Today is National Compliment Day

• was created in 1998 by two women from New Hampshire, Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffyman.
• They wanted to encourage people to connect with each other through kind words and positive affirmations.

Thank you Jeanne for creating this group and thank you all members that I have had the pleasure of swapping/getting to know you.

Side note: Jayeanne, I don't see your posts here. Its so odd. But I do see that you post something yesterday. I usually get an email when someone makes a post. So weird what HOUZZ is doing, making me think I am losing my mind.

Hoping everyone has a Happy Friday too!!!

Mandy ... Thank you so much for the most adorable otter card and matching sticker with their sunglasses on, lol ... and the most amazing variety of seeds ... Strawberry "Regina", Marigold "Sweet Mace or Mexican Mint" and the Tomato "dwarf striped Rumplestiltskin" I have not grown any of these yet, super excited to add these to the gardens! Is the dwarf striped Rumplestiltskin tomato different from the original dwarf Rumplestiltskin tomato do you know? Either way, I will most definitely be starting the tomatoes asap! Thank you!

Funny as Im looking at these otters on your card, I have to say, that is one ocean critter I do not see out my window in the Bay here, lollll. Nice view this morning but still a little chilly here, I think its about 53 out there right now and sun is shining, we dip below freezing again tonight but after tomorrow we are headed for the high 60's and lows above 50's.

Thanks again Mandy, and I hope your 2025 gardens are fabulous too!

Love all the Goodies everyone is receiving.

I thank all of you for joining in this month.

Nicole, thanks for the" National Compliment Day" info.

Now if we just all practice it more.

I also saw Jayeanne's post yesterday on my email, but not on here. Weird.

Bingo words

Pollinators

Wands

Someone must be close to getting bingo.

I only have 5 more words to draw.

I need four more words, its getting close, someone or some people may have bingo.

I just looked back...my post on Tuesday that I sent my envie to Sharon is gone. So...Sharon I sent your way this past Tuesday.

Ruth, yes I received the email that Jayeanne had posted here. But no post by Jayeanne was to be found....WEIRD!!

National Compliment Day.....chuckle, chuckle in a sad way. Those days are no longer.....kind of like Thank You and Please. You just don't here people say Thank You and/or Please or give a nice compliment to another.

Happy Friday!!

yup Annie ~ in our area, I would be surprise to see anyone smile or say Hello. Its sad in our area but I think because we are so busy for our day to day stuff. I still say Thank you and Yes please, I know I must surprise people when I say those words. I notice when I go to Big Bear for example, the people who are residents there, are more friendly.

Nicole, I agree, we Californians are rather rude. Northern Californians are worse than Southern CA......

I always think of Southerners as being hands down the most polite....that would be Ruth, Sharon and Jayeanne.

Ruth, I need two more bingo words! ☺️👍

The snow is mostly melted now. They shut down the city for two days with only emergency vehicles on the road because we don't know how to drive on roads with snow over here. 😆

Ruth ... thanks so much for hosting this month, as always, hands down a great host.

Believe it or not, we still have snow here on the ground! Im sure today is the final melting day.

I think Ive mentioned before Ive had issues logging in and things showing or not, I remember hitting send and on my end nothing appeared instead had vanished not showing my post, sometimes I get to rambling and just didnt want to re type lollll.

Well, I consider myself out of BINGO.....Good luck Fotessers!!

Interesting perspective on Californians . We go to a monthly luncheon for veterans (called Roll Call). Usually around 500 people. Yesterday we had two couples at our table that were from California. One couple has lived here 4 years and the other couple moved here 5 years ago. They seemed very friendly. Well except for one of the wives. She stayed on her phone the entire time, unless we were standing for something. Even during the guest speaker. I had not seen that before. The one couple moved here to be close to their daughter. The other couple moved here because the husband hates California. He doesn't even like to go back to visit family.

Annie, even Southerners don't seem as polite/friendly as they used to be. Growing up in North Georgia, people always spoke or waved at you weather they knew you or not. Now I'm always a little suspicious of that. And sometimes when I go shopping, I find people shopping to be just plain rude. It makes me act just like them or they'll run over you.

One thing that does always touch my heart is in North Georgia most cars traveling in the opposite direction of a funeral procession still pull over to the side out of respect. They also have police escorts. Texas has police escorts, but most cars don't pull over.

We're done with freezing temps for now. At least in our 10 day forecast.

Jayeanne, I think the posting problem is probably with Houzz. I tried to get on several times one day and was unable to.

bingo words

Potpourri

Savory

January 25: NATIONAL SEED SWAP DAY HISTORY

National Seed Swap Day on the last Saturday in January serves as a reminder to gardeners that spring is on its way. It is also an ideal time for gardeners to gather and swap seeds in preparation for starting seeds indoors.

The first annual Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange was held in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2006. Kathy Jentz, the editor/publisher of the magazine had the last Saturday of January named an official holiday and National Seed Swap Day was born. After that event’s success, seed swaps in other cities across the nation have joined in celebrating the day each year on (or around) the last Saturday in January.

The seed swap is a fundamental part of human history. Seeds were one of the first commodities valued and traded. Today, modern gardeners collect and exchange seeds for many reasons ranging from cultivating rare, heirloom varieties to basic thrift. The exchange of seeds perpetuates biodiversity, too. It is an act of giving and the ultimate form of recycling.

Just two more words left Ruth!! i guess ill be the last one, hahaha.

happy national seed swapping day!!!

have a great Saturday Everyone!!

I guess I can't count anymore....I am still in the game, BINGO that is!! Good luck to me!! Good luck to you!!

Ruth, I suppose, generally speaking, people are not as "nice' and "respectful" as they used to be, the West, the East, Central mid, the South, the North. Whether your shopping or driving or walking or dining etc....so many people are downright nasty and mean. Are they unhappy, are they miserable, are they angry., do they hate life...etc..... That is so awful for me to say. I am so used to the nastiness around here. Pretty sad when you get used to it. But I still say California sssooooooooo naughty (and expensive). New York is right in there too.

Tomorrow, I am off to the beach for a couple of days with my buddies. We are supposed to get rain....maybe a 1-2 inches where I live. That is alot of rain for us. The more the better...as it will compact the soot from the fires last Fall. We have soot everywhere.....thick!!

Happy Saturday!!

Dropped by to catch up on reading what has been posted. We still have snow on the ground here, but less and less each day. I'm amazed at the amount of snow in the coastal areas and farther south. Thanks for posting pictures.

It looks like someone will be hostess for February. Ruth and Jayeanne, have you decided who will be hostess? I don't think I noticed anyone else offer to do it.

I saw my daughter today and she has been resting a lot but seems to be doing pretty well. I brought lunch up to them since the roads are no problem at all now.

I don't think that I posted this already but the heater in my car wasn't working for the 2 week period when it was so cold here. Finally got it repaired. Every time I had to go anywhere I tried to go in the afternoon which usually was still below freezing but I had a better chance that the sun would be out. Talk about bad timing. Sure was cold!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Good to hear from you Jeanne!!! Sorry to hear about the heater in the car but glad you were able to get it repaired since your weather conditions are so much colder now. I know your daughter must have been happy to see you. When I was badly sick with the flu, I really wished I had someone to drop off soup for me because cooking when sick wasn't something I wanted to do.

Today 01/26/2025 is National Peanut Brittle Day, and National Green Juice Day.

Well, I missed out on peanut brittle and green juice today. One of my grandsons used to love peanut brittle. Not sure if he still does.

Jeanne, good question about who is hosting February.

Jayeanne, please let me know if you'd like to host. As I said, If I host it will just be a simple Valentine card swap.

Annie, sorry about all the soot. What's happening out there right is so horrible with all the fires and loss of homes and lives. Be safe.

Today was a cold, drizzly day here.

bingo words

Beneficial

Spicy

Only ONE word left.

I'm guessing you all should have bingo.

Bingo

Congrats on bingo pinkiris 🥳🎉🎉

Look like I need that last word lol 🤣

Congrats on bingo for Jayeanne.

Please choose 3 packs of seeds from the list posted.

Everyone else post bingo when you get it.

congrats Jayeanne!!

i guess i didnt choose the right bingo words hahaha

Thank you Sharon and Nicole! and also thank you Ruth for the awesome selection to choose from …. hard to narrow it down, can you believe it? lolll

Ill try …

2. St Lucia Scotch Bonnet pepper

12. Echinacea Doubledecker

17. 7 pot Chaguana pepper

Many thanks again Ruth!

Here is the list of seeds that are for prizes

1. Pumpkin Habanero pepper

2. St. Lucia Scotch Bonnet pepper.......Jayeanne

3. Lemon Drop French Marigold.......Nicole

4. Red Metamorph French marigold.......Mandy

5. Alpine Strawberries Heirloom Pineapple

6. Hollyhock Outhouse [Alcea rosea].......Annie

7. Coleus Rainbow Blend

8. Calendula Bronzed Beauty

9. Vinca Titan Really Red

10. Impatiens Beacon Violet Shades

11. Wu Choy, Jin Yun

12. Echinacea Doubledecker.......Jayeanne

13. Leek, Bulgarian Giant.......Sharon

14. Green Onion, Iron Long

15. Holy Tulsi Basil.......Nicole

Editing to add two packs of free seeds that I received from Pepper Joe's. Very hot peppers and not anything we will use. Looks like 5 seeds in each pack.

16. Trinidad Scorpion pepper

17. 7 Pot Chaguana pepper.......Jayeanne

Congrats on Bingo!

Thank you Mandy!

Ruth ... I am absolutely OK with you hosting =) Simple card swap sounds great! After our winter storm here Ive got lots to do outside that will be keeping me busy for quite some time outside. We actually had one of our trees in the back come down (pretty sure it was on its way out anyways, just a matter of when) this tree is huge, mostly dead already (woodpeckers loved it) and has now blocked access to the back area. Im sure from the rains, then over 10 inches of snow along with the winds, not to mention it was already a leaning tower of pisa and was slowly up rooting anyways, didnt help matters. After the snow has completely melted here and visualizing it, most the entire bottom part was rotted out and lots of rot going up throughout the trunk.

A light drizzle of rains here today with a high of 63, feels like Spring out there.

Congrats Jayanne

Did You Know: According to folklore, the weather of the first 12 days of the year is said to be indicative of the following 12 months.

Fog in January brings a wet spring.

We've had a few very foggy days here in Texas. Yesterday was one of them.

A favorable January brings us a good year.

If grass grows in January, it will grow badly the whole year.

A summerish January, a winterish spring.

Well that certainly doesn't apply to us.

Last bingo word

Bouquets

Now I know everyone has bingo. Just need you all to post that you have bingo.

Jayeanne ~ sorry to hear about your tree and the mess you have to clean up. Weather can be so unpredictable. Take care!!

Can you believe the end of the month is near? Where has the time gone?

Ruth, BINGO (If I am the second person to call it, I choose the following two: Holy Tulsi Basil and Lemon Drop French Marigold (Thank you!)

Bingo for me too! 🥳 I am not sure what third place bingo gets? I could use the Leek, Bulgarian Giant seeds if available. Thank you!

Yay! Congrats to all the Bingo winners!

Yes, I have Bingo too, but I am a little bit slow.

Bingo....yah!?

Jayeanne, sorry about your trees, but you are lucky that no damage was done. We had a tree in the front yard fall October 2023. It fell into the street and totaled my car in the driveway and blocked the entire street. Hubby and I were 2 minutes from getting home and would have right where the tree fell. We were lucky that us and no one else was on the street at the time. It was a sunny Saturday around 10 or 11 in the morning. We had been getting lots of rain and the ground was soaked.

We just had a tree trimmed this morning. The utility company has kept it butchered for years and it's in terrible shape. Now it's mostly a very tall stump. I'm going to use the cut pieces of wood for the bottom of my large containers. Hubby wants me to plant morning glories to climb the tree.

Mandy, please choose one pack of seeds.

Annie, please choose one pack of seeds.

I'd love Red Metamorph French marigold please. 2nd choice is Wu Choy, Jin Yun. Thank you for hosting Ruth!

Mandy

How about the Hollyhock Outhouse?

Ruth, what a fun month!!! Thank you very much!!!

Congratulations to those who have called Bingo.

Ruth, a round of applause for you doing 2 months in a row as hostess! Thank you so much. I think by the end of February I will be more back in line with just my usually amount of "busy". It sure has been rough since December with all that's involved in getting ready to move, the move, unpacking, getting my house ready to be listed, etc. I can't remember so many aches and pains as what I encounter lately but it's just age and doing too much.

A day or two ago we got the list of February activities here where I've moved to. There is an incredible amount to do! One of the reasons I moved here - plus the storage is great for being in a senior independent living place. Most of the time the food is very good, but I know different people have different things that they like. Sometimes I try something I haven't had before and occasionally I don't like it, but most of the time there's plenty to choose from and it's restaurant quality or better. I do some cooking because we have a point system for our meals and it doesn't cover 3 meals a day every day, but it all works out. There are plenty of times I want to cook a favorite recipe or just try a new one.

Sharon, no mail for you from me yet????

Jeanne, I am happy you are enjoying your new home.

Ruth, thanks for taking the month of February.

Today is Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, celebrates the hope for a fresh start. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and brings families together in a flurry of activities.

On this day, people believe it’s a time to sweep away the old and welcome new opportunities.

They decorate their homes, prepare special meals, and exchange red envelopes filled with money. Each part of the celebration symbolizes wishes for good luck, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. The air buzzes with excitement as people set off fireworks, wear new clothes, and participate in festive parades.

Gathering with loved ones strengthens family bonds and honors ancestors. The traditions and rituals are meant to bring good fortune, happiness, and health throughout the year.

The celebration reflects the deep cultural values of unity, renewal, and respect.

Jeanne, sounds like your enjoying your new place. And what a bonus that you don't have to cook unless you to. I tried a new pasta recipe yesterday that we enjoyed. It was pretty simple to make but too much for one person.

Bingo seed prizes will be mailed today.

I will post the February swap before the end of month.

Canyon, no mail yet but it is possible mail is abit delayed from the recent snow event. The post office was closed for a few days for it. They are probably running behind on mail now.

Annie, I received your envie today!

🎉🎉 Thank you for all the seeds and stamps! 😊👍Wonderful envie!

Sharon, so glad you received!!

Ruth's new swap for February is posted!! Easy, Easy,Easy!!

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6481739/february-2025-fotess-swap#n=2

Happy weekend!!

Thank you Ruth for the leek seeds! I got them today 🤩

Also Annie, I already started growing the melon seeds you sent, and the Pygmy too, in indoor trays! Looking forward to trying them out. 😋 This is my first time growing dwarf micros! Very excited to see how they come out.

I grew that variety of melon a few years ago. Every time the melons were almost ripe, something would take bites out of them. Hope you get melons and can let us know how they are.

I love growing leeks. Hope those do well for you.

Thank you Ruth! The bingo prize seeds arrived today!

Ruth, my seeds arrived....thank you very much!!

Sharon, the dwarf tomatoes are fun. The Pygmy was very productive for me during the Summer. In fact, I still have one plant growing in a container..... I planted in October.

Ruth ~ you need to play the Powerball since all of us got the seeds the same day. It means some good luck :)

Thank you for hosting and sending all of us prizes for bingo.

Well darn. I didn't see the last two post until this morning. Is it too late to buy Powerball today??

It is very unusual that everyone got their mail the same day.

Oh wait, Jayeanne has not posted that she received her seeds yet. There goes the Powerball luck!!

Sign up for February thru tomorrow.

yup thats pretty good odds. You can still get some type of lottery ticket or scratcher :)

I LOVE this!! Thank you!!