She's about to... 64... Spring time is coming...

Don't remind me in a few months how much I've been enjoying soaking up the Sun out there weeding and doing general garden clean-up.

Where did everybody go? And where the heck is Winter? We've been in the 60's for weeks except for a few days that dip into the 30-40's.

It might be old news to some of you by now, but the USDA came out with a new Zone Map. We're still in 7a. Guess that means moving to a much warmer climate if I'm ever able to grow tropicals year-round.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

I hear that, now we are a zone 7a here, i think. just get your tropical on inside, Susan.

I want to move out of this place so bad, but when I am downstiars, I can tolerate it..

Morning everyone. That map shows I am in 9a. It always showed me as 8b before. Wonder why they changed it?
Love that red hibiscus Debra! So pretty. How is your Sis doing?

GM Our zone has always been 5b Now we are 6a so guess i will try a few plats that were always on my list but didn't dare to try :) but will do a test ru with a few first :)
snowy morning for another hour or so about 2" so far , jim & Jan going up to GR soon so have to go sit with daddy thought i would make him a lemon pie today .

Debra your room looks so springy bet your light bill is high right ??? in the winter months .
will i have to say it really seems good not to have to tell daddy what time it is every 10 mins but now i have to remind him to listen to his watch :)hehe but all is well , he signs a song every morning . :)

well wishing you all a great day . back later .

Hello everyone. Been doing some much needed housework..like windows, yuk. The sun room has lots of glass and as soon as I clean them outside it will at least sprinkle rain so they get spotted again. This time instead of using Windex, I used Rainx. Sure hope it will help.
Yesterday I spent a good part of the day cleaning in the back yard..amazing how good it looks with the dead stuff gone.
Susan, well, you know I'm eager for the group (the more the merrier) meeting. Gosh I wish it could be here.
Ray is doing so good it's almost scary. We are still waiting to hear if there will be followup cancer treatment on his back.
Debra, sure have happy looking plants and the red is gorgeous.
LindaKay, say hello to everyone for me.
Love & Hugs

Oh, look at this "Stinker" that came to my house when we put down bagged mulch from Lowe's last Spring. The real name for this lil stinker is "Stinky Squid Stinkhorn" it is a member of the Phallales, Clathrus columnatus family. In the same mulch came a mold called " Dog Vomit Slime Mold" yuk. that's exactly what it looks like.

Hi everyone, I heard on NPR that they were coming out with new climate maps and that us northerners would be happy, course since that is just an average the guy did say one bad "normal" cold spell and all that stuff that was usually for a warmer zone would be toast... ;) so as usually gardener beware.

I love your basement garden Debra, I think we all need to move to Debra's basement, looks like paradise to me, right there in Kansas.

Faye, I am so glad to hear that Ray is doing better, and hope both of you get to take a breath and 2012 turns into a wonderful year for both of you.

We had about 10 snowflakes on the ground this morning...rofl, so different from last year, it is amazing.

Faye, good to hear that Ray is doing well...I had to go to the University Hospital last week....where I found out that I didn't have cancer...I was so happy that I made a celebratory shopping spree...;.new skirt, capri pants, 2 pair shoes, and 5 pairs Vanity Fair undies....all on sale...that's how happy I was! I tried to end the day with a Hot Fudge Sunday, but had to settle for a Klondike Bar! Lol

Let me know how the RainX works...been thinking of using it on shower walls and doors. Jo

Faye, that looks yucky. I had a whole bunch of little shrooms come up from my much last year I bought from home depot. SO glad to hear Ray is doing good! :)
Hey Joyce, what are you up to? This winter has been so mild for everyone! Sure hope we don't have a repeat HOT summer like last year! It is 65 today.

Jo, so glad to hear you did not have cancer too! Sure is a scary thing waiting to hear results! Sounds like you deserved that shopping trip!

Good for you, Jo, both on the positive results and your treats. Nothing like new duds make a girl feel better :)

Yuk on the 'Dog Vomit Slime Mold' Faye. The year it mysteriously appeared from mulch hauled in from the nursery, I kept scooping the mucky stuff out with a shovel. Crazy though it kept popping up in the strangest places. Give Ray a big hug for me.

Always love seeing your cheery basement garden, Debra, and that Hibiscus is a beaut!

So good to hear good news from everyone, 2012 is looking better! Susie your Dad looks ready to party....what a sweetie.

I haven't been doing anything but making it thru January...otherwise not a thing. How bad is that?

{{{{{{{JOYCE!}}}}}}

Planting a few seeds today Debra you sent me some mixed MG & One seed is as yucca Is it a Variegated one ????
Good to hear from you happ you are missed . Daddys party was a big hit . he was very pleased.

well Jim Made dinner while i played in my dirt :) so FULL I Need a nap . Someone put a recipe for Chocolate Bacon Well I'm here to say It is DELISH I Made it Yesterday I'm Waiting for jim & Jan to go Bowling this evening Hehe then i'll get it out .
if there is any left I gave some to jim last night His wife Don't like anything but she keeps gaining weight HEHE like the rest of us .

we have snow flurries today 3-6 in on the ground & still coming down . well guess I will go make me some of my flavored coffee i got in my SSS Box ya all have a great day back later.

Jo praise God you don't have cancer. The very word scares me.
Susan you're so right about the 'Dog Vomit Slime Mold showing up in strange places, even looks like a dog held his over plants and and and well it's not a pretty sight, and it doesn't want to stay gone after scooping it up.
Susie don't you just loving playing in dirt knowing that the old house stuff is being taken care of? Boy I sure do. I'm spoiled rotten and love it. Ray does so much in the house that I'm free to play/work outside as much as I want. Oh boy, oh boy. he's getting well. Just love that man.

So glad Ray is doing better. Am glad we are all doing ok for the most part. Jo, I don't know you, YET, but I am very Thankful you are Cancer Free.

Been Playing in the dirt all day, Joe bbq'd turkey dogs and lamb burgers, and he made baked beans. Yeal, I am Praising God I have Joe. All I have done for housework all week and weekend is dishes, and wipe down the Micro Wave. Oh, I did get a huge box of boxes and paper stuff broke down and out of the back basement room. Feel good about that. It was huge.

Sister and I are making plans for our Bucket List Trip. Son thinks I should leave it all inside ( the gardens) This year and Start New he says, out side . Ha!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1238335/#new

Link is for the Valentine swap. Sign up before tomorrow morning.

tues is the 31st so HURRY & DECIDE the rest of us are ready ;))))))

Tucson's BIG Gem show is going on this week so I plan to go up with a friend tomorrow....she has a wholesale license so I should be able to get some bargains!! Jo

UPDATE!! Ray went to see his surgeon to have the staples taken out of his back today. Dr. Knole said: "We got it all, we went 1/2 in. deeper than necessary but we were able to get ALL the cancer. Ray does not hurt at all. What a blessing to see him doing the things he wants to do without pain. We cannot thank you enough for your prayers. God is good.
Hugs
Faye

AMEN AND AMEN JO

WONDERFUL NEWS< FAYE!

((FAYE & RAY))) What awesome news and am sending lots of love to you two love birds :)

OK, Jo, tell us about the jewelry you bought at the show. Was it Turquoise or another gem? I know you didn't come away empty handed.

OK....since Rose had a dealers badge we were able to buy in the wholesale area....plus she knew the Polish guys that had the Amber booth. I bought a ring and a pendant....all for the price of $26.00....pendant alone would retail for about $45.00. Also bought a little inexpensive bracelet with fake turquoise for $3.00. It sure pays to have friends in "high" places!! LOL Jo

Faye, that is a great report! Praise God for answered prayers!

Jo, sounds like you got a few bargains!

Good News Faye

On My last cup of coffee before waken daddy for the day then its off to town date with my computer Geek Hate that he always has the way of taken me into a new invention . actually verizon made a mistake on my bill so TYSON is going to adjust it for me .
then off to B C SO I Can find some Great Goodies for a Valentine Buddy .

Ya all have a great day I Will be back later today .

Nice scores, Jo. It would be nice if we had more than one decent craft show around here each year that's held in October. SIL had perfect timing visiting last Fall and we spent the day oohing and ahhing.

Darn mealy bugs seem to be winning the war on the few Coleus plants I was desperately trying to overwinter, again, but haven't totally given up and moved the pots out to the garage. That freed up two trays on my light rack.......time to start some new seeds for my hanging baskets and some for the veggie garden. It'll be interesting to see if the Cukes are really burpless since they're the only kind hubby likes.

Everybody have a SUPER week-end, and may be the best team win. Debra, I hope you're off tomorrow.

I Love Amber, Jo. It is such a pretty warm color to wear.
Joe and I finally went out to celebrate out 31st anniversary to the Olive Garden tonight. We eac tried something different. We have been sitting on anniversary money to go out on since last June. It was a nice evening. We got almost three inches of rain in 36 hours and now it is freezing cold, water in basement as usual, but the papers are doing their job when we aren't wet vacuming.. plants like the humidity from the fans drying the papers.. so I can turn off humidifiers while they are wet..

always gotta find a positive in everything bad.. flooded basement floors are not so bad in a green house, and it only stays to the south east corner so that helps.

Maya is loaded with buds, so is kaitlyn again, and I have teeny little buds on a couple others..
did a new inventory on the brugs.. 39, made new tags and decided I have 6 brugs to adopt out.. most of them noids since I lost their tags. EE's are all awake, so are the cannas, and it is so nice in the basement when it is all lit up and fans going and stuff.
This is the area that gets water from that left hand corner.. it isn't bad, really, just a bit tiresome keeping it from going to the dividing wall..

Happy Belated Anniversary to you and Joe! Your basement garden looks awesome, Debra, and love your positive attitude. I honestly can't tell from your pic there's a leak down there.

Hubby just won $200 in the Super Bowl pool we participated in. Not too shabby considering each participant spent $20 for 4 blocks on the play sheet. Our neighbor has held the pool for years, and he adds the numbers and team names to the sheet after all the participants are filled in, so it's fair and square. Then he distributes copies of the sheets to each of the players. We've been participating for years and have never won zilch. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Quarter winners won $100 each. 4th Quarter that hubby won pays $200.....I feel like we hit the jackpot without buying a lottery ticket! Now I know how good it feels when you win a night out at Bingo, Susie.

Hooray, Fruity! I was in a pot at work for 5 a square, and I didn't even come close, but we sure had a good time here with me cooking 72 wings for everyone..

Froots I was laying in bed last night wondering if you guys won anything. Too cool!!

Well off to the more painting, fixing, sanding and generally making a mess. Why is it that when you fix one thing, it makes everything around it look bad? At this rate I will be painting this whole house soon!

Neener, I am right behind you.. when you get yours done, let's work on mine!

She will be a pro when it is all done, then we can hire her to do ours???

Yep, our neighbor made the rounds Monday afternoon to pay the winners. I had to tease him because this is the second year in a row his son won a quarter.

While cooking supper Sunday afternoon, I heard one of our resident Red-Bellied woodpeckers, went running to the window to get a closer look and was so surprised to see him with another wave of Robins mixed with lots of Cedar Waxwings, and Cardinals, all lit in our Cherry tree. Waxwings usually show up in January and Robins around mid-February. My Mom and I used to call each other the first day we spotted a Robin. Living further South, her call always came first. Never have seen Waxwings here this late, making me think even the birds are confused with the unusually warm Winter we've been having.

I made a batch of sugar water and hung a couple of Hummingbird feeders today. It's usually mid-March to mid-April when the Ruby Throated's arrive, but who knows how early they'll show up with this crazy weather?

*sigh* snowing here earlier, all signs of spring are in suspension, still no robins, but we do have a very active red bellied woodpecker out back.

Morning everyone! Debra, I got your box of seeds! Thanks so much!
Guess I need to get my feeders up to for the hummers. It has been in the mid 60's here, so they may be around? Our Arizona ash tree's are budding already! Really strange weather! Hope we don't get a freeze?

Speaking of seeds, I'm going to divide my order of Morning Glory seeds for the regular folks who post here and would like to try a few. Some are Japanese.
Post here or shoot me a d-mail if you're interested and I'll keep a list. Forgot to pick up more little baggies in the craft department last time I was in Walmart so give me a couple of weeks to get them together.

FRUITY I'd like a few Japanese ones if you have any extra & WAX PAPER Cut in 2x2 squares work well folded :) findly i can enjoy my coffee & go play in the dirt for awhile .
ya all have a great evening
susie

Will do, Susie, and thanks for the wax paper tip.

Post-it notes make a good envelope for small seeds////by folding it so the sticky side is folded over last. Jo