Coffee and...Part 7 :-D

Sssshhhhhh Julie, not looking at the catalog with the add ons.....closing eyes, thinking pure and inexpensive thoughts....No kidding, I think it's a fabulous buy. But there's a limit to how much I want to start in spring, and we are diligently adding more perennials and shrubs to reduce the amount of bending, lifting, stooping etc. I ain't gettin' any younger.....couple years ago I bought one of those little benches that you can either sit or kneel on, and that's been pretty helpful in saving my back.

Marcia, those colors look fabulous! Aren't you glad it's done? LOL I've got a pair of jeans I've been ripping the seams out of on the sides to take them in, and it's been three weeks since I started...Should have just taken them back instead of messing around with them. And it's just the waist that's too big, so you know what that's like, gotta take off the waist band ewwwwwwwww why did I start that? Got a couple of other projects gathering dust too, but I picked up some new books and................oh well, the brownies won't come in and mess with them so they'll be waiting for me. With luck, it will all be done before SPRING when I won't get in the house at all because I'll be out making mudpies. I mean planting. see y'all later

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HI, M5-I don't have to take in clothes anymore (sigh); but when I did-it was lap it over-whip stitch and wear an over-blouse. This was done to honor my old Home-Ec teacher who was a terror!!!!
Julie-you are so far ahead of me-gotta get that done this week; as for machines-may stop at JoAnn Fabrics and see if they will let me play with one of the machines.
A Pileated-wow; didn't think they were in our area. Get the downy, hairy, red bellied..and one season-a pair of red headed woodpeckers; but envy you-maybe it will be back for brunch if our messy weather continues.
Trying the fancy painting techniques this week (get the LinenWeave brush this Tues.
Compliments :) :) Thank you. I wanted the colors to Pop-gotta stop watching some of the HGTV shows

M5...I know what you mean about 'saving the back'. Mine isn't as good as it used to be...but then it wasn't ALL that *good* back then. LOL I've been eyeing that little stool with the 'braces' for legs, myself. A couple of years ago I bought a little plastic 'caddy wagon' that you can sit on and roll along the edges of the flower beds. It was a great idea...too bad it was engineered for a 90 lb weakling, tho. :-D Sit on it long enough to warm the plastic and you find your rump in the bottom of the bucket! hehehe

I also know about that 'limit' for planting each year. I was talking to DH, let's see...what day was that ~grin~...(Oh yeah...yesterday!) about my running out of room. And that was just for what I've already planted indoors! I have to remind myself that I'm starting perennials and IF they survive, I won't be doing this much seed planting ever again. Hopefully, I'll be able to limit myself to the tomatoes and other veggie garden plants, and only to the annuals I use all the time...marigolds and impatiens. (like that's a likely scenerio! :-D)

Marcia G...I'm not ahead of you at all. hehehe I just started things WAY too early. Since this is my first year of seed starting (other than once a LONG time ago...everything died from damp-off then) I had no idea about how long it would *really* take to get some of these things growing. I think the biggest shock is that under lights and with the seed trays on heat mats, everything is sprouting in 1/3 to 1/2 the expected germination rate. WOW! I had NO idea *that* could happen!

Oh...if you're going to go play with one of those facny sewing machines, better wear your armor! They have a way of getting "under you skin" and they give you an itch that can't be scratched without spending tons of money. ;-) (And *please* stop talking about sewing! It's ALL your fault! Now, I remembered I have 5 pair of safari pants for DH that need to be altered and hemmed...ARGH!!! :-D :-D)

Nothing planned for today. Probably will get the laundry started and see if I can find hubbies pants and get them crossed off my 'todo' list. After all, they've only been on it for 4-5 years. HAHAHAHA (Then there's that pretty teal pants and sweater I need to do for myself. Ah, what the heck...I'll never wear them anyway...plant some more seeds!! :-D

Later
~julie~

Mornin' I've been wasting my morning so far, alternating between reading and doing some silly photos for the Paper People forum, haven't gotten dressed or made the bed yet! Lazy Monday. All cloudy and yucky outside today, good thing I don't have to go anywhere. Went out in the miserable weather yesterday to get to a sale, and saw multiple cars that had slid off the road into the ditch....it wasn't even icey, just snowy and sloppy so they must not have been driving at a reasonable speed for the conditions. The worst thing about it is the gapers block they create, which usually makes for more accidents!

Marcia did you have the same home ec teacher I did? Whew, she was a holy terror. Stitch. Rip. restitch. rip again until you get it right. For my last sewing project I made a dress which I hated so much by the time it was done that I never wore it. The cooking classes were much easier, but sewing was a living he!!, and we all just hated it. We had old style treadle machines, which were in great condition, and we could really sew fast on them but all they did was straight stitches or button holes In retrospect, I can still do a flat-felled or french seam, put in a gusset, and french roll a hem, so I guess it was a good education.

I have got to get showered and dressed, I just looked at the time.....!! If there was a gold medal for time wasting, I'd be a shoo-in for first place!!

Just put a loaf of bread stuff in the bread machine. Hauled it out yesterday because the weather was so crummy (snow-rain-sleet) DH made a huge batch of stew. I made a cheese/onion bread and man on man was it yummy!!! We ate the whole loaf and today I am making another one!! Having a cabbage casserole tonight!! Can't stop thinking about food!! Did go to the huff and puff for over an hour this morning - so that is a good thing!!

Really need to go to Target and return a set of curtains and buy a new curtain rod, but I just don't feel like doing it today. Maybe tomorrow!! I have a good book I'd like to finish!!

Marcia - those are really attractive colors. I need a whole house color change. Things get outdated so soon!! I am not good at decorating at all!!

Bread will be done in 30 minutes- I'll slice it and pass it around!

Oh Yum, butter me some of that hot bread....I bought a bread machine yesterday, an Oster, on sale at Penney's warehouse for 19.95 usually sells for $70. and it's rated highly on eopinions. So, we'll see if I got snookered. Sarv, was your recipe in the book that came with your machine? It sounds really delicious. That's all I need, more bread on my hips! Too late now! What's in the casserole, I love cabbage, DH doesn't. When I make cabbage rolls I call my oldest DD and we share them. Have them for lunch for a week! Hmmmm here we are talking about food again....LOL

Fresh bread - one thing I'll NEVER be able to pass us! Sweets rarely do me in, but bread, meat and cheese are always my downfall! DS and DH liked the Choc. Chip Cheesecake, 'specially with icecream. I had a 1/4" slice, it was enough for me. lol

Having a grand time researching seeds this morning. Ursula send me a bunch so I am learning a lot. Quite a few have to be grown as annuals here or taken in for the winter so I'll have to see how that goes next fall. My fruit room isn't cold enough to store tubers, etc. well. There's a crawl space N of the fruitroom that is under the small bathroom - it's all cemented out. I'm wondering if I can put a sheet of insulation styrofoam up at the beginning of it to make a small cold(er) area - be about 6'x6' I think. Trouble is, Dh will be most unhappy if I get it too cold and freeze the bathroom pipes. That would freeze the tubers, etc. too. And that would make me unhappy. If I keep a thermometer down there and watch it closely, I think I could make it work. I could tilt the styro. out to let more house air in if it's too cold, maybe. A plan worth pondering........

Pretty colours on those pillows! Love 'em! I think I better get some sewing done this pm. Dh has a couple of jeans that need patching, and DGD has pants and a dress that need seams restitched. I've always dreamed and admired those fancy-dancy machines but never took the plunge and bought one. Always figured I wouldn't use it enough to justify buying it. :) When the kids were small, I made almost everything they wore, even jeans and jackets, but the bigger they got, the less I made. Too busy!

Time for more coffee. later all.

Just stopping by to see what all is going on.

I had a follow up appointment with my Dr...to let me know how my bone scan turned out on my painful feet...DRAT...arthritist!! Now is that fair for a woman that still wants to dance and flit?? So I called Coronado National Monument and placed my self on Temporary Leave....don't know how temporary...I am going to see what my Chripractor/nutritionist says.

If that wasn't enough...I went over into the border town of Naco, Mexico to go to the dentist...he pulled a tooth. Most of the people here that doesn't have any kind of dental insurance goes to Mexico to the Dentist...He is great and had me in and out of that chair faster than I could dread it!! $40.00 to pulll the tooth. Not bad.

Well...now that I have a good excuse to lay down and take a nap...I'll see ya'll later...

Have a great day/....Jo

M5...hehehhe I'm as bad as you are this morning. I didn't get my bed made OR my clothes on until a few minutes before noon! And I couldn't help but laugh at your description of the sewing class. :-D We had the treadle machines too...and WOW! We even got *new* electic models a year or so after I started. (Remember the KNEE controls?! ...I still miss those.) I had a 'stitch/rip/stitch/and repeat kind of teacher too. But all those ripouts really made me conscious of what I'm doing. But I have to confess that I also had an aunt that taught me the same way. I'll never forget 'abusing' the seam-ripper she told me *not* to use...and slitting my blouse right in half when it slipped out of control. :-)

Sarv, that fresh bread sounds perfect right about now. But then there's not really a time when I'd turn it down. :-)

M5...if you need someone to help you eat up those cabbage rolls...I'll be right over! (Yummmmmmy! I also like stuffed Green Peppers.) Oh...and it sounds like you got a pretty good deal on that bread maker.

Hi Kooger! What kind of tubers are you trying to store? I keep my cannas in the coolest part of my basement, probably about 60-65°. Definitely not in the freezing range...and they do *very* well. I've kept my caladiums upstairs in a dark closet this winter. They all look really good and some even have small growth tips showing. (I hope they survive until I can get them into trays to start for spring.)

Ok...ready for this? I really hadn't intended to 'go shopping' this morning. But somehow I hit the Jackson & Perkins site. (tsk tsk tsk shame up on ME!) I had found a little tree that really intrigued me. It grows in full sun to FULL shade, it's hardy to zone 3 and has the most interesting foliage display I've ever heard of.
Just check THIS out!
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/productlink.d2w/report?superitem=20216&sliSearch=20216P
I'm planting 2 of them right outside the window here on the north side of the house. And I'm planting 2 Kiwi vines in the same area. (Here's a link to the Kiwi's
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/productlink.d2w/report?superitem=7577&sliSearch=7577P#7577
This garden area was accidently planted with a pink and white palette. I think this combination should finish the area nicely. (I'm SO excited! :-D)

Well...I feel better now that I've done my 'confession.' hehehe

TTYL
~julie~

I like your Jackson and Perkins choices. You may ship them to me if you decide you don't want them. My BIL in WI planted kiwi beside his deck and had hit go over the whole side of the railing on two sides. Really pretty but you won't get fruit unless you plant a male and female. (That's what he told me.)

In the fruitroom now I have a half-bushel of cannas, a pot of oxalis and a pot of ornithogalum. Those ornith. bloomed all summer and fall. They were still blooming when they froze. I thought of taking them in but read that they should have a dorman period so left them out. I hope they come back. Since dummy me ordered 30 cannas from the co-op, I'll have a lot more to dig up.

We got a bench and arbour on clearance last fall. I'm thinking about putting it in the west corner of the yard (which comes to a point - strange shaped property) and then planting a Silver Lace Vine on the arbour, then putting the cannas on the backside of it, by the street(s) - point, remember? - and then some of the shorter cannas partially in front. Then add a welcome sign because EVERYBODY walks down the 'angle' road because it is not very busy - not one of the main roads in and out of town. Then if people wanna 'set a spell', and rest, they can. There's nothing else on that whole point - used to have 3 trees there before our occupancy. Apple tree got fire blight, another was storm damaged and the last was only a half tree because it was too close to the storm damaged one so FIL took it down too. I've been wanting to do something out there for a few years and after I ordered so many cannas and realized I had no room for them in the garden, this is what I've come up with. Ideas or comments, please?

Gosh, haven't accomplished much today. Gotta go..........

Everyone is so ambitious and I am such a slug!! Well, I did get dressed, and make the bed. LOL and ate lunch. Gotta call my Rxs in for refills and make a luncheon reservation for my golf league. That will likely end up being the rest of my afternoon.

I got turned off by Jackson and Perkins after I ordered a dozen plus one shrub roses a couple years ago. They did well all summer, then frost hit, and I covered them with those styrofoam cones for winter, but only one of the thirteen survived. I called them and asked about the guarantee on them, and was told it was only for three months! If you buy them from a local nursery, you get the nursery's guarantee which can be up to two years. Needless to say, any J&P products will not come directly from them any more. Even the one that survived has not done well. The tree sounds really pretty and it should look great with the other pinks.

I have a japanese maple that we moved from the front yard, after it's sibling died from the cold, and we put it on the south corner below the deck where it is protected from the cold wind and gets plenty of sun. One of the local landscapers said he wondered why anyone bothered to plant them here as they don't handle the zone 5 winters very well. They sure are pretty though.

Jo, check with a podiatrist and see if arch supports would help your feet. I thought it was only my arthritis that was making it painful to walk, only to find out it's my flat dang arches that were giving me the most grief. He measured me for a pricey pair of arch supports that I don't regret getting at all as they have made walking, golfing, etc. painless. The only time my feet bother me now is if I do a lot of walking in a mall or large store, on those cement floors. Guess I'll be spending the rest of my walking days in tennies!

OK gonna get busy now. Day's almost shot already. C'ya'll later

Kooger...you shouldn't have any trouble at all with the cannas. I'd have to say at least 95% of my tubers make it just fine. I end up with a few dried up little pieces, but with the number of tubers I have I sure don't miss them. (I think this fall I put about 2 bushels in storage...AND I ordered about 50 more from the Co-op (WHAT was I thinking? LOL)).

Your idea with the Silver Lace vine sounds terrific! I bought a couple of them last year because the ad said they would grow quickly. Guess what? They DID! And they were absolutely gorgeous. Probably would have been better if I could have decided where I wanted to plant them earlier in the season *before* their roots went through the pot and into the soil. hehehe. I just love the dainty flowers and there's so many of them! (Can I come sit under your arbor? :-) It sounds SO nice!)

M5...hehehehe...you're SO funny! (House work and clothes :-D) Yep! I did my thing, ordered my stuff from J&P (Thanks for the warning...I appreciate that. I probably should have checked the WatchDog, but I *really* wanted those Dwarf willows.) I hesitate to buy roses for my yard...I'm not *that* interested in pampering *anything*. Eric bought me 5 or 6 last spring...I think I have 3 left. I don't think we did all that good at picking out good healthy stock to begin with, then we had a miserable spring and they didn't get planted soon enough. ~sigh~ Oh well...

I would LOVE to have a Japanese maple. There are such wonderful varieties out there. But, alas, they cut off at Z5 and I don't want to push my luck with something that's going to be 'if-y' at best. I might get that new little sumac I've seen in a couple of catalogs. I *know* we can grow SUMAC! :-D But I'll have to tell Eric it's something else. hehehehe We have the wild variety growing all around us. (I think it's beautiful and love that brilliant red in the fall!)

You guys should *rest* for the remainder of the day. (OH...M5...we need to set up a 'reminder' for our RX's I just called all of mine in this morning, too. Whew! What an expensive trip to WalMart. :-D)

Later

~julie~

Jo, here's an interesting tip for arthritis, from a DG'er I met Saturday (GagalinFL).

I'll chip in about the raisin tip for arthritis because I was fascinated and I'm genetically in line for arthritis. Melba got the recipe from the newspaper and she swears by it.

Take 1 pound box of golden raisins and put them in a glass baking dish. Pour 1 pint of gin over them and leave them on the counter (covered) until ALL the gin has been absorbed. Put them in a covered container in the fridge, and eat NINE raisins a day.

Reminded me of Adele Davis' recommeddation in the late 50's-early 60's of 3 raw almonds a day to prevent cancer. Turns out raw almonds contain Laetril (sp?) which fights cancer.

Thanks M5 and Darius...M5...I went to two Poditrist and neither of them told me it was arthritist....finally I told my regular Dr that I thought it was time SOMEONE found out what was wrong with my feet...so he sent me for a scan. One of the Poditrist wanted me to buy the $300.00 inserts...got upset when I didn't.

Darius....I saw your post on the raisins in the Fla RU thread and posted there....2 of us wanted to know if RUM would work...Jo

psst, Jo........... use the rum on raisins for Christmas Fruit Cake.....yummy!... lol

Hello, anybody in the kitchen? Got my cup of tea, slice of bread and a chair by the window.

Saturday and Sunday I was gone all day and overnight, today I helped a neighbor sort cows and calves in a muddy corral. I was the only one on horseback so I was the only one with clean feet at the end of the day...... It is calf weaning time so we put the cows back out in the pasture and fed them, and then brought the calves (7-8 months old) into the next pasture with an electric fence between them. They are used to the electric fence and this system makes it easier on them all because they can all see each other but the calves don't dare try to get a drink of milk through that fence! Every couple of days a new fence will separate them by another 100 feet or so, and in about a week we can move the cows out of sight and the calves won't care. The day was beautiful so during an hour or so break in the action I went riding out in the hills to give the horse a workout.

I bought some potted up hyacinths that are just comming into bloom to put out in the greenhouse, boy does it smell good out there. Gonna remember that for next year and buy some bulbs in the fall. The narcissis are in bloom but aren't fragrant, pooey!

See you later, it's time to go feed the horses.

Some Narcissi do have a fragrance, though. Check out the Plantsfiles for the right ones.

I think I got lucky Jo, I only paid $150 for mine....maybe 'cuz he's in a minimall? LOL About the raisins, even if they don't work, at least you are cheerful!

I'll have to look for that Silver Lace vine, I'd like to grow something along the deck rails to disguise the junk we've got stored underneath it. It sits about 5' off the ground, and DH keeps all kinds of garden stuff under there, mower, carts, spare lumber, etc. I'm going to get some of those sweet potato vines too, one of the suburbs used them in planters and they were gorgeous, purple and chartreuse and dark green, growing like weeds.

Julie I am soooo lucky, I get a mail reminder from my prescription service, otherwise I'd be down to the last pill/capsule/tablet before I thought to call them in. And I get three month's supply each time so it would be easy to forget.

OK off to load the washer, today I am going to do pennance for sitting on my .....chair and finishing that darn book yesterday instead of catching up on housework. Not too much pennance though, don't want to get in the habit and spoil my track record.

ready for coffee, is the pot on? Ready for some breakfast too - this frig looks like Old Mother Hubbard's. Guess I better pick up some food is Sioux Falls this aft. - have to take MIL to doc at 2. Means I better get off my duff and DO something this am. More than I did yesterday - which won't take a lot of effort. Couldn't seem to get going yesterday.

julie - look up Todd_Boland and check out his list of plant entries in PF. I think he has some Jap. Maples and is in z4 or z5. ........Well, I just looked him up and he has over 1,000 entries - don't think you want to look thru all of them, but I did notice that all the jap. maples were in the first 3 or so pages. I clicked on a few and didn't see any colder than z5 but I only checked 10 or so. If you find a z4 one, LMK please. I've been coveting them for a few years. :)

I checked my cannas last night, they look good, except for a few small ones, they look very dry. One of them is my Bengal so I hope it's still alive. Think I'll sprinkle some water on it. Last spring I planted the dried ones too and they came up, about a month after the others. They never had time to bloom but sure got huge tubers. ...Keeping my fingers crossed for my Bengal....

Good morning, oh good, the water is hot and teabags are handy.

Jo, sorry you are having trouble with your feet. I got some of those Dr Scholls arch supports at the drugstore for about $10 and have used them for years. The shoes I wear most of the time each have a pair and if I wear some shoes that don't have them I really feel it. Sure is worth a try I think, and I notice the difference real quickly.

My dahlia tubers probably need misting about now, thanks for the reminder about that. I think I will spray them with the chamomile tea in case there is any fungus lurking. I rinsed the dirt off them and put them on a table in the basement, each one sitting on a bag with a name on it, hopefully the right names although I think maybe I switched 2 of them. The local discount store has cannas already but I don't know where I would put any if I bought them so I just look at the pictures.

Today is going to be pretty and may get up to over 40 like yesterday. Spring is trying to spring but it is way too early as far as the calendar says, but not too early for my gardening itch. Meanwhile, I dream, do a little riding in the warmest part of the day and look at catalogs, putter in my greenhouse and visit DG and other garden places on the web.

This past weekend I did get to poke around at a Home Depot and another big store that had garden sections. I bought a few things but resisted most. When we stopped to see my sister in law she gave me a driftwood planter with a shaggy looking succulent in it. I'll have to get a picture of it. I'm not sure if the plant is hardy so I put it in the greenhouse on the floor for now since our nights are still getting down to about 15 degrees.

Well, I had better get moving, need to get dressed and get the horses fed, make a couple of phone calls and send some email, do laundry and dishes (lazy last night and those are waiting along with the breakfast dishes), then get to town by about 11. It is 7:45 here now so I have time to get quite a lot done. Thanks for the tea, see you later. Oh, and if you are feeling down, count your blessings. Thankfullness puts things in perspective and helps with those down moods.

meezers-the receipe was from my bread machine booklet that came with my machine. There's a cranberry/orange one that sounds yummy too. I'll give that a try!!

Snowing here AGAIN - forecast is for snow everyday this week and colder than normal weather. In two weeks I am starting seeds- no matter what!!! I need something green and fresh

Went and got my hair cut - told the tech that I needed something new and IN (and wanted years taken off my real age) She gave me a 'fluffy' cut - kinda short and you just fluff it up!! We'll we'll see. Seems like no matter what cut I get, when I do it myself it turns out like it has always been. I do need to add some highlights tho = that will be tomorrows job!

Taking my MIL to the hospital for blood work. She is usually such a grump - cross your fingers that she is in a good mood!! I bite my tongue the whole way there and back. It's a wonder it isn't just a bloody stump!!

Time to look in the frig for something for lunch - leftovers I think. Dinner tonight is salmon patties. Got that bagged up new stuff - wondering how it can be really fresh, stuck in a bag....hmmmm

Morning, well it is here on the California side of the country, glad there's coffee still waiting.

I've been packing up ready to leave for Moab and it looks like today will be the much better day for the trip. AS in - it's not raining torrents out there today. Will make for a much more pleasant drive across the state to my friend's place in Parker, Az.

Have gotten rather spoiled by my girl 'Spin while here, always do. Breakfasts out and scones for treats and bookstores. But then there IS all that traffic.

It amazes me, the roads are chockablock full of cars and you feel like every car in the state is on the highway and then ya go by shoppng mall, after mall and THEY're all full of cars too.
?S'pose everybody got on the roads at once?? would they really clog up to a total standstill like in the movie?

How great to hear that the Silver Lace Vine grows fast, as I too plan on getting a coupla them this year - have fences to cover. Will be trying some Autumn Clematis on a section too.

Mary you always sound so energetic, riding your horses, and sorting cows from calves.
Kooger, I'm loking for a Jap Maple that will stand up to 100* plus heat in the summer. LOL ... nothing takes full sun and likes it except sunflowers in Moab's summer.

But then the sun anywhere seems to burn when it touches your skin - and not that long ago it was a pleasure to lie out in it. I'm not even tempted anymore, except in the wind free corner of the house and entry in the winter. heehee. my secret place to enjoy sun.

Jo, sorry your feet hurt, and it's too bad to hafta give up the time at Coronado. Funny to hear someone mention Naco. The year I lived in Bisbee we would run to Naco for vanilla or Kaluha or just for the fun of eating in those front room restaurants.
Bisbee hadn't gone upscale when I was there. Ya'll could by a house for 3to 5 thousand $$s. how things do change. All the poor folk had to move on when money moved in.

DD is reminding me I have travelin' to get to. See ya Thurs morning. ~Blooms

Safe travels, Blooms!!

/;-) TNX

Hi Darius! Good to see you signing in! (Those raisins sound like a *treat* to me...be nice if they would work. My hands are killing me at the moment. I was taking the Celebrex until the heart complication news came out.)

Jo...sorry I missed your post. One of those "didn't look up" moments. LOL
I know what you're talking about with the arthritis. It *hurts* no matter where in your body it decides to go. But really bad in the feet.

Mary, did you happen to see the 'Rebecca's Garden' show on HGTV yesterday morning? She had a great tip about keeping those forced hyacinths from tipping over. She took a piece of 16 gauge wire, pushed it through the flower buds and down all the way through the bulb (sounds like it would hurt!) then snipped the wire barely above the buds. She said it helps support the stem. I think I'll try to remember this tip for next year.

Betty, if I remember correctly (I saw the program several weeks ago) one of the nicest narcissis for fragrance is a little one called "Sweetie"...(maybe it was a jonquil...but it sure looked like something I'd love to have.)

M5...I used to have that 3 month prescription with my insurance, but they raised the prices so much that it was actually cheaper for me to go to Walmart once a month. I think my insurance company was losing money on the deal we had...too bad. hehehe
~ I don't think you could go wrong using a silver lace vine in that location. I know the PF database has some 'warnings' about invasiveness with it, but I'm not worried about that where I have it planted.

Kooger...the coffee pot is ALWAYS on here. Glad you stopped by. I'll check out the entries for Todd_Boland this afternoon. "Lusting" would be my self description when it comes to Japanese Maples. Oh, and about those cannas. I was thinking about trying to start my Bengal in a pot this year. I planted it last year, it grew but not well...and didn't flower. I thought maybe I could could at least get it to sprout before I have to set it out in the elements come spring. Besides, they are supposed to make great container plants.

Mary...your comment about the driftwood planter reminded me that I have a couple of pieces that I could use for my hens & chicks! Thanks for the inspiration! (Hope you get to enjoy a nice long ride this afternoon...it sounds wonderful!)

Sarv...LOL your comment about the MIL is exactly how I feel just *being* around mine! I think it's such a shame that MILs can't be just nice people to be around. (Mine is 'holier than thou' and a BEEEEEitch! Glad she lives in the Chicago area and I'm far enough away that I don't have to see her (OR listen to her more than once a month....shuddddddder!)

Well...I've come to the conclusion that you don't want to go food shooping when you're hungry...and you don't want to browse the plant catalogs or web sites IN FEBRUARY!! :-D I told my husband it's the same principle...and right now I *hungry* for spring...so I bought some more! LOL

Today it was my coleus order at Singing Springs. I bought a *pink* coleus (guess where that one's going!) and gorgeous Sweet Potato vine that doesn't look at all like the Margarite or Blackie. This one is PINK! I think it was called Pink Frost. And I can't wait to get it and grow it big enough to take cuttings. I think my wintering over plant stands are going to full again next year! LOL

I was just about to 'send' this reply...but I decided to refresh the other window so I'd know if I missed anyone.

BLOOMS!!! Hi! If incase you're not on the road yet...I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be mixing (interplanting) some morning glories with my Silver Lce vines this year...I'll bet your clematis would work great too! (Have a SAFE TRIP home!)

Now...I thinnk it's safe to send and not look 'up'. hehehe

~julie~

Hey, thanks for the planting it now idea. I think I'll get that baby Bengal upstairs and into a pot before it gets any drier. I see them in big planters at the greenhouse every year. And they want about $45 for the thing. Yikes!

Speaking of MILs. Mine used to be a soft-spoken, never say a bad word about anyone, lady. Humility was her goal in life. (FIL was lay-minister at a Mennonite/Amish type church.) Truly a lovely lady. Then she became mentally ill. Now she is getting old age complications with it. An afternoon spent with her can be totally wearing. Sometimes I have to be stern with her and tell her she is speaking inappropriately and we don't use those words. Other times I just listen and agree with whatever she says. I used to try to straighten out her mixed up stories but have since learned she doesn't remember anyway. Last week at the doc. she told him at the beginning of the physical that she had 2 strokes, (Not), and then again at the end of the visit. I explained to her that the test she'd had didn't show any strokes, she said, okay, but 1/2 hr. later, she doesn't remember and repeats it. I'm learning, it's just so hard to know the right way to deal with her sometimes. And I'll be old someday too - can't forget that ........ So, it's buck up and get going. Have to leave by 2 pm. :)

OH! I forgot!
I had another encounter with the Pileated woodpecker this morning!

I was sitting here at the computer...I heard something that sounded like a chicken clucking...and all of a sudden something at the window. It was HUGE! I looked out when it flew to the tree...and there it was AGAIN! I think he/she likes us! :-D

~julie~

Kooger...MILs are probably the *most* frustrating creatures in the world. LOL I laugh because I *are* one! :-D

Also, you're welcome for the idea. ;-) I think I'm going to be starting my caladiums in trays this year. Hopefully I'll be able to get a bench into my garden shed. Since I do have limited electrical outlets in there, I'm going to use my heat mats to get that ideal 70° soil temp they need to get started. Then I won't have to wait until July to have full looking containers. (OH I have PINK caladiums too!! WOW! This is going to be a great year! "In the Pink" so to speak...pun intended! LOL)

~julie~

OK line up and get jealous....my DIL gave me a refrigerator magnet that says "I'm so lucky to have you as a Mother-in-law, and even luckier to have you as a friend!! But I am the one who is lucky, she is a dear sweet girl and I told my son if they ever, Heaven forbid, break up, I'm keeping her and dumping him!! My oldest DD's hubby says I'm the best because I don't "mind their business" , conversely, my youngest daughter had two marriages that failed and she thinks I am a flaming Beeeeotch. So, go figure.

Now my MIL, oh dear, there's a story .....told DH fifteen years ago if he wanted Xmas or BD gifts for her he'd better go get them himself, shortly after that I refused to visit her at all because she always managed to insult me within 5 mins of arrival. Out of her eight children he is the cream of the crop, the rest are drunks or worse, and yet she hasn't a good word for him. Not missing much am I??

Gotta run...did my roots, highlighted the rest, and now gonna let somebody cut my hair..........which it desperately needs. See y'all tomorrow

This MIL thing is really funny. I got the old gal to the hospital for a blood test and she was OK - all she talks about is depressing things tho (divorce, death, dying, lack of $$ etc) Even when I change the subject, she goes right back. I find myself rolling my eyes and thinking to myself "wait until I tell my DH"!!

I am a MIL myself and am trying to be a good one - I always bite my tongue and try to never intrude. I have one absolutely wonderful DIL and one that is not so wonderful. (she is a beetcher and complainer in front of me - she must have missed the lesson to paste on a smiley face when people are over!) I feel sorry for my son. But he was such a stinker to raise, that maybe it is payback time LOL LOL

Julie - I want a heat mat - I stick my seeds on the vent of the wood stove and have fried many of them.

blooms - I have a silver lace vine and it has never been invasive for me - But the Japanese Beetles really do a number on it. Last year it was beautiful - we left on vacation for 10 days and when we returned it was a skeleton - nary a leaf left!! It did resprout later in the summer tho.

Jo - I had foot problems too - ended up being plantar fascitis - got inserts and only wear Merrill shoes now - no problems. But man, when they did hurt it was painful!!!! Hard to walk on your knees..

DH just came home all smiles. He works with his brother at a weeder company and they got a big order - phew, no lay off for this month!!! If he can only hold on for 6 more years....

M5 & Sarv...I think our generation of MIL's (that's US in case you didn't know LOL) are much better at knowing how DILs want/need to be treated. I've been the outcast DIL for over 40 years...and still *that* woman thinks it's ALL my fault! The point is that she thinks *I* have kept her son away from her all these years. And you know...she hasn't one time asked herself what SHE is doing wrong. It's a crying shame when a son makes his wife LIE and say he's not home when his mother calls. Sheesh!

M5...I'm with you on the Xmas and BD gifts...but if I didn't buy them, no one would! LOL I tried a couple of times to make DH take HIS turn at lying on the card that goes with the flowers...hehehe...he cheated and had "Happy Birthday (mother's day) from Eric and Julie" put on it...no "love". :-D

Sarv...I remember the same kind of thing going on with DH's job about 5 years ago. Scared spitless that at any time the company would close down our plant. It finally became a reality a year ago...and you know what? Today, I think it was the best thing that could have happened to us. You circumstances are probably much different. I really feel for anyone going through the stress of whether or not the job will hold on long enough to get to retirement. I'm thinking about you...and hoping everything will conitnue on an *UP* momentum.
~oh...and about the heat register...that's a bad idea! :-D Seriously, they say that the best spot (other than a heat mat) is the top of the fridge. I tried it last year with some herbs. The only problem is I believed the packages when they listed the germination time. Mine rotted in the plastic bag because I didn't think I needed to check on them. UH oh! ;-)

~julie~

HI, Just catching up-busy at baking, garden planning etc--Me-now I napped most of yesterday-tired week for me.
Just share bits and pieces- Arnica oil works for my hands (I also have a blend from friend in ID).
Argh-feet- I would try the Dr. Scholls first; we have a Good Feet store here-but haven't used it-so don't know $$ or Quality. I went the poditrist route$$. Taking pressure off the metatarsal helped.
Kooger-sorry to hear that; my foster mom-wonderful lady, took 180 degree turn when she got sick and was in nursing home; it was hard to go and visit-had to realize that Grams had already "left"
Japanese Maple-have some from my sister in NJ-keep them in a protected area-I think that the "Bloodgood" is the hardiest in WI- I have no idea what kind I am growing and I am sure that she doesn't know after all this time.
Vines-the Sweet Autumn Clematis is one of my favorites.
I want a Pink Sweet Potato vine.
Scented narcissus-the Cheerfulness are the strongest scent I have.
Argh-need to feed the pawprint group-will stay in touch
Baking tomorrow anyone!!!??

My DGS....10 year old Andrew....will be coming over to spend the night with me. His Mom has to leave early in the morning for a seminar in Tucson...and Dad leaves for work early.....so G'ma gets to have him over night and get him to school in the morning. We enjoy each others company. I plan Sloppy Joe's for our dinner...he likes that.

I haven't felt well all day...I think it is the antibiotic I am taking....I think I'll leave it off tonight.

My grown grandson...and the father of my beautiful DGGD came over and installed a phone in the extra bed room today....I enjoyed his company and he enjoyed my perked coffee.....LOL

I have been very lucky in my MIL's...have had 2 and both were wonderful. I wish they were still with us.

Jo

kooger, when I read your last post, at first I thought you were talking about a real tiger, lol.
It got unexpectedly into the 70s today. My spousal unit had just bought some lumber and went to work on the deck extension. However, tomorrow evening, we are scheduled for rain, sleet, and maybe even snow. It's been a weird winter....
I actually slept the night through last night. So today I had lots of energy and overdid it. I worked this morning, spent the afternoon in archives answering calls, questions, directing other volunteers, etc. Came home and dug out the stumps from last years brugmansias. Now I'm sore and tired and hope to heck I can sleep again tonight. My life revolves around insomnia.

Hi, GOB's! Just getting online after a loooong day of shopping then more clean-up in the garage. We managed to spend nearly $1,000 today... pre-hung doors, stove, soffit material and fascia, and a zillion receptacles and switches so I can change them out, plus more tools that I also have at home and didn't bring. Sigh.

Stove gets delivered tomorrow, but late in the day so maybe Thursday to have a working stove. Yea! But we forgot to order a cord. Why don't new stoves come with a cord?

Have to say I really miss participating fully in this coffee klatck, but may be home in 2-3 more weeks. Please bear with me?

Meant to add that I had a hard time loading this thread...

While lurking at different threads and enjoying a glass of milk with one of your biscotti, Darius, I discovered where you are hiding out!Can see how busy you are, just take care hoping you are doing ok
Maria

We'll take whatever time you have, friend! (and it's loading slow for me too. ) Life always intrudes when we least expect it. Did you take your camera along? When you get done you'll have to grace us with a few pics to admire the final result!!

Pretty good aft. with MIL. Only told me where a few people lived on the way, except every farm, like some days. And two, this is where so-and-so died. I asked her awhile ago if she remembered that she told me 'that' ('that' being whatever story she is repeating at the present time) an hour ago and yesterday and the day before too. She was totally surprised and asked me if I was sure. Yup! But it confirmed to me that she's just not able to remember what she's said even half an hour ago. So I just say, 'Uh-huh" and "that's right" etc. That doesn't upset her either. Other than sitting in her chair all the time, she's pretty stable. Can't get her to walk(exercise), a bit of the side effect of her anti-psychotic - lethargy. Even stopped to get a few things for her. I take the cart and have her hold the side and that way she stays with me. She gets lost otherwise. It's happened.

ws - I had to go back to read what I wrote and then got a big laugh too - glad I didn't have my mouth full! No 'kitties' in pots here! lol

nite all

Marcia G...I LOVE your style! Great way to answer all of us at once! (Way to go, girl! ;-)) I'll have to check out that 'Bloodgood' JM...and *IF* I can get my SP vine growing, I'll make you a cutting...I still owe you and maybe that would ease *my* concious. hehehehe

Jo...you're such a sweetie. Sounds like you have your time with your little visitor all planned out. I got a call from my DIL this evening to babysit with my youngest GD and I started shaking at the thought. For me, it's much better if they visit with their parents at age 16 mons...I'm not in any shape to try to keep with her. LOL (Luckily, I don't have to worry...plans changed. whew! :-D) Sure hope you're feeling better soon.
:-O You PERK coffee? Ohhhhhh that SMELLS fabulous!

Betty, your husband sounds a lot like mine...give him a pretty day and he has a hammer in his hand. LOL (I'm just glad my DH is now living in a "finished" house...otherwise, the winter would have been filled with plaster dust. (After all that yard work, I'm betting you DO sleep well tonight...at least I'm thinking GOOD night thoughts for you.)

Darius...it's SO good to see you stopping in. It doesn't matter if it's just for a minute. You talking about all those building supplies and new appliances makes me *almost* miss those bygone days of Menard's and HD. :-D But not really all that much. hehehe I'm glad everything is going well for you right now. Are you feeling "ok"? I know you must be working your behind off, but it sure sounds like you're enjoying it.

We have a new thread...I was having trouble downloading this one too. I just can't close the door...I love having all you great GOB's and apprentices visiting.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/487079/

Let's fill up another "GOB Gab session!" LOL

~julie~