a wonderfull man to which I owe more than I can describe he has tought me real love oh...ok...I wont get mushy.He is very tallented in wood projects& interior trim etc., I have 2 grown daughters oldest is 21 & a graphic artist in minneapolis she loves the bright lights & big city life,My youngest daughter is 19 she currently works for a co. that makes parts for the military & all she want`s out of life is to be married & plans on having LOTS of kids(she said 10 & I said no...I didn`t hear that right she was serious her fiance` got her talked down to 6? hmmm...)& finally the little guy he will be 10 on the 8th of oct.We have nicknamed him Dennis the mennace...yes he brings in snakes & bugs etc.full of energy & love (if I could only get him to lift the toilet seat?)Well that`s a summary of me ...anyone else care to share....pleazzzzzzzzzz?
Jen

hi, I'm tiG and I'm a Dave's junkie:) I was born in Atlanta, raised in a suburb, and then my mom moved to the country 20 years ago, and we quickly followed. I've never regretted it, we have 5 acres next to mom, and a thousand acres of woods across the road. 20 minutes from Walmart, but far enough away that none of that bothers us.
I've been married (2nd time) to my dear soul mate for 20 years Nov 7th. Never thought we would make it, but here we are. We have 4 grown children, 3 boys and 1 girl, oldest is 27, youngest 19. 2 grandbabies one of each and 2 more on the way, one of each.
I can't work anymore, severe back problems and fibromyalgia, most days it's all I can do to sit here, but something about green leaves and flowers gives me spurts of energy everyday. I've been blessed by the people here, not only in plants where they have gone overboard, but in their thoughts and prayers, their jokes and their pain.
If I must......46:) and when I grow up I want to be Calalily. She's my hero.

This was a nice idea. Some of the newcomers, like me, can get to know the DG regulars who've been here all along.

I'm a graphic artist for a newspaper in northern NY. I've just started to get into gardening after being a houseplant nut for years. SO and I share our home with our 1 1/2 YO son, three dogs, four cats, two ducks and a fish called Elvis. We are both avid and law-abiding hunters, dabble a bit in car restoration and just plain enjoy being outdoors. I do hand quilting in the winter (which lasts 9 months up here, LOL) and read just about anything I can get my hands on (most recent 'We Were the Mulvaneys')

who's next?

Hey tiG I was diagnosed w/ fibromialgia 3yrs ago ,I can relate...Also was diagnosed w/diverticulitis,anxiety disorder ...Do our bodys just decided all of a sudden one day (after 35)that we need to wake up & realise what the real meaning of life is?I really wonder about that cuz I for one have realised that the almighty dollar doesn`t stand a chance when it comes to love!

Hi Kids!
Jennifer and tiG, I am sorry for your suffering. I am one that believes what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. So you two must be like Hercules, if not in body, well in mind. :) So far, I am in pretty good shape, aside from the lovely things that growing older tends to give you-gangleon cysts in my wrists from years of doing hair and nails and carrying trays, and I guess now digging! LOL Almost lost an eye in May due to a nice retinal detachment that I was unaware of, but it is common in 'people my age'. ARGH!!! I'm a ripe old 33, but with my new math, that only makes me 6. :) I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and still live here. I have been with my hubby for ten years. We have four daughters, ages 2,4,6 and 8 and number five (girl) is expected in late January. I got a part time job in July, selling clothes at a local teen and women's store. It is a nice break from being a mom, but I don't know if I will be able to go back after having the baby. Can't stand to leave them! LOL When I got married, I was probably one of the biggest 'prissy chicks' one could imagine. Nails perfectly done, toes too and they matched. Bras and panties HAD to match and so did shoes (all three hundred pairs) and purses. Oh, those days are SO gone now! It is a miracle if my nails are even clean-forget the polish! Who has time to match bras and panties??? You can buy Haines at Kmart or Kroger! LOL My feet have grown half a size per pregnancy and I am on number five, so I think I have about four pairs of shoes that actually fit. I go barefoot so much, it takes and hour of sanding before I even consider sandals. :) I'd say life is pretty different for me this decade. I love to cook and do any kind of craft. Since getting married and buying a house, I have learned how to hang shingles, lay tile, hang and finish drywall, build cabinets, etc. Gee, where did that little priss go?? The only things I won't touch are plumbing and electricity. Good thing for me, my hubby excels at those. hee hee Hubby is a computer nerd by the way. He suffers from Rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis, but having four kids to chase keeps him on his toes. I guess we are just normal old people. I kind of think of myself as a cross between Martha Stewart and Rosanne Barr. LOL I can do about anything, make about anything and look nice when I feel like it, but I guess I am still a bit rough around the edges and at times have a mouth like a sailor. Spent a lot of time with a retired Navy man when I was little. LOL Like everyone else, we have had lots of ups and downs but keep on pushing through. Got that Hercules thing going on here too. Oh, my birthday is June 9th. I also do a bit of desktop publishing from home-business cards, flyers, invitations, that sort of thing. Last year, I traded business cards for plants. LOL Well guess that is more than enough about me. Who's next??

LOL...badseed indeed...I think not!This is what I LOVE about this place :)

I'll play. Im 39, live in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Married to my second husband, have a son13, and 2 girls 5 and 6. Just bought my first house 3 yrs ago, small, but has a nice sized yard. Started serious gardening then. Yard is mostly shady, so Im into hostas as of this season. Have added quite a few, and have 2 more lasagna beds to fill in the spring. I was a traffic mgr. for a small steel company up until the birth of the 6yr old. Since then I have stayed at home being a full time mom. This past spring, I started a property brokerage, that I run from home with the help of a dispatcher who moves the loads. I mainly just do paperwork, bookeeping, post office and bank runs. Kind of boring, but making a little extra money. Next year when both of the littler kids are in school all day, I'll be able to do sales calls and such, and it should get more interesting. I really enjoy Daves site and plan on spending the winter loading up my journal with pics, and plant list and hope for more trading next season. I really enjoy talking and trading with people from all over. My interests mostly are the kids and gardening since the biz is taking up so much of my free time. Birthday is July 12. And we are big into pets. We have a Westie, 2 cats, a rabbit, a guinea pig and about 5 cichlids. Next?

Hi, I'm snowhermit. 50 yrs old, married, mother to a 28 yr old daughter who has given me a 4 yr old grandson who we love more than life itself and in Nov. we will be blessed with a grand daughter. Can't wait to hold a baby in my arms again. I'm medically retired due to degenerative disc desease, two herniated discs and other back problems related to the two.DH built me a greenhouse last winter with high benches so I don't have to bend and from the end of Feb. till summer that was my second home.LOL We both love gardening so I start the plants in the GH and he does all the outside planting.I live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where the summers are beautiful but the winters are long and hard.Also a DG addict and proud of it.

Ginger here...54,b'day is May 9. Been married to this husband(#3) for 10 years. We live in the Florida panhandle on 10 acres which we share with 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and my granddog who we are keeping for the third time. I stay at home and dh is an aluminum installer...few years back he built me a 12x24 screen room...love it..great place to watch the birds bug free.(my favorite place to be at "beer thirty" LOL) I enjoy playing in the dirt,but my thumbs are both brown so gardens leave a lot to be desired...the birds love it as most areas are pretty wild. X#1 and I have 2 children...a daughter living in Kansas with her husband and daughter...a son living in Eastpoint,Fl. He's trying to buy a house just down from us. He is divorced and has 2 sons..he has custody and I'm very proud of the job he's doing with them. X#2 and I had a son who died when only 4 1/2 mons. old. I love living in the country..you know,hang a left at the sleeping dog LOL...I do wish however that bank/stores were a tad closer. Came to DG from GW and am glad I did(check is in the mail Dave)but I do go back to visit the bird watching forum. For this computer dummy things seem easier here and the people are great. Life is good!! next?

I'll go next. I'm a Dave's Garden junkie - like that's news to anyone here :)

I kind of did the traditional life steps in random order - I got married, had kids, went to college, launched a career, had another child, and now I'm at home full-time.

Speaking of kids, I have three - 16 and 13 YO boys (ya'll pray for me please), and a 6 YO daughter who is the best gift God ever gave me - love my sons dearly, but there's something very precious about a daughter. Okay, maybe she's the second best gift I've ever been given, next to my long-suffering spouse, who has been my best friend and "head of household" on our tax returns for 19 years. Wait a minute, how can that be - as best I can figure, I'm only 25!!!! Hmmmm, guess I've forgotten a few birthdays along the way. Okay, for all you math majors out there, here's my age: when our anniversary rolls around in December, I'll have been married exactly half my life.

We just moved "home" after spending 15 years in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin o'er the plain 24/7. Five of those years I was in school. Almost ten of them I worked for a large company and loved my job, but every promotion meant more hours away from my family. When God gave us the opportunity to move back closer to my husband's family, we also took it as an opportunity to significantly downscale our life and let me be at home. Which I absolutely love.

Gardening is great now that I actually have the time to do it, and I'm hoping by next spring to make it into a break-even hobby by selling some things locally. Who's next?

I'll go next...

Janie Lindsay, I'm a Christian lady, 45 years old, married to a wonderful guy I met in choir... he's 5 years younger... this is funny... when I saw the back of his head, I knew he was "the one" before we even met, before I ever saw his face. He is the sweetest guy in my life, and treats me well.

People say we are like Tigger and Pooh -- I'm shaped like Pooh and he is a foot taller and slender like Tigger, has LOTS Of energy and bounces... and laughs a LOT like Tigger, too! He's a Osteopathic Physician, but he doesn't work in private practice, he works at 3 different urgent care facilities, part time, hourly. No benefits, but it gives us the freedom to do what we want to do with our "extra" time -- which is go on short term missions trips.

We just returned from a trip to Honduras this summer, he set up 4 medical clinics in rural coastal Honduras... last year we spent 3 weeks at a hospital in Limbe, Haiti.

We want to be full time missionaries someday but that's up to the Lord, not to us. We are waiting on His plan.

We have two fur children, Rosebuddy and The Mercy Cat, they are our pride and joy and give us lots of laughter and love. No kids and don't want any of our own. We enjoy spoiling my only sister's 4 little boys (well, the biggest one is not so little any more)...

I was laid off last October and my unemployment just ran out. We feel that for now, the Lord wants me home gardening and able to take care of my home. I love this and pray that it continues. I work sometimes for an ex-coworker on a part time, hourly basis, but this work is very sporadic and not frequent at all... can't count on it for anything but supplemental money I can use for stuff like mailing flowers to other people, etc. (giggle)

I don't know if I could work full time now anyway, since I have fibromyalgia and diabetes, and spend most of every day with a headache and pain all over. I still persevere, though, and I don't let it get me down most of the time. God has allowed us to have this wonderful rental house with fantastic neighbors and wonderful friends and family... we are so blessed, I cannot complain. God always provides everything I need.

We are singing this Saturday in a mixed mass choir representing 40 churches... looking forward to that as we both consider music one of our most beloved ministries.

I love gardening. It brings me peace. I love seeing things grow and the eye candy of flowers...

and ... that's some about me...

Love in Christ,
Janie
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Wow- nice to meet all of the newer people!! Great!!

Trish

Justaysam, my birthday is also July 12. I am pushing 60. My husband and I got married when I was 17, waaaaay back in 1960. We have 2 grown sons and 4 grandkids. Besides gardening I do a lot of canning/freezing/drying of the bounty, grow a bunch of flowers, have horses and a couple of mules, do a lot of endurance riding. You will find me posting on the farm forum most days.

Hi I am just me, Lisa. I am narrowing down on 40 (yikes) I am a stay at home mom of the joy of my life. She is 3. We run a small but growing landscape business and I also sell cut flowers and mixed herbs and perennials at our local farmers market. We do this as a family. I am happy where I am in my life. God is the center of my life.
I love Davesgarden, spend way to much time here. I also love cajun cooking and animals. I have 15 cats, 4 dogs and many other critters running around. Next....

Hello all, my name is Howie I live in Newark Ohio. My wife Gardenwife and I have been married for 10 years come this February. We have a small 2-bedroom house with a small but not to small yard. We both enjoy gardening and we both love DG. We have 2 cats and a dog, no kids and not planning on it. Kimberley stays at home while I slave away at work but I like that she can do that. It is nice having her at home and she enjoys it.

I am 34 years old and am a computer programmer for a publishing company. Some of my other interest are Trains, I love to watch them and dream about the places they could take me. I also like to cook, and I love computers.

I feel like I am filling out an application for a dating service. Oh well maybe I can get a date with that Gardenwife person. I here she likes guys like me;-)

LOL...garden hubby!

Hi all,
I'm 41, birthday is June 21 (summer solstice, longest daylight of the year) - my kids can quote that info and agree that it seems like the longest day of the year! LOL I have 2 daughters, 15 & 13, and I've been married to the same great guy for 19 years. We have 2 kooky lab brothers who love to run on our 11 acres about an hour north of NYC.

I gave up a career as a math teacher to stay home with the kids when they were young and now I do part-time bookkeeping from home. I started out with houseplants and that has grown to just about every kind of outdoor gardening. I also love music, reading, cooking, sewing and supporting the kids in their activities.

I too have back and muscle problems, maybe we should start a support group? :)

Thanks for asking, and interesting to read about everyone else!
Cindy

This is great! Hi, I am Sue, live in s.w. Missouri. I am --! OOPS! As I was saying, I am --. Hmmmm... ok past 50! Gee had to sneak that in past my brain! :>)
I have a couple of health problems that slow me way down. The worst is a terminal liver disease. I am divorced, Have two wonderful daughters, one is married and has two children that I adore. The other seems to be quite content single for now. Because my health is precarious right now am living with my married daughter and her wonderful husband. (They must be wonderful to put up with me!) LOL
Love reading, writing, gardening, and animals. Love DG and can not go without checking in here at least twice a day!

OK I love to yarn so this is probably repeating a lot here.

I'm Debby, I'm 28 (can't wait till I'm 30), no kids, never married and still holding out on that front. I was born in Staffordshire England the part known as the Black Country due to the factories. I moved to Hampshire and have worked in many parts of England in the farming industry and realised the back end of a cow looks like the back end of a cow whatever county you are in so I settled back here. I also worked in other industries and I love working with people too but I'm unemployed right now. I love horse riding and often took on horses with difficulties, my hips are too bad now to do that and as soon as I can stop thinking I'm indestructable I'll go back to plain old riding.

Apart from thinking I'm indestructable, I also think I'm anything I want to be at any given moment in time. Some say its arrogance, I think its a busy, eclectic mind with a huge imagination far beyond my own physical limits. (I fall flat on my face a lot ;) )

I started gardening when I could pick up a watering can, I followed my grandad and the retired next door neighbour everywhere in the garden and greenhouse. I love to make things and the enjoyment makes up for my lack of talent in the craft department.

I garden at my Mothers (amazing woman) as I can't here and she puts up with me bringing various poultry to live with her once in a while. I tried bringing some sheep and she was even willing to take them on! I couldn't find suitable grazing and it took a while to convince her they couldn't live in the garden LOL. As you can see my ultimate dream is to own what we call here a smallholding with as many animals as possible.

If I were to sum myself up in a few words I would say I'm a very lucky young woman.

AND HERE's Candee - Hi, I am one of the happiest people I know. I am fortunate to have a husband who is devoted, kind and loving. I am 50 years young and still going "fairly" strong. Birthday is March 21 first full day of spring! I am complimented a lot on my almost continual smile and laughter and happy eyes. We have 4 children, one son 25 in CA is deaf and communicates through sign only, a daughter 31 in CA who is partially deaf, a son 29 in CT a real entrepreneur, and a daughter 23 on the eastern shore of MD. All are healthy and wise, none married, but they I always advised "If you go away and multiply don't tote them back here" LOL and I guess they took it seriously as none have as yet.

I was born an raised in Lewisburg, PA. Moved to Hagerstown during college and never left. Bought a home and settled in for the duration.
My mom died in my arms at an early age 17 years ago, I held my dad's hand to the end two years later. My brother died of lung cancer on my sofa. My sister had refused to acknowledge my existence since these events as she is bi-polar and has a lot of mental issues. However; after the attack, she did contact me to tell me she has been diagnosed with MS.
I manage an office for the Public Defenders, needed a change after 15 years in developmental disabilities. Steve directs programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and has devoted his whole career since his Masters to this field.
Steve and I enjoy anything we do together. We like creating our wood artworks and doing creative things inside and out. We have together painted murals on our walls and created a very comfortable home. We of course love gardening, and Steve (lucky for me) is a fabulous cook. We are big fans of Springsteen and in addition to many other concerts we went to his opening of the World Tour with E-Street Band in 1999 in Barcelona. Did I mention we love to travel??? We have access to two cottages which we sometimes frequent on the Chesapeake Bay (that's where the driftwood comes into play). However, we seldom go there as there is so much to do at home, and I am a big homebody.
I so enjoy DG and the people here and look forward to checking in on everyone as often as time allows. Best Wishes to you all,
Candee
P.S. This was a good idea, nice to get to know ya'll better!

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!
Hi Everyone, I'm Shirley Morr. I live in Iowa with my husband of 15 years. However, don't get the idea that I might be young. Jim is my second husband. My first and I had three kids. I now have 5 Grandchildren. Oh what fun they can be, but on the other hand, I'm sometimes glad they live far enough away that it isn't convenient for this old gal to babysit often. We have a ShiTzu named Squirt. One stray white cat is now living on the front deck. I love to garden and especially like brugs and tropicals. Just really getting into it the last three years.

When Jim and I met, I was a pre-school teacher. Did that kind of work for 16 years. He told me when we married that I didn't have to work, so I took him up on it. We bought 3 acres that I TRY to maintain, but sometimes things get ahead of me. Keeps me from spending too much time shopping.

In my younger years, my parents had a greenhouse. Just one that started annuals and vegetable plants for the small town they lived in. I would go there to work once in a while and really learned a lot about growing things. Well, I thought I had, until I branched out. Oh my, isn't a challenge fun!!

In my spare time (winters in Iowa seem to produce some spare time) I like to make hand made quilts. I've made 12 of them and we don't own one. Guess that means I've given them all away.

I too have some health problems. Having hip replacement on Nov. 16. This will be my second, and last, I hope. Then comes one knee. I blame most of these problems on playing sports in high school. Couldn't be that I've put on some weight in the last 40 years. :-) I was the Iowa State Free Throw Champion in 1962. My that seems like so long ago. I wouldn't go back to those days for anything, even though our country might be in for some tough times in the future.


I was just steared to DG a few weeks ago and have met so many nice people and even did a little sharing with some. I'm so glad that someone decided that this sharing of personal information would be fun and interesting. I'm having fun getting to know you and hope we can have a great time when we come to visit Dave's Garden. Thanks for listening to me babble about myself. Now, I get to go back to reading about you all..........Happy Gardening!!

Shirley

PS. If you think I'm giving out MY age, I don't think so.... :-}

Hi I'm Sandy, I'm 50,(Jan.20) I live in Auburn(between Rochester and Syracuse)NY. I've been married for 30 years. I have 3 daughters (29,27 and 14)and one 17 YO son. No grandkids yet:( .My 27 YO daughter is in the USAF and stationed in Turkey. One cat,one dog,and a 35 gal.tropical fish tank.I work full time as a receptionist.I also love crafts and reading(I wish I could stay at home)I really love houseplants but after joining Daves Garden this year, I can't wait until this spring to get outside and start some serious gardening and trading.So I will need lots of help.Thank you all for many enjoyable hours!

This message was edited Wednesday, Oct 3rd 3:27 PM

Hi I am Peggy and I am a Davesgardenaholic.(think I made a new word lol )I am from Kentucky and have lived here all my life.I will be married 26 years on Dec.6.I have 2 wonderful children.A daughter named Heather that is 15 going on 30.lol,and a son Heath that’s 21 and in college he is going to be a physical therapist. I have been very blessed that both my children are good students and I have never had to fuss at them to do their homework etc they know that their education is very important. My birthday is June 2 and I am 43 years young. I work for the Cabinet for Families and Children and have been there for 17 years it’s a very rewarding job but also very stressful and sometimes heartbreaking. Which is one of the reasons I love Dave's it gives me a place to escape and try to forget the events of the day for at least a little while. I have always loved gardening I inherited that love from my father. When my children where small the gardens got neglected and the last couple of years I have really gotten back into gardening and this year was really my first year to really get into growing from seeds. I am amazed at all the wonderful things I have been able to have because of seeds I got in trades. We have 2 dogs Buddy and Chester or should I say the dogs have us… lol Chester especially seems to rule us. He's spoiled rotten. I think that's enough about me. Who is next?

Hey, all - GW here. Anyone know where I can get that GardenHubby's e-mail address? He sounds like a real cutie pie! LOL...Well, as he said, we've been married almost 10 years. We're both 34. We got married on Leapday 1992, so the anniversary is easy to remember. ;o) He'd remember even if it wasn't though - he's a good guy.

I grew up in Northbrook, IL (not too far from Highland Park, Justaysam!) and moved out to Ohio in 1981 with my mom, just in time for high school. I started school as a newcomer smack dab in the midst of a collegetown preppy clique-ish school and ended up running with the wrong crowd for a few years. The Lord was right there beside me, though, waiting for me to turn to Him. I did in 1983. Life has not been a bed of roses since I've been a Christian. There have been many ups and downs - I struggle with depression - but I've *never* doubted His presence in my life and that has sustained me. Knowing there's a God who created me, cares about *me* and my daily life -- that's priceless.

I graduated from the local tech college in 1989 with an associate degree in business management/marketing, ten years before my hubby graduated with a degree from the same school in computer programming. His graduation was really special because of what all led up to it; he broke his back in 1994 and ended up having surgery, being awarded a grant to be retrained, and completely switching careers. I admire that man, and he is living proof of how God can take a horrible situation and turn it around for good.

As far as gardening goes, I thought my grandma and mom were *nuts* spending so much time outside in the heat and the bugs. It wasn't until I was married and in my late 20's that I really started loving gardening! I'm still not crazy about the heat, or about yellowjackets, though.

I am a total webhead; I *love* doing research and learning about things, but I must admit I've wasted my fair share of time schlepping around. ;o) Most of my online time is spent here, though - and that's not a waste, right? I love photography, desktop publishing, writing, drawing, scrapbooking, making cards for people, sculpting (on a small scale!), and singing. I'm the type of person who can't just send a letter in a plain envelope, I have to draw stuff on it and make it fun. :O)

I'd better quit. I'm going on too long! Who's next?

Love this thread! Great to get to know people better. I'll post my stuff a little later. The first things I'm going to tell you about me though is that I'm a great procrastinator and a DG junkie also. I HAVE to get outside and pick all the tomatoes, because it's getting close to the freezing point, but here I sit! LOL I'll be back in a little while and post my story. Keep 'em coming though. I love learning about the people I'm gonna be living with.
Joan

HI, I'm Debbie. I'm 46 years old (birthday's June 5th), divorced with two kids, 13 & 16, and five cats, and two dogs. I work with electronics, New Product Developement, our department's called, for a major lighting manufacturer. It's fun, and I'm constantly amazed that I can solder all these little things to a circuit board, and it actually will work! I still think it's magic! I raised, trained, and showed Afghan Hounds for several years, and since I was given our newest dog, I'm hoping I can start showing again. I'm still fairly new at gardening, and I'm trying to figure out what will, and what won't grow here. And I love Dave's Garden, I find myself checking in here whenever I'm near the computer!
NEXT!!

I guess it's my turn. Hold on here comes the soap opera -- I'm Pam, 31 My BD is January 8 (Me and Elvis), almost twice divorced (10 days and it should be final). Once this divorce is final I'm going to marry husband number 1 again. I have a son, Brad who is 2 1/2 and another little one on the way (due in April). I live out in the country on my piece of ~100 acres. My family purchased the land about 4 years ago and each of my siblings and I have a 2 acre plot to call our own. The rest is for nature and our enjoyment. I have 2 dogs, my pound puppies, Luke and Angel.

I've always had a veggie garden and have just begun my flower gardening, experimenting is more like it. I have lots to do since I started with a wooded lot and most has been cleared and "contoured" the way I thought I wanted. My SO was recently laid off from a steel mill and has been given the chance to go back to school for free, so I'm supporting the family while he learns a new trade. (An adult in college is worse than a kid in school!! It just has to be!!)

Well, I guess that's it for now, since I'm being paged to the bathroom for the evening bedtime ritual.

Ok, my turn.......I'm vic - short for Vicki. I'm 51 and have been married to my best friend for 32 years. We retired to NC in June of 1998 after living in Ohio all our married life. I was born and raised in Indiana. DH is from Cincinnati so when I see posts from that area, I get a little homesick. We have 3 daughters and 2 grand daughters. The oldest is 30 and has a 9 year old daughter and they live in PA. The next is 29, single but in a serious relationship and lives about 10 miles away. The youngest is in Ohio, 24, and they have a 3 year old. We have 21 acres here with lots of trees and back of property is all trees and a mountain. I'm definitely a DG junkie but have made so many wonderful friends here. The people here are the best. My favorite thing to do is garden, grow flowers from seed, read gardening catalogs, walk the dogs, play in the water garden (not literally :-) and hang out at DG. DH and I play outside most of the day. Life is good. vic

Okay, my turn. I finished picking the tomatoes, checked in on the chat and now I'm typing this. I'm gonna be up all night canning! LOL

Obviously, my name is Joan. I'm 40, soon to be 41 on December 10th. Hubby will be 50 on October 28 and I'm planning a surprise party, which he will totally hate! LOL I live in Western North Dakota, and have all my life. I'm married to my second husband and together we have 5 kids. 3 mine, 2 his. They are 20, 18, 17, 15 and 13. Three girls and two boys.

We have 5 cats (one of which is a special needs kitty), 2 frogs and one rabbit. We had a german shepherd, but lost her this summer. Over the years we have had fish, hamsters, hermit crabs, guinea pigs.....LOL....I think the only thing we haven't had yet is birds! My kids have horses and calves but they stay at their Dad's thank goodness.

I have grown vegetables for years, but just this year discovered the wonderful world of flowers. So, I'm a greenhorn at most of this gardening stuff. I've put in 4 amateur flower beds that I need to still do work on, plus have plans for many more in the works. We have 5 acres, so I have lots of room to grow things. I only have a little shade area though and I put hostas in there, but most of it is gonna have to be for sun-loving plants.

Both hubby and I work full time, plus do outside jobs to earn more money. Why is there never enough? I keep hoping that when we get the kids raised and on their own, we will have more money than there is month, rather than more month than there is money! Did that make sense?

My life changed a lot on September 14, 1996. I was in a major car accident and suffered severe head injuries. I was driving against a setting sun, and was totally blinded by it. I came upon a farm truck that was doing 40 in a 70 mph zone. By the time I saw it, I only had time to swerve to the left, which is what saved my life. I doctored at the mayo clinic in Rochester MN for 2 1/2 years and finally got to the point of being in a livable condition so I quit the surgeries. I was so run down from having surgeries every 6 weeks or so that I couldn't do it anymore. I can live with this, and am just so very thankful that I'm alive to continue to raise my children. I also found God through all this. It turned out to be a good thing for me.

I love to try new recipes and put away lots of canned and frozen stuff for the long North Dakota winters.

I LOVE scrapbooking and have books for all the kids to take when they prove to me that they are responsible enough to take care of them. I also have a family album that's mine to keep.

Last winter I started doing Bible Study, and want to continue it this winter.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'm an internet addict. I should have added that after the Hello, my name is Joan.....LOL

Hmmm....can't think of anything else right now. I am so glad to *meet* all of you.

Joan

Ok I will go next. Im Shannan I live an hour south of Houston TX. We have an acre of land with our home and I have had to start from scratch, there was no plants when we moved here 3 yrs ago. I am married to #2 for 5yrs and very happy, I have 2 children a 6 yr old girl and 4 yr old boy. I am a stay at home mom and really love it, though it can be a challenge at times. Im 28 thats where the 28 in my username comes from, I am a christian and love to be in my yard. I have built fences, painted our house, hung wall paper, did the plumbing thing didnt like it but did it. I dont have any health problems but I think my knees are going from all the weeding I do.LOL I also enjoy quilting and doing crafts, helping out school. My dad lives in the same town and my brother lives a few towns away. My sister moves everywhere there is a winter. We lost my mother to cancer in 85, she is the one that got me hooked. Well enough about me someone elses turn to fill out the dating form.LOL

Hello...my name is Betty Jo, but answer to Jo...but if you plan to send me a check...use the full moniker. I am the OLDEST young lady in this bunch of youngsters. Turned 67 on Sept. 5th. If I admit that I have a VERY brown thumb, I hope you don't throw me off this site, as it has become HOME to me in such a short time. I am a "reader" and a "pointer". My DH of 35 years (love is great, the second time around)is the true gardner. I "read" up on it, and "point" to where I would like something to grow. He has the brightest green thumb...

I was born in Beckley, WV, but lived most of my life in different places in Virginia. Then when we got old we moved to Homosassa, Fla. I really liked it there, but our two daughters had moved to Sierra Vista, AZ and we had visited here each year. Loved it too. The mother of our 6year old GS, Andrew, had left Orlando, Fla so...we HAD to follow him. We have a son who lives in Crossville, TN, and will be finishing building his house the end of this month. He is a contractor. I have a lovely 16 year old Step GD through his marriage, have a GD in the USNavy, married to another Sailor, and a GS who is the Father of my two GGchildren...Callie and Keegan.
I like to sew and cook, and do crafts and READ! My son says I read at a stop light. I do keep a book in the car at all times!

Badseed, you were luckier than me. I had a Neo-macular hemmorhage two years ago. Had the first surgery, and a week later had the retina detach and went back for that. Unfortunately, I lost the sight in that eye. But God was very good to me. I had no medical insurance at that time. Since it was the month of my 65th BDay, my Medicare kicked in on Sept. 1st....and my eye didn't kick out until Sept 2nd! Talk about luck of the draw!
We put a mobile home on an extra 4 acres belonging to our oldest daughter, who lives next door....since all of us down at this end of our dead end road are now past the child bearing age, I call this "Menapasual Acres". So far we don't have very much planted...but are BIG on Mesquite!!

So glad to meet all of you...Ya'll come back, hear?? Jo

Melody here...Mel to my friends(guess who that would be!!)

I live in South West Kentucky near KY Lake and about 20 miles from the TN line.My birthday is Feb,12 and I'm 44.I've been married to the same guy for 24 years and we've had so many adventures that I can't even start.No kids.Just a Sheltie named Carly.

I love veggies and you'll find some of my work in the Plants Database.This was a great year for my tomatoes..check out the pictures!

I was a design and journalisim major in college,but I've done just about everything but that in all these years.I love photography and anything creative.Right now,I'm the #1 go-fer at my hubby's business.For years,we traveled and I've been all over the country...many,many times.About 5 years ago we decided that we could be alot happier if we slowed down the pace and did most of our business at home.We were logging 2500-3000 miles a week at the time.Now,we don't even go that much in a month!

This has given me more time to garden.We have 4 acres and since it was just a cow pasture when we built the house,It's up to me what I plant here.My main love is historical and heirloom veggies and I keep detailed records and maintain proper isolation for seed purity.

My husband gives guitar lessons and we are 'roadies' for some friends in a local band.They have a family show that they play at the local campgrounds and are really good.They're the only band that you'll hear Grand Funk Railroad ,Gospel Music and the Dixie Chicks in the same set!

I'm like go-vols...we're sort of the 'old regulars' here and I'll warn you newbies...now that you're here...you can't get away!We're hooked and you will be too. Enjoy !

Hello everyone - my name is Cathy. I am 32 years old and I live in Widefield, Colorado, a suburb of Colorado Springs. Widefield is about 75 miles or so south of Denver. I am a native Coloradoan. When my parents divorced my sister, mom, and I moved to CS from Pueblo Colorado. Have had many medical problems and broken bones over the cours of my life but have survived it all. I don't have any children because I don't think I can get pregnant because of the existing medical problems. I have my four little dogs though and they are my children. My common-law husband and I have been together for 7 years. He is a computer geek and so am I.:D It is hard for me to work because the government pays for my medical bills and prescriptions. My prescriptions would cost me $2,500 a month if the government didn't pay for them and if I work and make $20,000 a year or more they would stop paying for the medicines that I have to take every day just to make my body function normally. My husband quit his job earlier this year so that we could hopefully make our home based video game business a success. In case anyone wants to check out our web site it is: http://www.neuronentertainment.com/ If we make enough money off of the business I will not have to rely on the government any more to pay my medical expenses.

We love being outdoors! We love to hike up Pikes Peak, bicycle, etc... I love to take my dogs for walks in the summer and they love it too. I love all kinds of crafts but my favorite craft is Bob Ross style painting. I have always loved planting flowers but last year my ex-neighbor gave me her extra veggie plants and this year I made it bigger! I have definitely been bit by the gardening bug this year. If I had it my way the whole back yard would be nothing but flowers and veggies!:D I have really gotten hooked on Dave's garden. Unfortunately, now I can't afford the subscription. I don't blame Dave for going the subscription route but $15 is too steep for me right now. I hope that I will be able to afford it in the not too distant future. So, until my 2 weeks are up I plan to spend as much time as I can here. It's been a pleasure meeting everyone here.

Sand -
NO way! You're the closest DG member to me! My SO's family live in Waterloo, his father worked at the prison in Auburn. You're about a two hours drive away from where we live!

Hi,I'm CoCo
Not much to tell on this end.
Married: yes
Children: yes
Grandchildren: yes
Height: 5'7"
Weight: think I'm going to tell.......not a chance
Live: Texas
Eyes: yes,two and they are brown
Hair: yes, got that to,it's short
Pets: none (no this mouse I have is NOT a pet)
Interests: anything and everything.....except mice,not interested in those
Favorite Sport: hehe,between DH and me. Actually Nascar racing


Ok, that is me. Now next person; who are U?

i'm farmgirl21 i used to have 21 birds but that number has increased. i was born in the city but ran away at 17. i'm on my 3rd marrage. 9-9-99 had to do the 9's. he is a wonderful man and handy too. he sold his business and we retired to the country. now we never leave home. we would like to travel but i keep getting more animals. i came into this marrage with my horse of 13yrs, and a son 20. now we have chickens ducks and geese 2 dogs with 1 on the way. 4 cats, still wanting a gray tabby. see why we can't leave home LOL. i do prefer my animals to children when i'm not in the mood they don't talk back except the horse. he is totally spoiled rotton. he knows i love him, hubby bonded to him quick. he called it home security (love the children the mother will stay) hey honey i'm not going anywhere lol. i started veggie garden 2 yrs ago and love not having to buy veggies. this yr i decided we need color so we put in 2 raised beds. the birds dig them up when loose so we have chicken wire all around the beds. this winter we will fence around the house so guess what i have a ton of new beds planned. with all the seed trading i have a good start on filling them in spring. looking forward to every minute of it. ok i am rambling....next

I will have to get back to you on this one since I have been trying to "find myself" for years!

I can tell you what I am not.
I am not young
I am not beautiful
I am not tall
I am not skinny
I am not an expert ANYTHING
I am not the brightest bulb in the lamp
I am not the dullest blade in the razor
I am not always sweet nor am I always sour
I am not ....finished growing as a person!

Sand and Bucky , hey,you're right around the corner from me!! My name is Karyn,I've been married for one year to a man I adore .He lets me bring my garden INSIDE!!!We've been together almost 10 years so he knew what he was getting into!LOL And he has taken over parts of my gardens and trades!!!We live on Oneida Lake ,about 30 miles from Syracuse.We have 4 acres ,and raise and show chickens.We also have geese,swans,peacocks,a Great Dane "Cinders" a cat "Magnum" and our baby "Ariel" who is a 5 year old Blue and Gold Macaw. I also have 2 children,my daughter is 22 ,who has given me 3 grandchildren and my son ,19,is in the Army ,stationed in Hawaii.I'll be 43 next month,I drive Tractor Trailer for UPS.And I know I'm forgeting something....Oh yeah!!Brugs rule!!!

I'll be the first Canadian to share.
My name is Theresa. I live in southern Ontario. I am 36 years old and a newlywed as well. I have 2 son's - both teenagers, 2 stepdaughters - both adults, 2 cats, 3 birds and many, many fish (3 tanks)
My garden is in the toddler stage; just finishing it's first year and showing great potential. I work from home (sales) which allows me the freedom to garden and surf Dave's as well.
It's been very rewarding to get to know all of you!


This message was edited Thursday, Oct 4th 1:59 PM

Hello! Great idea! Some of you know me already but there's plenty of new people here too!
I'm Diane, I live in the north-east of England in Middlesbough. That's a town at the mouth of the Tees estuary and at the foot of the North York Moors. I have a cottage garden.
I'm 50, single and currently trying to diet! I'm a giggler!!!
I'm a mature student. I'm back at University, doing a Masters in Information Technology. In another year's time I'll be a computer scientist hopefully!!!
Next!!!!