Software
Houzz Logo Print
l1oness

February 2026: Hearts and Seeds (FOTESS)

last month

FOTESS is a group that requires you to be approved for membership so mesaage Jeanne sandlapper_rose if you are interested and not a member at this time. The name FOTESS stands for Friends of the Earth Simple Swaps. We have a theme we post each month. Usually there is a swap of some sort (cards, seeds, small gifts) but we also share photos, garden information and other ideas. All swaps are within the U.S.


February is the season of Valentines Day, collecting those final seeds for the garden, and sharing love! As always, we'll keep it simple, but I'd like to include a few of our members who haven't joined in awhile.


I'd like everyone to plan on sending 2 cards. Valentines Day, "Thinking of You", or whatever hits your fancy. They should both include a note on what you like to do in February.


The first one will go to your swap partner. Maybe include something fun in there with seeds or hearts or sparkles or whatever makes you happy. Everything should fit in the envelope.


The second will go to someone who hasn't participated in awhile - maybe we can get them to join us in the chat this month!


Plan on signing up by 2/7/26. Put everything in the mail by 2/16/26.

I'll try for some sort of fun game around the 7th as well. Happy Valentines Day!



Comments (64)

  • 29 days ago
    last modified: 28 days ago

    Nicole - That one is true, but it's been awhile. I spent 4 nights on a houseboat when I visited Amsterdam. It was a very fun trip. I saw the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh museum exhibit and toured on the canals.


    Any other guesses using the remaining two choices? Anyone can guess.

  • 28 days ago
    last modified: 28 days ago

    Red Maple Tree - FALSE

    Mandy, I'm sending you a name from the list

  • 28 days ago

    Oh shoot, I missed the start of the game.................

  • 28 days ago

    Mandy, I can't get a message to go through to you and the email didn't go through. If you can get a message to me, it's okay for you to assign a previous/infrequent member to me.

  • 28 days ago

    Mandy ~ false statement red maple tree

  • 27 days ago
    last modified: 26 days ago

    Jeanne - how about you take the person with the 9. 30 b day?

    We will run a few rounds of this game then start another.

    You got it right Jeanne and Nicole. I want a red maple but don'thave one yet.

    Jeanne or Nicole - it's your turn. Give us 2 truths and a lie. 😊

  • 27 days ago

    From Jeanne

    Truth or Lie

    My apartment would be considered the first floor on one side of the building and the second floor from the other side of the building.

    I drive a Nissan Rogue.

    I love freshly fallen snow.

  • 27 days ago

    Jeanne Truth or Lie


    FALSE...... I love freshly fallen snow

  • 27 days ago

    I'll respond once someone posts the Lie. Not you, Annie, at least not yet.

    Mandy, I found the person with the birthday you listed and will do that.

  • 27 days ago

    Lie .................... I drive a Nissan Rogue.

  • 27 days ago

    Lie - My apartment would be considered the first floor on one side of the building and the second floor from the other side of the building.

  • 26 days ago

    I am getting ready to send out my cards. Please send by 2/16 or let us know if you will be delayed.


    Nicole - let me know if you've picked your second person.


    It's warming up here. 30 degrees today. I hope everyone is staying healthy!

  • 26 days ago
    last modified: 26 days ago

    Hi Mandy, message you through HOUZZ since my email is restricting me for sending emails at the moment since I have so much junk mail taking up storage space. I tried to message you but the option is not available. I will delete some of my emails so I can send you a message through my email.

    l1oness thanked bluee19
  • 26 days ago

    So sorry to the group. All 3 of mine were true. For some reason I thought the person was going to say Truth or Lie for each one. Duh --- I didn't read it carefully enough. Maybe Nicole can follow directions better than I did.

  • 26 days ago

    LOL!!!!! That is funny Jeanne.............So where does the game stand????


    My cards will hit the mailbox tomorrow.



  • 25 days ago

    Good facts to know though Jeanne! My cards went out. Who wants to go next for 2 truths and a lie?

  • 25 days ago

    I’m having trouble posting on Houzz.

  • 25 days ago
    last modified: 25 days ago

    Ok I posted this with my phone and it worked, but can’t post on my computer.

  • 25 days ago

    I signed in again and now I'm able to post but it still isn't showing I'm a member on my Houzz account/page.

    If no one else posts 2 truths and a lie, I can do it tomorrow. I'm off to bed in a few minutes and won't have time until sometime tomorrow afternoon.

    I'm hoping to get my cards out tomorrow.

    Beautiful today but too hot for February.

    Couple of weeks ago we had ice and snow for about 8 days and now we're having 70's and 80's.

    l1oness thanked ruthz
  • 24 days ago

    Ruth or anyone, if you have not posted your 2 truths and 1 lie by later this afternoon (5pm Pacific), I will post mine.


    And yes, my cards for sure went out yesterday!!

    l1oness thanked canyonwind
  • 24 days ago

    Here are my 2 truths and 1 lie.


    1. My 4th Grandfather was born in Berks County PA., and served under the command of General George Washington in the Revolutionary War.


    2. In later years, he was part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.


    3. My husband was also born in Berks County PA..

  • 24 days ago

    Ruth told a lie. I think the lie.is...............


    2. In later years, he was part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

  • 22 days ago
    last modified: 21 days ago

    Well, looks like no one else is guessing.

    Annie, correct on the lie.

    One of my ancestors was part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but it was not my 4th Grandfather. I believe it was a distant cousin in the same part of the family.


    I mailed my cards on Friday.

  • 21 days ago

    I don't know about anyone else, but I was waiting to see if Annie was right. That was my first guess too! It's awesome that you know that history about your family Ruth!


    Jeanne said she was getting her cards out soon too.


    Annie - want to take a turn?

  • 21 days ago

    Here I am....2 Truths and a Lie


    #1....My family lived in Japan for 3 years while I was in grade school.


    #2....My first car was a yellow Ford Pinto.


    #3.....I don't drink soda.

    l1oness thanked canyonwind
  • 20 days ago

    Annie ~ Lie (number 3)


    I will mail out cards tomorrow since yesterday was a holiday/raining



  • 20 days ago

    Nicole you are incorrect.....it is TRUE.....I don't like soda.....addicted big time to it when I was younger.....not good.....gave it up!!



  • 20 days ago

    Lie.......

    #2....My first car was a yellow Ford Pinto.

  • 19 days ago

    I think Ruth is right, but Annie will have to confirm.


    Speaking of - thank you Ruth! Your card arrived. It was a fun mail surprise.


    Hopefully the other cards land soon!




  • 19 days ago

    HAHA.....got ya girls! No, the truth is, my first car was a yellow Ford Pinto......what a great car!!!!


    The lie....I did not live in Japan with my family when I was in grade school.

    In high school I did go on an exchange program toJapan for a Summer.


    I love these games!!

  • 18 days ago

    Heidi, good to see you.............


    Your lie.......


    2. I have 75 kinds of saved seeds to plant this year


    *****************


    GOT MAIL.......


    Thank you Miss Mandy.....lovely card, stickers and a packet of colorful heart confetti.....and I was very happy when confetti went flying as I opened the envelope. I confess I knew it was in the envelope as I heard it shaking and a rolling around. But I did not care.....I LOVE IT. Thank you!!

    Heart confetti is not just for Valentines month. It is perfect every month, every day of of the year.





    l1oness thanked canyonwind
  • 18 days ago

    Heidi, good to hear from you.............


    lie....... 1. My family is related to Bonnie and Clyde


    Bonnie and Clyde were not related and did not have children so my thoughts are that your family could be related to one of them, but not both.

  • 17 days ago

    Hopefully Heidi gives us the answer soon!


    I'm glad cards have arrived.

  • 16 days ago

    Maybe............no one has guessed the lie yet

  • 15 days ago

    Hoping everyone is OK......


    Happy Sunday!!

  • 15 days ago

    Got mail goodies from Nicole last night.
    Thanks
    I love the selection of everything.

  • 14 days ago

    Somehow we are related to Clyde. My aunt likes to dig into this stuff. It's a cousin of a cousin...

    The lie is I have 75 seeds

    You're right...

    My lie.......

    2. I have 75 kinds of saved seeds to plant this year

    Heidi

    So far my FOTESS is only on my office computer. I'll get someone young to help this vintage person get access on my phone.

  • 14 days ago

    These are such cool facts for everyone! Nicole - did you want to go? Did we miss anyone else?


    If I am correct, we're waiting on 2 cards to arrive.


    Annie sends to Jeanne
    Jeanne sends to Nicole
    Nicole sends to Ruth- Received
    Ruth sends to Mandy- Received.
    Mandy sends to Annie- Received


    Mandy

  • 14 days ago

    Thank you Jeanne for the card/goody.


    Sure Mandy, two truths and one lie


    1. I love sunflowers

    2. I enjoy baking cheesecake.

    3. My major in college was Business, option Marketing

    l1oness thanked bluee19
  • 14 days ago

    lie........... 3. My major in college was Business, option Marketing

  • 13 days ago
    last modified: 13 days ago

    So sorry, everyone. What a month! I closed on my house yesterday so lots of paperwork/phone calls leading up to that, plus I have been sick all month - not fever and stay in bed type sick, just nagging things and very tired. And somehow due to updates or expired continuation of what used to be, the software on my phone has joined how confused I am on how to use my two computers. Still trying to figure out how to get here and there.

    Anyway, enough of that. I was so happy to get my card from Annie. Lovely mermaid with lots of bling and surprises inside and some beautiful daisy stickers. (It came several days ago... more of me being slow to post.)I tried a different area for transferring my picture and it let me delete the background so here it is. I might like photos better with the background. We'll see.

    I did mail to Nicole and the extra person. Sent a day or two after Valentine's Day.

    l1oness thanked sandlapper_rose
  • 13 days ago

    Hi Jeanne! I am so glad to hear from you and hope for better days/tomorrows. Thank you for your cute card, I think you made it?


    Ruth ~ I majored in business after being undecided for freshman year then thought teaching was something I wanted to do but realize it wasn't my cup of tea, then finally had to decide so chose Business Administration. Then I had to choose which option and marketing was the only one out of all of them that sounded appealing even though I am awfully afraid of speaking infront of people. Go Figure right, hahaha. But all in all, it all worked out in the end, I worked in Human Resources and it forced me to manage all type of people/workloads. I am just glad I am done with all of it now.


    Also, I think its so hard to decide on what to major to go to when in High School let alone going to college to find out what you really want to do for the rest of your life.

  • 13 days ago

    Nicole - let's try the lie is "I love baking cheesecake."

    Just a guess, because that one is a tricky dessert sometimes.


    I'm glad people have received their cards. At least we had one addition to the group chat this month. Hopefully a few others will join next month.


    I hope you feel better soon Jeanne! And I hope everyone else stays healthy through the last of the winter season. It's almost March already... wow.

  • 12 days ago

    Mandy ~ Yes, you are correct. Although I like a slice of cheesecake once in awhile. I wouldn't want to make it again. Its a two step process plus the amount of cheese/other ingredients, its quite unhealthy although very tasty.


    Hope everyone is doing well!! Have a wonderful rest of the week!!!

    l1oness thanked bluee19
  • 12 days ago

    Nicole, takea a chance and play with making a cheesecake. I think they are on the easier side of baking....much prefer makng a cheeecake over a cake from scratch.....and I would never call myself a baker. ever!!!!! And I don't want to talk about unhealthy....no fun in that. My goodness woman, everything is unhealthy.....I do no eat sweet stuff very often but if I am going to eat "it", "it" better be bad for me and damn it taste good. One must enjoy life!!!

  • 9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Thank you, Mandy for hosting a fun month.

    I like Mandy's February theme so much that I will host March and keep the theme similar.

    I will post for March tomorrow.

    l1oness thanked ruthz
  • 9 days ago

    Mandy, simple and fun month.....Thank You!!


    Curious who you gals sent your OTHER card to. I sent to Shirley (britneysgran). I did not hear from her. and obviously she did not post here. Mandy's OTHER card was Heidi and she posted here. How about Nicoe, Ruth and Jeanne?? Mandy, I loved that idea!!


    Looking forward to March.....


    Happy weekend!!

  • 9 days ago

    Annie, I sent to Nikki.

  • 8 days ago

    Annie ~ I sent to Margo


    Happy Sunday everyone!! Daylight savings coming up soon.

0