Gina - I HATE MY BIRTHDAY...REALLY. When I was in school all the little girls and even my sister had their Birthday parties in April, May, June,and etc. I never ever had a Birthday party. We were always out of school because of the Christmas Holidays and who was going to come to a little girls birthday party on Christmas Eve? Then there's the gift part - you get one gift and these words - This is for Christmas AND your Birthday too.

I had some co-workers that knew I did not like my Birthday and they told me they would celebrate another day of the year for my Birthday. Of course I chose a day in May (my favorite month).

Shirley

Thank You, Thank You Secret Pal! I got my box just in time to cheer me up for the snowy weekend! As the snow was falling I opened my box to find lots of great goodies. I had lots of bees in this box, but they were all tame and none flew out at me. On a box inside the box I found the words "Caution busy bees working inside". I carefully opened it to find a pretty pot with bees painted on it, a bumblebee bird feeder, a pen with a wobbly bee on top, a dancing bee toy (which seems to have disappeared, probably into my 5 y/o room) and the cutest little jar of honey. Packed around the box were onion sets (which I hope to plant out today), a beautiful Dahlia, 4 packs of seeds (I'd like to start the lettuce outside today too) and a very sweet card. If I have missed anthing it is because the kids have been having a ball with all the fun bee stuff!

What a fun and creative package- Pal you are the best!

I am going to go back and catch up on all of the chatting that has been going on here for the last few days! Even though I don't jump in and talk much, I read everything and think of you all as my friends! :-)

April

wow gina, you are on the ball! are you our official birthday keeper?

shirley, my brother's birthday falls right after christmas, so i can somewhat relate to what you are saying, having seen him get the short end of the stick sometimes as well. half birthdays are good for those who fall into the "holiday birthday" category.

my condolences to those in the midwest with the snow storm that hit. just when you thought it was safe enought to sow some seeds outdoors, mother nature comes a knocking. weather is so messed up everywhere. we normally have an entire april full of rain, but not so far. i guess may will be our rainy month. heck, seasons have been off in the last so many years that it's hard to recognize seasons anymore. i blame it on all that stuff up in space.

in any event, i've said it before, i'll say it again. this is a really fine group of participants, always so uplifting and positive. always so welcoming :)

wow, may is just a week away.

Actually, my birthday is August 14th and not the 24th. Not that it matters.....I think I'm getting to old to celebrate them now. Have a big one coming up in a couple years.
Theresa

Hi, Everyone -
We had a pretty cool and windy weekend, so I am happy to see that it didn't drop below freezing at night. I have to let all of you know that I have some rose cuttings that I have been trying to root and when I looked today, several had rooted! I am really excited about it because I have been trying to root roses for at least two years and have only had one survive so far - most of the time they don't even develop roots. I hope I can keep them going!
As for my little red bud tree that came up from a seed, it didn't make it. I am not sure if the nasty weather got it or I wantered it a little too much trying to keep in going.
Have a good week.
Sandlapper Rose

I found this (link) on the cottage forum, with photo tutorial on using Photobucket to get photos posted on Garden Web.

I will add that FIRST you have to upload said photos to your PC- that process will vary with your camera. I find it useful to save each one with a name you can remember, a specific flower or garden- whatever. If you leave them labelled as they come off your upload it is time consuming to find out which 'spring photo 003' and 'spring photo 004' really depict. You can upload them all at once, just use the "SAVE AS" feature and rename them individually there. (That process also might vary depending on your camera/software.)
Once you have them in a photobucket album, you can edit: add notes to each photo, name it, decrease size.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Also~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can grab any photo online and get it posted (watch out for copyrights) by using this method:

Here is a little something just for demonstrating. I snagged this from the internet by right clicking on the photo/image, select PROPERTIES, highlight the entire URL(http:), right click and copy the entire URL, and right click to paste it into this formula

*img src=paste url here*
substitute at the very end for the *'s VOILA this happens!

Here is a link that might be useful: How to post a picture

Argh... went to the local garden center today. I always go to look for unusual cacti, succulents, passi's etc. Well, today I happen to pass the bulb display with the big 50% off sign and lots of dalias. I ended up picking up several and now I'm wondering where I'm going to put them all. It's all your ladies fault.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-).

Hi,

Good news and bad news. The bad news is that we had a drop from the circle.....please send your thoughts and prayers to his pal, who for her privacy I shall refrain from mentioning by name, I think she must be ill, it is a shame that she has strayed so far from the rules that I had no choice but to give poor Paul a new pal......so the good news is......A NEW SECRET PAL FOR PAUL!!!!!!!

Three cheers for Paul for being such a good sport, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!

YaYa

Three Cheers for Patience-of-a-Saint Paul and a farewell with wishes for wellness to the Pal.

So, PChang, exactly what colors/varieties of dahlias did you get? Hmmm? Inquiring minds want to know!

Brittneysgran/Shirley, I can sure understand why you wouldn't like your birth Date. My mom said that when she was growing up she said she never wanted to have a baby anywhere near Christmas... 11mos after mom and dad married (1/21/48), she delivered my brother on her B-Day=Christmas Eve : : My Bday is in Feb and it was closer than I'd of liked to Christmas. When I was growing up we had lots of snow and I didn't get to have parties then as people might not be able to make it to our place in the country. : ( I always thought it would be nice to have a baby in May-July (especially around June 25 = 6 mos before/after CMAS) well our youngest/last DS, who was a surprise, came on June 28, 2002 so I was pretty close to that 25th date. : )

DustyDigger and TheGardenAngel... come on won't you share your day with us ; ) pretty pwwease, with sugar and cream??!!??

EarthlyDelights, All the credit for the bday list should go to Shirley as she came up with the list, I just copied it and put it here to check if I had everyone and to remind everyone else : ) So, I believe Shirley should have the title of "Official Birthday List Keeper" Thanks Shirley!!

Theresa24, sorry about having the wrong date, we probably mixed it up with the "24" after your name, oops "HEY, PALS, Now Hear/Read This: *** THERESA24's BIRTHDAY IS AUGUST 14th ----NOT the 24th, Please make a note of it : )!!! thank you... that is all" ***

April, YaYa, anyone else with colder temps... did you lose any plants to the temps in the 30s and below in some areas?

Paul, thanks again for the cards. They're really neat! DSs like the panda and hummingbird cards the best ;~) They want it to warm up again so maybe "our" hummers will return this year, so we can enjoy their antics and amazing zooming around.

WOW, just thinking about the hummers reminds me of how God is soo cool and THE Greatest artist and creator to come up with hummingbirds, bees, & butterflies! They are useful, neat to watch, and amazing with how they fly, defeating what man thinks is possible. 8D

We were supoosed to get a freeze here 2 nights ago, but it didn't get that cold thank goodness, but I brought in many flats of plants I was hardening off anyway. It is still really cold though, lows in the 30's and 40's, and cold to go out on my site visits.

As hubby has been taking it easy he has re-discovered an old pastime......video games.......he is having fun.

We had chinese take out for dinner tonight. I have a special set of stoneware that was given to me by a friend of the family when she passed away that is a hand painted bamboo pattern. I only use it for chinese take out....it always makes it seem like a really special meal. It is kind of an odd set, like 3 bowls and 2 platters and 3 cups and saucers, etc.....but such a neat pattern. Since there are only two of us there are enough plates for us to use (or 3 of us if we have his buddy over) Just a little flylady type thing....I had never used them, so decided they needed to come out and have a reason for being in my house. It is always a surprise how neat it is to eat from them and it makes a nice memory/tradition.

YaYa

Hi
I just wanted to post my package went out late this month. I also want to thank my secret pal for the special package. One thing is it is ok if it is late due to you haven't had time to write.....I look forward to your letters more than the gifts!! I just wanted to make that clear. Ok with that being said I thank you for the card, gloves and seeds!! You are a super pal and I enjoy your packages so much!! I missed the long letter this month so catch me up next month!! OK?

In response to the late question......there are quite a few people who have been sending after the deadline......let's remember our original rules and please get your things out early next month......It is much more difficult for me to keep track of all the late senders than it would be if you would just get those gifts out on time. You not only send on time for your pal's bennifit, but for mine also.

Thanks,

YaYa

Sorry Pooch, there were no pictures there for me to see.
I did it this way: I went to
http//tinypic.com
This is part of photo bucket. Then I selected the picture from my own photos on my hard drive and hit the 'host it' button.
Then I copied the TAG
Then I posted a message and pasted that tag into the message so the picture would appear within the message.
That link to tinypic is only there for a short time. After it has expired there will be the dreaded 'X' box in the message.

Hi Lilylouise,
What is that cute little bloomer of yours? Tinypic sounds easy, but if it only lasts a short time, then I'd stick with photobucket which lasts forever and is also easy.

No photo-- I didn't post any photo, I posted 3 gardenweb leaves that start out each post, just as an example of using that Properties/copy URL etc formula.

Time for me to get outside and get dirty. Yippee!

Welll duh. I thought you meant to put a photo in your post Sorry. (boy I really hate being six O!!!!!) I just found out on the 'name that plant forum' that the plant in the picture is a member of the Borage family. It blooms in early spring and then grows huge leaves. However, i think Borage gets very tall while this one stays low and spreads. I love the combination of blue/ violet on the same plant, don't you?

I never have time to post much, but I just wanted to say I enjoy reading all of your news-y posts! This is such a nice group, and I am thrilled to be part of it.

Thanks for the birthday list - that is such a big help. And Paul, sorry about your pal, hope she is okay. But also glad that you will have a new secret friend! And thanks to Poochella for posting instructions on photos. It seems so complicated until you actually do it.

Everybody try to stay warm. Happy springtime!

Hello everyone. Dahlias... I got "Friquolet" fringed cactus dahlia - mostly red with white dips, "Caribbean Fantasy" decorative dahlia - mostly white with slight yellow and red streaks, and "Fire and Ice" peony flowering dahlia - white with red edged petals and yellow center. I would've got more, but I should make sure I can grow them :-).

Yeah... I'm very sorry about my secret pal. The two packages I did receive were wonderful. I hope she can recover and join in the fun next year.

And to my new pal... I'm really looking forward to getting to know you.

Thanks, Paul

I found this volunteer while weeding the garden. Could be a weed, but the flower sure is pretty. It's about the size of a dime. Anyone know what this is?

{{gwi:1262450}}

Hi Paul, that little beauty is a viola. Don't you just love it? It's in the same family as pansies and if it's wild you are very lucky. I don't have a name for you but you can do a google and look at some to see if you can find it. I hope you find lots more of them if they aren't invasive there like the common blue violets are here. I'm also glad you got a new pal and wish your other one well.

I sent after the deadline this time. I'm really sorry I absolutely forgot that we had a deadline. I'll do better, I promise.

YaYa, be careful, if your DH gets too hooked on those video games he may start spending your garden budget on them. It's nice that he's found something fun to do to keep him busy and not get him tired. I was joking about your DH but you wouldn't believe the young women I work with that say theirs spends his entire paycheck on games. I guess it's better than at the bar but not much. lol

I took the day off and met a friend for lunch then went to Little Rock to the doctor and on the way home I stopped by Sam's. It was a nice day and my friend and I planned to go to the iris farm and pick out some irises and then in June to the daylily farm to see what they have. I've been looking everywhere for a 45 mile radius for daylilies and noboby has anything but Stella and one or two more kinds that everyone already has. I guess I'll end up ordering by mail so I'll have some to trade on the daylily RR. I have over 50 but they're all pretty common and nearly everyone has them. Do any of you besides Shirley collect daylilies?

Nancy

Thank you Garden Circle buddy for my April package. It arrived today. I really wasn't expecting an April package after you sent two March packages (St. Patty's Day and my birthday) and arranged for all those birthday cards to be sent to me.
Things have been busy here, but that's not really new! Anyway, here is what I received (all in a pretty gift bag with flowers and a butterfly) - apples, Hershey Kisses (yum), special treats for my dog, a few cat toys, a Golden Retriver note pad and pencil (magnetic), a cute little book, a pretty note with a gardening theme on the front, and an umbrella ("April Showers") - sure can use an umbrella here on lots of Spring and Summer days so it will get used.
Thanks again, Garden Pal. Your package was wonderful as usual. I been dealing with lots of dental pain for quite awhile now so it improved my "attitude" today as well.

Sandlapper Rose

Sandlapper Rose - Add me to that list of dental pain.
I had a tooth die and the dentist did a root canal yesterday. He gave me a prescription for some pain medicine, said I might need them. Wow did I ever. I left work couldn't take the pain any longer and started taking the pain medicine once I got home. The directions said take two every 4 to 6 hours. So I did, all night.
I got up when the alarm went off this morning and could not even stand up. Called work and told them they would not see me today. I could not stand or sit up without getting deathly sick. Just laid around until 2:00 this afternoon. I now feel much better but I have never had pain medicine do me that way.

ilsonshine-I almost had my daughter on Christmas also. Her Birthday is January 6th. Wow was I sweating that one.
I may change my Birthday to a day in May. LOL

My yard has come alive in the last two weeks. I have flowers blooming everywhere. I LOVE SPRINGTIME.

Shirley

Nancy,
It is a viola. I did a Yahoo search, and after pages and pages of string instruments and orchestra information, I got to a viola flower picture page and found it to be a Viola tricolor. I don't know where it came from, but I hope it'll spread. Sure is purty.

Thanks, Paul

Shirley, I'd call the dentist and tell him what the med did to you, there are plenty of alternatives out there. Maybe tell your regular doctor to put it on your "allergy list" too. No sense suffering. I have hated root canals since I met the new endodontist and casually asked him how he was doing.
"I do very well thank you." $1300 dollars later I had to agree.

A funny dental story if there can be such a thing about no laughing matter:

My sister had some nasty periodontal surgery, her first ever. The doctor prescribed both penicillin and a pain medicine. She went home to recover and rest taking shelter in an upstairs bedroom.
Her husband was in charge of the household: 3 young kids, pets, food etc and running up to check on her well being. He was kind enough to bring her two pain pills as her mouth was very sore as the anesthetic wore off through the day. Despite them, she was only able to doze fitfully and asked for two more pills. Hours later, vowing she would never have dental surgery again, two more pain pills and still she spent a miserable night, tossing and turning til she begged her hubby to get two more pain pills. He obliged. Well, late the next day she went downstairs to try to be human despite a very sore mouth and lack of any sleep whatsoever.

There on the kitchen window sat her nearly empty bottle of penicillin and a very full bottle of pain medicine! The DH hadn't read the labels beyond a cursory glance and was giving her two penicillin instead of the pain pills the whole time. Their marriage hasn't been the same since. But her gums have been fine. So the moral of this story is READ THE LABEL!

Sandlapper and Shirley I hope you get over your dental pains very soon- they really are no laughing matter. Keep your own medicine bottles with you--trust NO ONE but yourself with them!

PChang, I probably sent you the viola seed in your box! LOL on the orchestra instruments. Those search engines can be too efficient sometimes. Violas spring up here every once in a while, yards apart. I think they look like Mickey Mouse ears, and pretty ones at that. They are always participants in my front porch planters where I can see them from the kitchen sink and occasionally sing M-I-C....K-E-Y......

As a matter of curiosity, at about what size and weight would you say 'Woofy' would tip the scales, if Woofy were to tip scales at any point in his little adopted life? Can you guess or give me a ballpark? It is vitally important that I know, kind of.

Paul, Those are one of my all time favorites.. They will reseed well.Mine have been coming back for years..Sure sign of Spring..

YaYa, thanks for the reminder, I am also guilty of sending late this month. Sorry Pal, I'll be better next month - promise!

I love those violas, I planted some two years ago in a container, and I get a few volunteers every year in unusual places. Will have to try and dig them up and move them somewhere else. The container was in the back of the house and I have them pop up in the front yard. They also pop up in the cracks of my driveway!

Can y'all believe April is almost over??? And you Christmas babies who want to have your birthdays in May? From a May baby, welcome to our month - it's a great month to celebrate a birthday!

STOP!!! talking about dental pain! I'm getting ready to have overlays on 6 front teeth all caused by acid eating away at the enamal from eating lemons. If any of you eat lemons heed my advice, don't. Shirley, I too am allergic to the pain meds the dentist used to give me and would get deathly ill. It was the codiene and it's on my chart as an allergy. Since I've found that out I have had other pain meds without problems so do what Poochella says and let him know. Did you get my email about the irises?

I just went to the nursery and bought some annuals. I got red and blue salvias, marigolds and two different coleus. Now to plant them, oh my aching back! I've been planting forever it seems but I can't wait to see the results and I know my gardens can't begin to compare to some of yours but maybe someday.... We got a good rain last night and boy was I glad, I was fixin' to start watering and didn't want to this early. It's supposed to rain again tonight and tomorrow too.

Rhonda, your violas are gorgeous! I have wild Johnny Jump-Ups and love them but they aren't as vibrant as those.

Take care all,

Nancy

Wow, Ronda. That is absolutely stunning. I hope my little viola keeps growing and spreading. I think I'll thin out some of the ground cover to give it some room to grow.

Pooch, Wooffy says hello. He is about 21 pounds (give or take a few) and stand at about 12 inches to his back. A handsome boy if I do say so myself.

{{gwi:1262454}}

Oh my goodness! Your Woofy looks just like my little dog Venus. I got to your post and thought, hey, how did someone get a picture of Venus on there! lol. I wish I knew how to post pictures. Maybe I'll just email it to you and you can post it if you get a chance. Either way, you'll have to see how much they look alike! Venus weighs about 42 pounds though, so she's a bit bigger. She just had surgery last week, but is just about back to her old self now. She's really getting used to being pampered though. lol. So did you get Woofy in Ohio by any chance about 7 years ago? Maybe they are litter mates! :) Teresa

A happy thanks to my pal for the nice card and seeds. They arrived yesterday and I love those seeds. What a beautiful cottage garden assortment.
The return addy said "Secret Pal" but I think It belongs here. Redardless, I do hope you find my thank you note. The secret pal swap that I was in has ended and this is the only ongoing swap I'm still doing. So, PAL who ever you are I thank you for the fun you bring to my mailbox and the beauty you send to my garden.

Thanks Paul. Woofy is indeed a handsome lad. I read once how many facial muscles a dog has to move their eyebrows. Those light eyebrows he has will certainly highlight many wonderful expressions. Hopefully, not shameful looks after he has dug up your dahlias LOL! Don't use bonemeal. Dogs love it.

Nancy STOP eating lemons! The very thought of it gives me pure pucker power. But I bet you never lack for Vitamin C though. Hope the overlays go well and with minimal discomfort.

I found tall snapdragon seeds stashed away in the kitchen just now. They should have been sowed weeks ago, but I will still give them a whirl. I am the world's worst winter sower- of about 15 varieties of seeds I have sown, only three produced signs of life, but I do have a nice collection of algae in the other containers. Maybe next year.... Ya Ya your cleome is one of the survivors! Thank you very much.

Lil T, I thought that was Venus at first too! lol
Everyone is getting great stuff! Paul, I'm working on your plants today... taking the day off to work in the garden...
Hope everyone is well and your flowers are growing like mad!

~Dusty~

OMG. Here's the picture of Venus that Teresa sent me. Amazing.

What kind of a dog is she? I was told by the animal shelter staff that Wooffy is a Chihuahua mix, but I have my doubts.

{{gwi:1262456}}

We should have a "post pictures of your pets" month sometime.

Aren't they just so cute? lol. They could be twins. I never have figured out what kind of dog Venus is. Some people say she looks like a Manchester terrier, but I've never really seen one to say for sure. Tell Woofy that Venus says hello! And I love the post pictures of your pet month idea! Teresa

Hi, Everyone! I planted my water feature container garden yesterday and am really happy with it. If someone knows how to post pictures maybe I could e-mail the picture to you and you can post it for me. I would also be happy to share the picture of the English trough that I made. It is planted up and doing great. It looks like we have storms heading our way. I got out to do some pruning and to work with and brush my horses earlier. It's a good thing I got out early because we will get a down pour soon. Last day of April already - it hardly seems possible.
Sandlapper Rose

I received a package today from my secret pal! She sent the nicest letter again. I just love reading her letters. I also received a very pretty pair of gardening gloves and the cutest pin tucked inside them. I am always in need of gardening gloves. lol. It's amazing how fast we can go through them. Thank you secret pal for the great package! Teresa

Cute dogs! I couldn't live without a dog!

We had three hailstorms yesterday and it rained and rained all day. I can't remember when the last time it's been so bad. The good thing about it is that I didn't have to water and was getting ready to have to start.

DH ran over my cannas that were just coming up along the edge of the yard. I was happy to see today that they are coming back and one that hadn't shown yet is up and growing. ;-) I've only had a couple up til last fall but this year I expect all of the new ones to bloom and I'll have about a dozen! I can't wait to see all those colorful blooms.

Sandlapper, if you want to send me the photos I'll post them for you. I'd love to see it!

Dusty, how is the new business going? Have you opened up yet?

Everyone, enjoy the warmer weather and the gardens.

Nancy

Sandlapper Rose sent me her pics via email so I can post them for her. They're really pretty! Enjoy!

Water Feature

{{gwi:1262458}}

Closeup of Water Feature

English Trough

{{gwi:1262460}}
Closeup of Water Feature

{{gwi:1262461}}
Fourth of July Rose

{{gwi:1262462}}

BTW Sandlapper Rose, your water feature is really pretty and so is the though and I love the 4th of July Rose a friend has one and I'm planning to get one for me.

Nancy

Cute dogs is right. I've scrolled back and forth so many times comparing coloration here and there; and they are uncannily similar right down to the black whiskers! Both outstanding ambassadors of the canine species unlike my dumpy dopey dog. check for any signs of intelligent life in these eyes:
{{gwi:33932}}

Nice work on photo posting Nancy and great work on the planters Sandlapper! I love that hypertufa- of course I've never had time to try anything with it yet- sigh. Now that it's the brink of May, I may NOT get to it this year.
Also love the water feature- does it have water running? My eyes aren't fully functional at this moment. I do spy the watering can and a little tiny green figure- that looks like Peter Pan! Cute!
I have got to get outside! The first dahlias are going in NOW.

I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the dogs as well. Yes, they look like twins. Your dog looks sweet as well, Poochella. What is his or her name? I have a golden retriever. I will have to try to figure out this picture thing and include one. Thanks for taking care of my pictures for this time, jaceysgranny!
As for the water feature container garden, yes, it has running water. I placed a plastic canister in the larger pot. The canister has a small water pump in it with tubing and the tubing comes up through a saucer with drainage holes. The water bubbles up through and over some rocks that I got from my Garden Circle buddy for St. Patrick's Day (there are names of herbs and an Irish saying on them) and then it trickles back down into the canister. The large pot has drainage holes in it and soil around the canister which I planted with some plants that are probably supposed to be outdoors, but we'll see how they do in my kitchen window. I believe the watering can pick is also from my Garden Circle buddy. Then there are two fairy picks that I am borrowing from my younger daughter - they are the little green folks that you can barely see in the picture.
Well, that's it for me trying to describe this. I hope you made some sense of what I said. LOL

Sandlapper Rose

Nancy,
Thanks for asking. I'm not open yet! lol We just closed 2 weeks ago.. ran into a few snags and a few more.. so closing on the house was delayed a month. Then we almost didn't close at all because the people left all kinds of stuff and very filthy!! There was even old food left in the fridge.. so we wanted to re-negotiate the price or them clean and those scum bags said forget it then, the deals off.. So we sucked it up and cleaned up their filth. Hard to believe that woman ran a day care there and what's harder to believe is parents actually take their kids to her! Every window and sliding glass door was plastered with sticky ucky finger prints! Took 2 washing to get the windows clean enough to see out of!! And they still need a 3rd!! So far the Sunroom/Plantroom is finished and my friend is working on the mural in there under the wall of windows.. looks real cool. The kitchen is done(when I say done I mean painted.. nothing else, besides clean) We
still have to build work stations. Put in shelves display cases and all that good stuff. Had to throw out the stove it was so gross I wouln't even give it away. That's okay I don't need a stove there anyway. The long hall is done... The Office/Kids hang out room is finished and the, what we call, big room has it's first coat of paint... needs a 2nd. 3 of the rooms were a dark dark red/burgundy color! Took 2 coats of primer.. and 2 coats of paint to cover it up(at least in the office & big room.. so I figure the room connected to the kitchen will need that also.... so everything else is primered. Tomm I hit the big room with a 2nd coat and it should be all set. Once the painting is finished, I'm going to have to do something about the wood floors.. sand them buff them, something. Prob. going to be a lil longer than I expected to open.. but that's okay.. I want it to look right for the grand opening. You know the saying.. you never get a 2nd chance to make a first impression. I did take most of yesterday off.. but couldn't sleep last night.. DD was at the prom and then the all night after prom party the school sponsers.. and yes.. I was worried.. so I went down about 2 am for a while.. At least there I wasn't waking the house! lol And I felt less guilty for taking the day off yesterday.

Lil T, I took pic's for you, but of course left the camera there... have the DSL stuff at the shop but haven't installed it yet. I'll try and remember to bring it home tomm.. and yes.. I finally fixed my a drive! lol Did that the other day when I bought the computer for the shop.. Bout time eh! lol

Well 12 hours at the shop today, along with last night and no sleep... I'm a tired girl! Bed is calling. Hope you all had a great day! Rained here a good portion of the day, but that's okay we needed some.
Tally Ho!

~Dusty~

Hey, Pooch. Your dog looks great to me. Maybe (s)he's smarter than you think... he just lets you think he's not, so you'd do everything for him. And what's all that white stuff on the ground???

Got the dahlias planted... planting bed is getting larger and the gravel swing pad is getting smaller. Can't wait to see what comes up.

See you all in May. Paul

LOOKING FOR APRIL.....WHERE DID APRIL GO?

Everyone of us are really into dahlias this year. We should have lots of dahlias to put in our trade boxes this Fall.

Dusty - Hope you get opened soon. I would want it just perfect also. Hate you had to do all that cleaning. Some people love dirty and filthy places. Not me, I love cleanliness.

Annie - Your dog sure is so cute. I think he's playing you too, just acts dumb. All your dogs are handsome fellows.

Have you ever had to do anything that you just HATE TO DO.
We have the sweetest mailman. Brings my packages over to my house and puts them on the porch for me. My mailbox is a good ways from my house too.
Well....We paved our driveway last year. A dream that finally came true. Then we noticed oil spots all over it.
Couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Yes, the mailman. He drives this real old jeep and it must be using a quart a day (He's leaving lots on our paved drive).
I've got to get him to quit bringing the packages over to the house. (Any ideas without hurting his feelings, and where will he put them?) What a mess. My husband is not happy right now. It does look awful and I don't think you can ever get if off.

HELPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shirley

April must be gone because I got my May package from my garden pal! She is so on the ball!

She sent me a lovely tealight holder - looks like a blue glass tulip, with honeybees arching up over the top. Buzz buzz, LOL! And there was a pack of morning glory seeds, blue striped. I am going to plant those going up my arbor with my pink roses. And there was a beautiful card that said happy May, happy Mother's Day, and happy gardening.

Thank you pal. I love my presents, and I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful pal. Happy Gardening to you too!

Poochella, your dog is just adorable! He looks so soft and huggable! lol.

Shirley, that's a bummer about your driveway. I wish I knew of a way to get oil off of it. Maybe if you just tell him that you will be gone alot and could he please leave them at the PO for you to pick up? I don't know, that's a tough one.

It's bright and sunny today, but I'm still waiting on that warm weather to come back. Hopefully by the end of the week it will feel like spring again. I'm ready to start playing in the dirt!

Dusty, got the pictures. The house look wonderful. And I love the mural. So pretty. Turns out we will be getting DSL too here soon. But the bad news is, they are running new phone lines out here and will tearing up a trench through our entire front yard. Ugh... Just when we got the yard back to normal from the septic stuff.

Teresa

Yaya, we need a May thread.

Shirley, if the mailman is nice enought to bring stuff up to your house, I'm sure he would understand if you asked him not to drive up anymore bacause of his old mail truck. It's not like you're commenting on his personal car. Good luck with that.

Where oh Where did April go is right! I am so far behind on gardening tasks- is anyone else? On this, one of two days off for me, it rains! That happened last week too- it is drivng me crazy!

Shirley I think you'll have to get your mailman a new Jeep, pure and simple. Could you call the PO and report the concern? Maybe they'd get him a different vehicle? I have dreams of an asphalt driveway too, except for the cost and the iciness in inclement winter weather. We are usually able to get some traction on the long uphill driveway on our good old gravel. A clean car usually stays clean about 30 feet driving on it. Oh well.

Thank you for saying my dog is cute and fluffy and huggable- all true. But sadly it is also true that she has sunk to the bottom of the gene pool as far as smarts go. She runs BEFORE you throw a ball or toy, not looking at you, just running!- then doesn't know where it went.
She sits at the back deck door looking right THRU the living room window at us sitting on the side deck, and still barks to get in as if it's a major chore to walk 40 feet to get to the door with humans to open it for her.
Occasionally just for fun she will let out a single high bark from the basement or bedroom. When we go to investigate if she's cornered a stranger, a mouse, Timmy in the well, aliens- no, she's just lying there smiling and panting. The dog is so weird! She's a girl, Roxy, and was rescued from what we are sure was a puppy mill type home. Any sense was long ago bred out of her ancestors, but they kept in the furry and cute traits as salespoints. And we fell for it : ( But she's nice enough as a pet, just not very dignified. She doesn't leak oil!!! That's another plus!

Dusty, I want to see photos of your store after you've been working so hard on it. That would be a temendous project to get off the ground, and may we wish you a tremendous Grand Opening and much ensuing success.

** if this shows up twice pardon me, I thought I hit Submit, but nothing..**

Hmm! Can you all come up here? I really need some help! lol I'll feed you and house you.. and even get you feeling tipsy! Heck, I'll even break out Sue's homemade wine for just a lil painting! Did I tell you all I am a terrible painter? Oh.. and I'll dig from my gardens for you too! Does that twist any arms? I am spending the night at the shop tonight... I'm in a bad way so I know sleep will never find me so I figure I may as well stay here and get something accomplished.(But what am I doing? Playing on the internet! Bad Dusty!)
Lil T.. you will love the DSL! I wish I could get it up at the house.... click on a page.. boom ! There it is! I don't know how to act! lol
Pooch, Will send you photos.. They're at home right now... and all I sent Lil T was the outside.. and the small mural... the inside has a long way to go baby!
The good news is, I have rented the loft of the back building and one of the rooms of the downstairs back building! If I can rent the rest, my mortgage will be darn near covered! That was a major play in buying the house... there's rental income.
I'm a bit frustrated at the moment.. so I figure time to chill for a second.

hey Paul.. your're into cacti... go check out the new Cacti RR. So far there's only 4 of us.

Okay.. I know.. get to work!
Hope you all have a great evening!!

~Dusty~

see you on the May thread