We've been planning this party on the thread where I had to apologetically announce its postponement... I decided it needed an official thread of its own!
NEW PLAN FOR THE PARTY -- same date, change of location!
Please see this thread, http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/814246/
Post or click "watch thread" to be sure you see any updates. Thanks!
This message was edited Feb 16, 2008 7:18 PM
I thought it might be more confusing rather than less if I deleted all the information below... however,
please note that the details below no longer apply.
We have switched to a "Plan B" for this event. Please click on the link in the above post for details!
This gathering is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2008, starting around 1. Although it's billed as a seed swap, the primary purpose is just to give us a chance to meet and visit with each other. Nobody is required to bring anything other than themselves!
I'll host this gathering at my home in Frederick. Please post on this thread if you think you can come.
I'll be Dmailing directions to everybody during the week before the party, so please make sure your name is on the list below if you're interested in coming.
All DG subscribers are invited, whether they live in the MidAtlantic region or elsewhere. Spouses are welcome! So far, it doesn't look like anybody is bringing kids... if that changes, please let me know.
Due to some recent limitations, I've had to simplify the party plans a bit. I appreciate the way people stepped up to offer extra help -- thanks!
We'll start at 1 and have tea party refreshments. I'll put out a few things, and some people are bringing sweet treats to share. It's not necessary to bring something, but you're welcome to do so if you like. Let's stick to finger foods, for simplicity. If you want something to drink other than coffee or tea (I'll have both regular and decaff versions) or water, please bring it with you. That way, I won't have to guess at what kind of diet/caffeine free/cola/etc. everybody might prefer.
If you are available to come up earlier, you might consider a pre-party expedition to Dutch Plant Farms, a local nursery with a large (indoor) selection of houseplants and tropicals. There are some good local options for brunch/lunch, also. True plantaholics might want to allow more than an hour to browse through that nursery... they usually have a nice selection of containers too, and I think the truck may be back from FL by then with the new shipment of tropicals.
If you want to swap seeds or even houseplants, you can just bring them, or you can pre-arrange swaps. Look for the "SWAP" thread for more information.
I didn't specify an end time for the party because people are welcome to stay and visit a while. I'd rather have the gathering find it's own conclusion than rush people out the door at some arbitrary time. We'll play it by ear.
Parking didn't become an issue at the fall plant swap, but if we end up with more cars than will fit on the cul-de-sac, we can park at the nearby community center.
Please check for updates on this post and the ones just below -- I will be editing as needed.
Thanks, and I'll hope to see you on the 23rd!
This message was edited Feb 16, 2008 7:25 PM
potential party-goers:
Chantell
Bec_No_Va (Becky)
Happy_Macomb
rcn48 (Debbie)
doccat & DH
HollyAnn
SallyG
Gitagal
Miatablu & DH (Bobbie & Rick)
Nutmegnana
Buttoneer
FoxnFirefly (maybe)
JennGroves & Janice (mother)
Shirley1MD
VA_Wild_Rose
noobiegardener (maybe)
jsxtiger (maybe)
Claypa (maybe)
Felicia & Jim (my DH's parents -- hopefully will join us from NC!)
Theresa (my friend), hopefully also her parents (trying to make her mom an "official" DGer)
pj617 (Patti)
rvnsbrk (Juanita)
This message was edited Feb 7, 2008 4:44 PM
Tea Party Menu (subject to change, LOL)
Savories:
sorry, but I needed to simplify the plan... we're not doing sandwiches, just sweet treats to accompany afternoon "tea"
Sweets: (many people mentioned bringing a treat, this is just a sampling of specifics that were mentioned)
Creme de menthe brownies (Nutmegnana)
Lemon poppyseed muffins (Sally)
Biscuits (Becky) and Lemon Curd (Critter, from Trader Joe's)
Banana Bread (Doccat)
Cheesecake bites (Jenn)
Beverages:
coffee, regular & decaff
tea, regular & decaff
BYO for cold beverages other than water, although you're welcome to "forage"
Please let me know (Dmail is fine) if you have dietary restrictions, like dairy or nut allergies that I should be aware of. I'll make sure there's at least one thing you can eat, and I'll ask people to label goodies containing nuts, or whatever. I don't have a kosher kitchen, but I can manage to make a sandwich that doesn't involve ham, or meat + dairy, and I can put it on a paper plate... I know it can be awkward because you don't want to make a big deal out of what you can't eat, but I'd feel more awkward if I realized somebody came and couldn't eat a single thing because of a gluten intolerance.
This message was edited Feb 9, 2008 8:30 AM
This message was edited Feb 15, 2008 11:33 AM
You are such a gracious host, Jill. As stated previously - I'll be there.
Yeah, yeah - what she said :-)
Me too, but I'll arrive on the late side.
Good lord, I almost never post this early in the morning thinking people will think I'm nuts for being up so early! Seeing other NUTS have already posted - I'll be there! LOL
Tihi - who says I was up early? Haven't gone to bed yet! :-)
I'm soooooooooo excited, I can hardly wait. This will be our first RU!!
I'll be there looking forward to seeing some new faces. Not sure about Ric. I'll let you know.
I will be there--coming with Sally. I hope Jenn joins us too. She lives in Glen Burnie not far from Sally or me.
We are getting snow today. They are saying 1-3". The sky is all gray......
Gita
Wow... I was just thinking that I should post a list of the people who'd already said (on the other thread) they'd probably be there... and most of you have already found this thread and posted again! :-)
What a wonderful, enthusiastic bunch! I'm just so excited about seeing everybody. Hooray!
Jenn? That sounds like a name I should know, but I confess I know most folks here by their DG names rather than by their "real" names...
(and if anybody's wondering, I go by "Critter" more often than not!)
Jill,
Jenn and I just posted on the "old" Thread, or--maybe it was on the Mid-Atlantic Roll Call Thread. Her DG name is JennGroves.
Gita
Thanks, Gita! I hope she'll be able to join us!
I would love to come... I think I can take my daughter to dance and still be there on time. I do not have any seeds to swap though... Sorry about that...
Jenn
What are you all doing staying up all night????? Can you believe the number of after midnight posting on one thread???
Yes, planning on itt.
Jenn- we are more than happy to overwhelm you with free seeds and stuff.
Wonderful, Jenn! And I hope that doesn't mean you won't take seeds... I really need to give away some of the extras in my stash! I got some extra goodies for y'all in Suzy's cottage garden swap, too. I'm not swearing that I won't take *any* seeds in return (you know me better than that... and if Jax does make it, she knows I've already got my eye on a spare banana seed, LOL), but I'm pretty well supplied.
I'll still be ordering seeds, though... in addition to a swap thread, I should probably figure out where I'm ordering from and see if anybody wants to order with me to save shipping or split packets. We could do a mini co-op. There are some seeds I have to buy each year... like my favorite sweet peppers, hybrids Carmen & Gypsy.
I'll add you to the list later, Jenn... I've been busy elsewhere, too, and I think I'm about at my edit limit for the past 24 hours! LOL
I have an order for seeds which will be too many for me, but there are somethings I want to try to grow. If I get those in time I will bring some of them. I hate coming empty handed..
I can offer this fall is someone wants my grapes they can have them because I dunno what to do with them!
Critter, Ric and I discussed the winter storage of Bananas. "Big Sigh" I can only take Dwarf or Hardy Bananas for now. If you find any interesting or a particularly good deals let me know. I"m not sure what I will have to bring to swap. But will take some charity seeds, esp mints for Ric. LOL
Holly, you don't want mint seeds... divisions of named varieties are better. Wait until spring, and when my pots come back I'll fix him up with some neat ones. (I'm assuming he got 'Chocolate Mint' and 'Kentucky Colonel' Spearmint from me before.)
OK, we definitely need a swap thread so we can concentrate on other party details here...
Go here to talk about seeds and plants: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/805114/
:-)
Darn! I checked my date book and I'm all set on 2/23 for Green Spring Garden's EcoSavvy Conference thing. I was all looking forward to meeting my fellow DGers! Oh well, hope to see many of you on 1/26 at the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange* - I'm signed up for that and busily sorting my seeds this weekend.
*http://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/WG-SE2008.pdf
Amy, I'm sorry you won't be able to join us! Well, one thing I've learned is that there's no such thing as a date that works for everybody with no schedule conflicts... and the conference does sound pretty cool... but you know our refreshments will be better, LOL!
Critter - LOL - well, hope to see you all at something I'm filling up my weekends with as many local garden events as I can find.
Would you all mind if my Mother, Janice, came to this also. She lives in Alexandria, VA and I am trying to get her to join this site. She is a little shy with the posting thing...
Jenn
Your mother would be more than welcome!
If anybody wants to bring a friend, sister, etc. who would like to check out this DG "thing" and spend an afternoon talking plants, that's fine... If they're not a member before they come, I'll bet our friendly group can convince them in no time that they need a little DG in their lives!
Janice, in case you're lurking, the only way to get over hesitation about posting is just to jump in... it's really weird at first to be writing along, having conversations with people you've never met, but it'll seem more "natural" as you go along. I hope you'll be able to make it to our gathering next month, because being able to put some faces to the names will make this all the more fun, also!
Critter: Thank you sooo much for your very gracious hospitality! I have this swap penciled in on my calendar & I hope to be there. I'll see if any other DG'ers from my area want to "hitch a ride with me".
I get to meet Shirley finally!!!! Yipeeee!
Hey Jill re "If anybody wants to bring a friend, sister, etc. who would like to check out this DG "thing" - ummm, maybe you could add single avail men to that list eh? LOL
This message was edited Jan 18, 2008 1:25 PM
Chantell: You took the words out of my mouth. SHIRLEY: I'm so glad you're coming! It'll be great to meet.
We're certainly willing to truck pool too if somebody wants a ride. The Ford is a 4 seater. Just d-mail me. I've got in inked in on my calendar and very excited about meeting all of you! :)
I may just have to leave French class early. This is really looking like the happening event of the season. Wrightie, you gotta rethink your plans! And Miatablu, don't you think your friend could call off the wedding?
I'm with them, I can't wait to meet you Shirley! You were among the first who gave me a warm welcome on the welcome mat forum. Can't wait to pick your brains about clematis :-).
Happy, believe me I know how you hate to miss any of your French class, but I'd love to get just a little time to get to see ya! And trust me, if we can find any plausible excuse to get out of this wedding, we'll take it. Any suggestions or wedding crashers anyone? Ya'll can turn the reception into a seed swap! And if you can persuade Wrightie, Happy, that'd be fantastic! With all the good stuff to eat, and when you two together, it's like getting dinner and a show :-)
And I'm also looking forward to meeting the new member's too! I remember the thread that was discussing Hart's roundup last year. It started long before I became a member and I thought to myself how well these people seem to know each other. Then it started to look like so much fun I thought I'd definetely be missing out on a lot of fun if I didn't go. And how right I was!
miatablu- and here I thought I was the newbie at hart's swap
you can help me with my italian pronunciation
If you'd truly rather not go to the wedding, do you really need an excuse? It's still far enough ahead of time that the cancellation shouldn't be an issue for the caterer, etc (I think). How about, "I'm sorry, but an event we previously committed to was rescheduled, and I'm afraid we're just not going to be able to make it after all." or just "I'm really sorry, but something has come up, and we're just not going to be able to make it on the 23rd." Of course, all that depends on whose wedding this is... you can bail on the wedding of an acquaintance or second cousin or coworker with a non-excuse, but you can't duck out on a good friend or close family member. But if this was somebody close to you, you probably wouldn't be looking for a reason.
Certamente! (cher-ta-men-teh) the "ch" as in "church" not Cher
now, see, I already wanted to say- sehr-ten-mahn- cuz I took french!!
Agree with critter. You can also send the gift and apologize for not being able to participate, but express how you would love to see the wedding pictures at some future date.
It's a close friend's new step-daughter. You can see how mixed up that is. On one hand barely know the girl, on the other, can't let friend down who is counting on us to sit at his mother's table because she won't know many people either. And she's such a sweety, I'd feel like a heel thinking of her all by her lonesome.
Sally, knowing french is probably better than knowing spanish. Too many people remember too much of spanish from when they were young because the language is very similar.
