LOL!!! Vic! You already voted for Diene!!! Good thing I'm keeping an eye on you kids!!! No double voting, no hanging chads, and no retraction of votes! LOL!!! And no comment from the host about preferences either! Gotta run a non-partisan polling here, don'tcha know!!!

My parents stopped by today for a walk through my garden, and it was a lot of fun to show them what I've been working on and getting the results I've gotten! My perennials have really done extremely well this year, filling the garden with a lot of surprises! I mix my tall and short plants so you can't possibly see everything from one vantage point. You really do have to get out there and experience it all. Afterwards, I was able to send Mom home with a "just beginning to bloom" foxglove plant, and a bag ol' bag of fresh lettuce we picked during our walk. They're the ones who got me started gardening when I was 3, so it's always fun to share something back to them!

Hope everyone is enjoying their day! Time to go spread some more cypress mulch and create some walkways through the jungle!

-Dan

LOL!!! Vic! You already voted for Diene!!! Good thing I'm keeping an eye on you kids!!! No double voting, no hanging chads, and no retraction of votes! LOL!!! And no comment from the host about preferences either! Gotta run a non-partisan polling here, don'tcha know!!!

My parents stopped by today for a walk through my garden, and it was a lot of fun to show them what I've been working on and getting the results I've gotten! My perennials have really done extremely well this year, filling the garden with a lot of surprises! I mix my tall and short plants so you can't possibly see everything from one vantage point. You really do have to get out there and experience it all. Afterwards, I was able to send Mom home with a "just beginning to bloom" foxglove plant, and a bag ol' bag of fresh lettuce we picked during our walk. They're the ones who got me started gardening when I was 3, so it's always fun to share something back to them!

Hope everyone is enjoying their day! Time to go spread some more cypress mulch and create some walkways through the jungle!

-Dan

Dan, you posted three times...have you been into those crackers again.."raising eyebrow"...

LMAO!!! OK Dan, start sharing the crackers!!!

AND the rules didn't say anything about how many votes one gets to cast!

I just wanted to come share my "moment" with ya all today! As I'm sitting here having a cocktail to calm my nerves!

I was in the kitchen and Zack was in his room, I heard a "THUD" and then one of those LOUD BLOOD CURDELING SCREAMS! I ran to his room to have him screaming and holding up his hand, his little finger was pointing up and back twords his wrist! He slammed it and dislocated it!!! And although I feel terribly guilty about this I will admit the 2nd thought that went through my mind was OMG we have no health ins!!! The 1st thought was.......well I'm not quite sure........I'm sure there are other Mom's who have been through something like this and the mind just gets scattered with emotions.

Anyhow.....I did pull his finger back into place, fortunately at his age the joints aren't all that developed so I didn't have to yank it or anything, I just pulled out and down. As soon as I did that he was fine!! I have to admit, he has quite a high pain tolerance, even the Doctor has told me that before.

I've worked in the medical field for over 20yrs, and have seen a lot, from ppl having big gaping cuts, a couple tongues half bitten off, and even someone came in one day with 1/2 of their finger in a dixie cup on ice after they cut it off (can't remember how they did it) But when it comes to your own child........

And of course, I'm home by myself, the neighbors are out of town, and I don't even know where the nearest ER is around here!! I think I will find that out TODAY!

Vic

Vic, you're right, your own child is a whole other ball game! At least you kept your head and fixed it..and, yes, finding the ER would probably be a good thing...((HUG))

I vote for bunny and ned to hear from my partner as to what she wants. I have been sick for three weeks today went to dr found out I have pneumona or however you spell it. kinda hard to dig anything when its all in full bloom, give me some ideas pal. thankyou carol

no crackers here today, just had some problems earlier with my computer. apparently, when I was trying to post, I'd given it too many other things to think about so it was acting a bit funny. at least I got my message across to you all, eh?
Vic, glad to hear that Zack's okay! has your heart gotten back to a normal heartrate yet? that had to have been terrifying today!

And, finally for the day, we're running an honest vote here, so no one's stacking the ballot box. one person = one vote. any problems with that, take it up with the Sherriff. LOL!

G'NITE

Vic, that is awful! I can only imagine the trillion thoughts that raced through your head at lightning speed. His poor little finger. These kids know how to keep our hearts pumping!

Dan, are you sure it was the computer or were you out sampling the mushrooms in the yard? Hmmmmmmm?

Ok, I would like to throw my vote into the ballot box...
And my vote goes tooooooooooo LINDA!

Good Morning All;
Thanks for the vote Vic, I too am voting for myself. Not that I really think mine was the best but if I do not win this then all my research was for naught as the "prize" will go elsewhere.
Silly but I was getting excited at the prospect of winning this challenge.
diene

GM Everyone!

The sun is shining, and my heart has slowed back to a nice steady pace! LOL
I asked Zack (for about the 100th time) last night how his finger was doing, He said, in this reassuring voice "Mom, it's fine, it doesn't hurt anymore" then he stroked my arm as if to calm me down a little more! LOL! Kids......

Well, out to the yard! Gotta get some stuff done today!

Vic

outch vic sorry for you n zack, glad he is ok:)
your not alone in the no healthcare! but i wont rant on the healthcare system here lol:)

More rain here ... but I won't complain. I've got lots of stuff in bloom right now, and I'm thinking the 'Great Iowa Flood of '08' has greatly enchanced that! Three daylilies are finally blooming, my Zinnia and Calendula are looking great, and now I'm just waiting to see what my new coneflowers look like! The double pink started yesterday ... so far it looks amazing!

I also bought some freedom hedge roses, which are starting to bloom. They are the perfect candy colored shade of pink.

Hi Allison, We got a major storm here this afternoon. Must have been 5 inches in the space of 2 hours. Every time we finally dry out the rains hit hard again. I like your freedom rose! Congrats on the flush of blooms! This is the first year for me ws the zinnia and calendula and they are really taking off for me. They really must love the deep soakers that we've been getting.

What's up with all these MNF threads?! I can't keep seem to keep up with them!

Tracy

Tracy, Tracy, Tracy. We figure if we can get enough threads going, Linda's gonna weave you a swimsuit so you'll have something to wear in the pool! Who told you clothing was optional? I like the look, but then again, I'm just one person. LOL!!! And don't go blaming your nekkidness on Linda and her Bailey's! LOL!!!

You think if we got enough mnf threads going, we'd eventually get our own forum???

Ok Tracy, I'm back at the pool! Will you help me get the bag of mushrooms away from Dan?!

Allison, that is a lovely rose! I wish I could get some rain here! My plants are having a hard time, fortunately it has went down out of the high 90's - low 100's and is in the mid to upper 80's now, but I hear we are supposed to be getting back up again as high as 110! That is not good when water is so limited!

Christy, ya I don't like not having insurance! I am the one that always carried the ins. for us and with me not working, well it's just too expensive to buy our own.

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes for Zack! He did better with the whole thing than I did LOL!

Vic

Good Evening all;
I am so angry about the state of health care in this country. Parents should not have to worry because all children, actually everyone should have access to health care without worrying about money. That would be a real liberating event in this country. It is embarassing that people do not have access to affordable health care in the country that professes to govern "for the people and by the people" Who are those "people'?
I hope Zack stays healthy.
diene

I agree, Diene! Every day that you don't have insurance is full of worry for your kids. It gets to a point that you start praying every day that your child doesn't break an arm or something worse. When parents have to worry about losing their house to pay for medical bills, I think there is something wrong.
I've had several friends be turned away at the DR because they didn't have insurance...even though their child was very sick. It infuriates me.

I could rant all night....but I won't. Being angry gives me a headache. :O)

Cristy, see what ya started! LOL

At my last job they took money out of our paycheck for ins. we got pd every 2 weeks $7.00/single $16.00/family. We had $5.00 office visits $10 out of network, $10 RX copay, and it covered all diagnostic and routine tests 100%! And some of the ppl working there complained about it!

When I was pregnant they 1st thought it was a tubal pregnancy, I had blood work every 2 days for 2 wks, and an ultrasound every week for a month! Then, I had multiple ultrasounds and lab work because I was AMA (advanced maternal age) AKA - old! I underwent testing through the whole pregnancy, 1st they thought the baby had a 75% chance of having downs syndrome, We were sent to genetic counseling to help prepare us for what to expect. Then high tech ultrasounds and an amnio. New Years Eve 2004 I got the call that I was having a healthy baby boy!
THEN, with all my frequent ultrasounds, one of them showed that his heart had an irregularity, and that his legs hadn't grown much, short legs another sign of birth defect! So.....off to another specialist, he assured me that his heart was fine. I asked about the legs and he said "well, how long are your legs?" (I'm 5'2")

Not to mention trouble with my BP, pregnancy induced carpel tunnel and restless leg syndrome, along with the usual low iron which all meant more DR. visits and tests, braces for my wrists, etc.

After almost 4 days of hard labor my DR finally did an emergency C-section when Zack's heart rate dropped and they couldn't get it back up! He was perfectly healthy!

So......the total cost of all of this?! 2 - $5.00 office visit copays, 1 - $10 office visit copay, and my RX copays! I told the girls I worked with that they had no idea what good insurance was if they thought that $14-32/mo was too much for our insurance! I'm sure I will be hard pressed to find insurance that good for that price ever again at the rate health care coverage is going up these days!

Whew! It must be time for bed, I'm rambeling again! LOL
Sorry.......Maybe Dan put a mucsroom in my drink?!

Vic

Dan,

Vic, yes ma'am, someone needs to confiscate those mushrooms, grab the hooch and forklift him onto the wagon. I think he is a little too pickled. Thank goodness you had good insurance throughout your pregnancy with Zach. I went through some similar issues with 2 of mine and everything turned out fine with both boys while I was put through the ringer with all the testing. Thank God they are healthy.

Diene, I couldn't agree more on the healthcare issue. We run a small business with my hubby's bricklaying. We saw our premiums skyrocket from 574/mo to 1249/mo in a short 3 year time span. What in the world is a small business to do?! Lawmakers certainly haven't heard us. I don't know how things will ever even out for the little guy.

Just going to say a couple of sentences lol... 1.) So Lost here between the flirting and alcohol sheesh. 2.) WHERE DID ALL OUR PLANTS GO????

Leave for a couple few weeks and all hades breaks loose.

Smugs,
Pixie

we missed you Pixie! See, we have plants "holding up plant with roots dangling"...just been too wet to plant, so we've been entertaining ourselves. PLUS, it's all Dan's fault "pointing finger at Dan"..the rest of us are just innocent victims.."getting out my innocent victim costume"..."blink. blink"

Pixie! Good thing your back, maybe you can get Dan in line! And yes, Linda is right, it is Dan's fault! "pointing finger" We were all just sitting quietly having tea! "picking up Halo that fell off"

Tracy, I think while Dan is off on his "Love Fest" we should do a clean sweep through his yard and get all those mushrooms! And the crackers too!

Linda, could send some of that water this way! Back in the 90's here, not a cloud in site!

Vic

Don't forget the pitchers of margarita's he has at the poolside and the bailey's in the cupboards......and if there are mushrooms growing just might want to look for wild wood rose plants, "hiding pitch fork in back of shed and adjusting halo and wings".

Pretty quiet here today..........

Hey Plantwhore! ER, Ummm, I mean Mrs. Greensleeves! LOL, sorry, I will never forget that!
I'm sure Dan already drank the margarita's and bailey's....but will look for the wild wood rose! I bet that would make a wonderful tea! "G"
Also, I sent you an email, did you get it?

Vic

In response to Linda (and the rest of us) being innocent....

Oh, sorry...was that out loud???
:O)

Pixie! It's not all alcohol and flirting! See??? I've got plants!!! They've just to dry first before we can use them! hehehe Nope, no mushrooms here! MMMMM, they make a nice smell though, don't they?

Hey, anyone know where I can get some papers?

And, where are those scones? Did we finish them? I'm kind of hungry.....

And, Tracy? What the heck am I doing so close to that line? You insinuating that I'm over the line? Or, just not "in line"?
I'll let all you ladies decide that one. It's not as if you're gonna listen to me anyway, now, is it???

(just one lonely man in bedlam.....)

"handing Dan a stack of newspapers"..."blink"

Insinuating? LOL, didn't I already draw you a picture?

Pulling up in front of the Betty Ford Clinic...

Hey Vic, when we get up to the doors you push him out and lock the van door ok? (wink*)

Papers? "puzzled look"
Ahhh.......your putting down weed block!

Oh look Dan, they have such pretty flowers too! "shoving Dan out as Tracy speeds off"

Just taking a break from packing for trip next week.After reading everything I'm almost afraid to leave. Geez...... This group gets wilder by the second. Dan here are the correct 'papers'
later...April/dirt
glitter-graphics.com

ok, tell me, i was visiting with my dad and susie, last night when they came for tabor, and they were telling me when they were young they used to sip from the trumpet vines, and once in a while they'd get a ant or two, well dad being who he is went over and got one, making sure there was one with alot of nectar in it, and broke it open to make sure no ants in it brought it to me, and said, here medo, sip, LOL so of course me being the great daughter that i am did! man that is great stuff!! now i know why them hummingbirds love that stuff!! LOL
so have ya'll tried it befor or am i the only one??
i finally got the other butterflies/hummingbird bed done, YAY also emptying over half of my ws stuff to!!! YAY the rest we will sell at tabors yard sale, HEE HEE
now i am a happy mommy, ohhhh and tabor is with papa and nana in salina, can you say peace an quiet, only the girls in the house tonight, ummmm painted nails, fairy cartoons, and hair being done!! and we'll think of more things!! LOL
Hugs ~Medo

April, I think you might pick some up in Hippiegene, eh? lol! Hey, I didn't forget about you and the clem I promised. I did some asking around and the experts over there in the clem forum told me to pot it up and sink it back in the dirt to develop a better root system before sending it off to you. Let me know when you are back in town and I will send it then. I've been pinching off all the new growth so it gets a nice size root on it. Sorry it is such a slow deal. Your stokes aster that you sent to me last summer has just come into bloom. It is such a pretty plant. Thank you so much!

Gotta Run! Making my escape before Dan staggers to his feet and comes out of his alcohol/god-knows-what-else induced haze and realizes he's been committed! Come on Vic, let's ride!
{{gwi:1280228}}

Medo, I would love to sip on a trumpet flower! But, try as I may, I can't get that plant to grow for me. I've been sent cuttings, they died, was sent a small plant last yr and it is struggeling, esp with the move. I tried growing from seed this yr, I have one seedling that is about 1/4" tall that has survived so far! And I was told to be careful with these, that they can b invasive! LOL
I'm going to keep trying, I might even have to just go buy a nice big established plant and try from there! LOL

Vic "jumps in with Tracy, wondering what the smell in her van is"

the plantwhore is up to date.....I think....cough,cough,wheeze......man did it get foggy in here or what....like wow did I get the munchies.....wheres the brownies....

Did someone say brownies...{{gwi:1280229}}
LOL!!!!

Tracy~Glad the aster is doing well for you! I knew you hadn't forgotten sending the clem.Would much rather wait till its ready,so it thrives.

Medont~ Never heard of sipping trumpet flowers. We use to pull the little middle thingy in honeysuckle to get that tiny drop of sweetness as kids though.Showed the kiddos just this summer how to do that & they thought it was the neatest thing. I still can't belive my oldest & pickiest eater even tried it!! Kids are ODD!!
later....April/dirt

Ladygreen, may we call you PW for short?

Oh wait, that sounds even worse! ROFLOL

Boy, after the ride in Tracy's van I had the munchies too, but all I could find were crackers, I think I should go lay down for a bit.......

.....hey, what are all these little green men doing here? .....where am I? .....man! go to sleep by the pool, and all kinds of weird stuff happens! .....hey! these walls are, like, padded!!! .....and this door won't open!!! .....what's going on??? I think I'll just go back to sleep, this has got to be a dream.............

Psst! Hey gang, I got a closed circuit feed on Dan in his "special room"! Check it out, he looks pretty comfy doesn't he?

Heh heh heh!

April! Too funny, that is one BIG brownie! Care to share? Glad you didn't think I forgot. I keep looking at it and wondering "are ya done yet?"! When do you guys come home?

LGS/PW, grab a hunk o'brownie and pass it around! I think the air is getting clearer now.

Vic, thanks for helping me out on that lil road trip! You're a great wing woman! Thought it was funny when you used your boot to push him out! He was holding on pretty tight there! lol!

ROFLMAO!!

GM All!
Tracy~ we'll be gone from July 15th-30th.Love the padded cell graphic. For a few seconds I thought I needed to be in one, cause I wasn't excepting for the guy to move!!!LOL!!And of course I'll share my 'special' brownie!!

Hubby's not a huge fan of flying...he's ok on jets, but hates propeller planes. He asked if I made sure he would not be flying on one. Well guess what I forgot to check before I paid for the ticket? YEP....He'll be on a turboprop from Seattle to Eugene.It's only an hour flight, but he is TICKED!!!I was paying more attention to the price & not the planes. This will more than likely be our last trip out there. The tickets were 600.00(my parents bought 3 of our tickets, otherwise we wouldn't be going!) & that was back in March. I'd really hate to see the price now!!! Also if you purchased your ticket after a certian date you have to pay 15$ for your 1st checked bag & 25$ for the second!!!
Later...April/dirt

Heh heh heh, ya like my little padded Dan the man? Wait till he starts his shock therapy sessions tonight. heh heh heh.

April, those tickets are outrageous! I can't believe how they have jumped. They had a report on the news here about the extra checkin fee for the bags. It is unbelievable. Next thing you know they will charge you for the little bag of nuts too. I hope your hubby's ride is a smooth one on the prop plane and he isn't too cranky with you when he lands. What big plans do you guys have this time up there? Anything special?

Tracy, don't you now they no longer give out nuts...to many people are allergic. Now you get pretzel mix.They're cheaper. Also after the 1st of Aug, you will have to pay 2.00 for your soda & water. No more freebies!!!!

Last fall my parents finally decided to buy a car(they biked or walked places for the last 4 years) so this time we are headed to the Portland Zoo,driving over to the coast & seeing the sea loin caves,& course no trip is complete without going to Eugene's Saturday Market!
I would love to go to Schreiner's Iris Gardens while we are out there too.
Other that that we will just hang out, visit the local parks,gardens,& eat vegan food!
Hubby is a huge MEAT eater.This is going to be an interesting trip! LOL!!
later...April/dirt

OMG! April, I looked at the link and saw the pitchers by Amy Palatnik. They are beautiful! I love the glazing and colors that she has. I collect pitchers. I have a thing for them. Can't seem to help myself especially with the earthy deep reds or the blues. Sigh. I am so jealouse! If I give you 25 bucks will you sneak me in with the checked luggage? lol! Poor hubs, maybe you can pack him some beef jerky? *(grin)* See how long it's been since I've flown?! They still had nuts! Now they're charging for pop and water? Agh! What is the world coming to?

LOL you girls are too funny!

have fun on your trip April! lol i can see your hubs sneakin out to buy a burger! lol my hubs would:)

man there is no way i'd be on a plane!! i'd want to drive the whole way, (so i could pick the flowers and plants i want to grow!!! HEE HEE HEE) LOL can't do that on a plane!! LOL and you have to listen to the crying babies and griping people, man when we were on the flight from germany to the u.s. some of the people were gripy and it was one i wouldn't do again, but all the one's that were from state to state were ok. LOL
so ya. no flights for us. and its WAYYYYYYYYY to exspensive LOL it cost jared 1800 to go from oregon to here and back but he said it woulda been more in the flights. they were in the truck. the visit was sooo great!! ohhh man Anna marie just stole your heart!! i fell asleep with her on my chest while her momma and daddy went swimming, we found out no one ever got to watch her befor. they never let her out of their site. i got to watch her alot!! i'm sooo lucky!! and she loves the hubs!! if she was crying frantically, and he walks in and picks her up and starts talking to her, man automatically she just looks at him and starts smiling. i did get that pic. somewhere. LOL i hope they are having a easy time getting back to "normal" up there!! LOL
{{gwi:1280231}}
and this is "uncle grant" LOL she just loves to fall asleep on his shoulder or in his arms!! LOL
{{gwi:1280233}}
Hugs ~Medo

um, April? what are sea loins???

and I quote..."Last fall my parents finally decided to buy a car(they biked or walked places for the last 4 years) so this time we are headed to the Portland Zoo,driving over to the coast & seeing the sea loin caves,& course no trip is complete without going to Eugene's Saturday Market!"

.....just wondering while rolling around in my padded cell.....

Oh Plantwhore, where oh where are you? I sent you an email, did you receive it? My box is awaiting shipment. Are you ready as well?

Aw michele, Anna Marie is such a sweet little tiny one! Her parents look very happy. I'm so glad you had a nice visit. Hugs!

Medont~ What a sweetie!

Sorry Dan!
.....with all the brownies, mixed drinks and shrooms flying around,my spelling got messed up. I meant Sea L-I-O-N.

she is just adorable!! talla has a new saying today!! she thinks we are redhicknecks!! LOL LMBOOOOO she is sooooo funny!!! LOL she's picking on her daddy!! he's bound and determinded that he's not redneck or hick, ummmm.... he say's daaaaang!!, he chews, (gross) and he smokes, (gross) (but ya gotta love him) and he just has that slur sometimes, LOL its funny, so now she tells him he's the redhickneck. LOL
and i'm almost done planting out my ws stuff, i've decided to plant them out in them 1/3 barrels, so i don't have to worry about if they are ever gonna come up!! LOL if they do, hey!! that's absolutely awesome!! if they don't that's awesome to!! i have more dirt!! LOL i will still plant stuff in there anyhow till the stuff grows in there so as to not waste any space!! see i have it sorta planned!! AND!!!! i scored 2 of them plastic 55 gal barrels free!! from that freesycle.org!! how awesomely cool is that?? so tabor and i are gonna try a thing, both are for compost, both clippings and household kitchen scraps and such, shredded paper, here's the difference, one has urine/water mix. the other has just water. and we'll see how long it takes to make actual compost. we're going to label the start date and all that. keep the stuff watered and such and turned.
they are "supposed" to take 14 day's because of the urine breaks it down faster. we'll see!! i'm so overly anxious!! i just have ta get my truck tagged so i can get the barrels!! they are like 2 towns away!! ummm 2o miles i think. ya know car washes will give them to ya free?? if i lived in town i'd get me like 5 of them things!! no kidding!!! LOL here's another pic!! becky and i went in on a deal and got all those planting things and the bamboo sticks have been very usefull, mainly for the dragonflies, LOL they love to rest on them, i have seen anywhere from 1-4 or 5 on them at a time. so beautiful!
one time we were in the other flower bed and i'm pretty sure i saw a brown recluse, it was in a kinda like cacoon, so it was new, and it reminded me of a tick, but the back looked funny, it was on a leaf. i couldnt get a good pic of it. so i'm trying to learn how to do that, that's fun!! LOL
many hugs ~Medo