Who are we?????

Hi, I'm Gina, new here and not sure how long they're going to let me stay. I share the same birthday as Badseed but I have a few yrs on her. Dh and I have 4 children: sons 17 & 13, dghtrs 11 & 8. We live on MD's Eastern Shore quite near the Ches Bay. Let's see, what else? I homeschool my 3 younger children while the oldest goes to the local public school. I have grand plans for my garden each year but have learned the hard way that you really should improve your soil and MULCH. It's getting slightly better each year but I've got a long way to go.

I've got many interests, such as reading, needlework and life in the great outdoors and most recently, the internet (have even started a message board, e-mail if you'd like to check it out). Like a few of you, I also have FM, I'd almost forgotten about it till I had a flare-up about a month ago. I treat it naturally as I do any illnesses although if something's persistent I give up and go to the doc. I've worked really hard making a tiered garden in my backyard which has a slope -- I've filled this area with roses and herbs.

Welcome to everyone newbies & oldbies...nice to meet everyone!
Jen

I'm Cheryl, 42, and I'm a technical writer in a Chicago suburb.

I've overwhelmed DH with houseplants most of our marriage (22+years). I had to give up most of them B4 our grandson was born, so I just discovered outdoor gardening this summer. Now DH is veerrry nervous about his lawn. Much to my amazement he just helped me plant a tree right in the middle of it (ok so he rolled his eyes and put his head in his hands while he held the stick).

Ever since H.S. I've wanted kids and grandkids, and now I have 3 kids and one grandson! Only one teenager left full-time at home so I'm very thankful for summer and gardening and of course DG.

I had so much fun gardening this summer that on the verge of frost I'm cramming whatever I can into my borders. I have 2 small rose gardens, 2 small borders, and lots of canna sprouting in pots on the deck. Next spring will bring at least one new border and lots of rearranging.

Hi How nice to see all these posts and know more about the people who have just been names. I am Shirley and will be 64 next month. I raised 10 children-have 32 grands and 3 great grands. None live close to me.I have been widowed since I was 44.Retired as the pastor of a small country church a year ago yesterday. Retired as the paramedic supervisor and ambulance commander of a volunteer squad in April-Still run with the squad as need3ed and when I am home. For sixteen years have worked national disasters-helping to develop long term recovery units in affected communities.This is a volunteer job also. Run a Salvation Army service unit-a food and clothing bank and am emergency management for two municipalities. Gardening was always a blessing to me from the time I was young enough to work with Dad in the garden-but I got too busy for a time and now am starting again on my acre and a half in the southern mountains of western PA. Have 22 cats around and three dogs who are my companions.A neighbor feeds the animals when I am on the road.I just returned this week from DC where we put together an intereligious task force for response to violence.I like to read but cataracts have curtailed that a bit. Thomas Merton is my favorite writer.Dont do veggies anymore because I live alone and eat out all the time.My oldest daughter and I are planning a trip to Ireland for Christmas. My children are gifting me with this trip. I have made so many good friends here and so many have shared sase their seeds and plants with me and I am grateful for their generosity. Some kind soul also gifted me with a subscription and I say thanks so much to whoever did this for me. God bless you all and your gardens.

Hey Gardenwife- I live in Newark too.

Ok, I'm not too much for words on describing myself but here goes nothing. I was born in Germany, near Heidelberg. Both of my parents are German. My mom married a GI when I was 11 and at the age of 14 we moved to the US for the first time. Went back to Germany when I was 16, met a GI when I was a Senior in High School (went to a German school for 8 years and High School for 4). Came to Newark, OH and got married. Bad thing to do!! He was the sweetest guy until I married him, then he thought he could control me and became abusive. After 6 years I finally realized that it wasn't me and put in for a divorce. I have to children, a boy who will be 12 in January and a daugther who just turned 9 in September. I had custody until I lost my job last December and had to move out of the apartment where I was. $550 a month plus utilities with 2 kids......I couldn't do it anymore. My ex decided it was a great opportunity for him to get custody and the courts gave it to him.......Ok, now I'm blabbing.
Anyway, my birthday is August 1st. I'm currenlty unemployed and can't seem to find work. I'm a jack of all trades but a master of none. I am very crafty and can probably do just about anything you set infront of me. I just got done resurfacing our kitchen cabinets and painted a mural of a dragon on our living room wall.
I've been recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic depression) and feel like a guinea pig until they can get the meds right. I'm a member of the Newark Maennerchor, which is a German club here in town and sing in the Chorus.
I think that's about it. Oh, I'm still new to this gardening thing. My son is getting into it also and him and I are learning together.
Let me know if I've left anything out :o) I could write a novel about my life....lol
Guess I did have allot to say, huh?

Ok my turn..... Hello all I am Sandy age 43 I hope to never feel my age. My birthday is July 21. Happily married almost 20years now to my best friend with the patience of a saint. We have 2 kids son 17 and daughter 14 they are the true joy in my life.

I was born, raised and hope to always live in Bay City Michigan. When my Dad died of a sudden heart attach 7 years ago and soon after my mom was diagnosed with cancer my family moved back into the home I was raised in to "help" my mom out. I am glad to report that she is doing great and can still run circles around me.

I was a travel agent for 26 years up until a week ago when we laid off 1/2 our staff I am almost relieved to get the kick in the butt i have said I needed to get a "real" job. I also teach gymnastics 6 nights a week. Now if I got laid off from there I would deserve your sympathy. I love the kids and they keep me young. Baa I love and can soooooooo relate your your "busy eclectic mind with a hugh imigination" as I sit here with an icepac on my neck from trying to show one of my "kids" a backhandspring in slow motion. Not a good idea anymore but just can't get use to the fact that I am not as young as I feel. I love to bike, rollerblade, snowski and try just about any other sport. My son is just like me. Does well in just about any sport but has not found one he wants to get really dedicated to.

My daughter is very dedicated to gymnastics comptets at level 10 (about what you see if you watch college competitions) She will be off this year or at least most of it as she has 3 bulging disks, and some other back problems bothering her right now. I would like to hear from those of you with back pain as to anything you think I can/should do.

My flower gardening skills are nill but I am learning with the help from all of you. I have done vegetable gardening most of my life.

Well I guess that is more then enough for now. Love this thread.

God Bless
Sandy2

Hello from canada, Perhaps you know my wife? She is from Clarkfield ,just down the road from you. I am 46 she is 35 and we have a soon to be 3 little girl, I have a 22 yr old from pre/ingagement,She has blessed us with a wonderful soon to be 2 grandaughter. I am Canadian She is American,we met in Alaska and then moved here . We go to Clarkfield alot to visit Inlaws . Maybe you know people in commen??
Nice to meet you. Jack and Lisa and family

Hi everyone! This is a great idea. My name is Teresa I'm 40 and I have an identical twin Tammy who really does look a lot like me. Its really funny to have her friends who I don't even know come up to me and start chatting away. She has the same thing happen to her as well. I got married when I was 27 to the love of my life. He is a wonderful man who I really adore and can't live without. We have two daughters who are 13 and 6. Exact opposites in personality but not looks. My husband and I were divorced 4 years ago and it was the most miserable time of my life. I finally got back together with him in April last year and we are getting along better than ever. Our girls are very happy about this as well. I work at a local healthcare facility and have been there for 18 years now. I love elderly people. They bring out the best in me. At the end of the day I know I have made a difference for someone who might otherwise be lonely and sad. One of my hobbies is jewelry making. I make all my own earrings and I love to give them away. Of course I have the garden bug as well. One of my co workers said that I should go to "Flowers Anonomous"! Funny she said that just two weeks after my Barney said it to me! Living here in Maine makes it a little chalenging to get the gardens established AND harvested! We don't exactly have a long growing season but I honestly think this is the most beautiful spot to live.

Ok, maybe I could write here too, albeit I feel myself a little out of the 'inner circle'.. :P

So.. I am pretty surely the youngest member here in DG so far, 14, my bd is 5.3.(1988). I live in Espoo (capital area city), Finland, near Helsinki. I sure do have weird lifestyle, I have traveled a lot and will be leaving on sunday morning again - going through East Europe this time.

I do have a swedish name, but I am not Finn-swedish. I can speak Swedish, not very well anyway.

I take lots of photos everyday, but most of them are not very good, thanks to my lousy camera, hehe :)

inner circle? we have an inner circle?? I think all of us that post are smack in the middle of the inner circle:)

:Q

Hi, I am Bobbi. I started out on DG as ROBBOB but soon realized it didn't suit, so am now naturegal. I live in Wapakoenta, OH, exit 111 on I75, pop. about 10,000. I am 58 YO, am about 5'1 1/2 if I stretch and small. Used to have dark blonde hair, is now silver. Married 39 yrs. to a patient guy, he is an Accountant. We have 1 girl, 35YO who is married, lives in Flowery Branch, GA and presented us with our one and only grandchild 4 yrs. ago Jun 1, Miss Sarah. 1 son, single, in FL.
I was raised on a dairy farm, 3 sisters, 1 brother so you know we had to work. But it didn't hurt us. We are all still good workers.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when I was 42. Fortunately, it has been slow in prgression and I hadn't had very much trouble until About 3 or 4 years ago. I am still pretty active but have my days. I do not have tremors for which I am forever grateful, just the stiffness and loss of gait, when my meds are down. The walking part is what troubles me the most. I keep telling my hubby, "I can't lose my legs". If you are familiar with Michael J Fox and his involuntary movements, I have that off and on. But life is good and people have told me they admire my spirit and attitude. Most of the time I am pretty up. As a lot of you know, there are those nasty "bad days". But luckily they don't last long for me.
I love gardening, it is my therapy. I keep expanding my flowerbeds little by little. As much as you can on a lot 50'x150', with a house on it. When we moved here it was a bare lot with 3 trees, no landscaping. Of course the house was there. Little by little over the past 27 years we have beautified it. And it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.
I belong to a garden club & ride in Equestrian Therapy once a week.
Guess that's about it. I enjoy coming to DG and would like to someday meet any and all of you.