That sounds like a lot of fun, Kathy! Sounds like you will do a great job!

Tracy - just forget I said that geranium seeds need to be in the dark. Only one of my packets says that, the others say they need light. I don't know why my 'Orange Appeal' say that, but NONE of the others do, so I'll probably just try them all the regular way.

All of a sudden, I am thinking about where I am going to put all these plants as they get bigger, but before they can go outside! I plan to have at least 576 (all 8 Jiffy greenhouses full) plants growing within the next several weeks! I think I'm going to have to tell hubby that I need to order some of those cheap azalea pots from Novosel, and probably put another table or two in the basement. Boy, I don't think he knows what he let me get into!!!

Oh, and pease add me to the list of those that would really prefer not to get Tulips. I do however have some to send, but don't mind if I get someone who doesn't want them either - it's not like I went out and bought them for this!

Beautiful pictures, but I hear you on the melting snow, Tracy! On warm days when snow melts around here, it's a REAL mess! Right now, school buses can't drive on the gravel roads! Every bus has to follow a pavement only route, which means kids on gravel roads have to find another way to get out to the pavement. We are very fortunate that we live right next to a paved road!! The gravel roads are just a mess right now!

One of my azalea cuttings bloomed! I am all of a sudden wondering though if I should cut all the buds and blooms off, though. So they don't spend their energy on making the flowers, but rather on making roots?? Anyone know??

Have a great day, everyone!!!

Hugs,
Becki

I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying my idea :) I was sooo nervous about suggesting it!

I'm doing some azalea from seed, was the only thing I could get. I think I'm just going to direct sow it, any suggestions? I miss having azaleas after growing up in SW Louisiana. So getting these growing is really important to me and I don't wanna mess it up, but I've never done them from seeds, always cuttings. They're the lavender ones, and I'm looking forward to them and hopefully later getting some of the pinks and reds.

Good Morning Becki! I did a little research and it looks like the one geranium that you have that needs dark to germinate is an annual variety. The rest are most likely the perennial kind. I found a post on Gw where someone asked about germination and there was all kinds of advice re: dark germination and then another gardener stopped everyone with the question of p vs a. Turns out she did have the annual kind and dark was required for those. When you have a small amount you can just stick that tray in a shoe box and put the lid on it in a warm spot. She uses the top of her refrigerator.

Yes, snip off the blooms so they can concentrate on root development. I was just thinking the same thing with all of my winter sown seeds. I will be looking at Novosel too and think I will try to get some of the 2 1/2" pots and 4" pots to divide into and grow out the roots in.

We have sooooo much snow on the ground. It has finally stopped snowing and should be done for a while. Wednesday we will have 40 degree temps. This will all melt at once and we will be in for flood warnings. The lake will be back, I am sure of that. Yick! The kids are chomping at the bit to go out and play in it. I think Emma will just get stuck in one spot and not be able to move! LOL!

Kathy, I think your ideas sound great! I don't know of many varieties of fragrant or evening blooming plants so maybe you could post a list of some for me. I am not a music fan. Plants are definitely out for me with the temps that we get. Maybe you could set it up with zone partners? That might be a nice change, I can't remember ever doing that before. All of you warmer climate gals could put in some green stuff while us northerners can keep playing with seeds.

I'm putting together a list of night blooming/night scented flowers and plants and will post it with the RR details in a week or so :)

Thanks for doing that research, Tracy! Honestly though, most of my other geraniums are also annuals, and they all say light. I'm a bit confuded by that, but I guess I'll follow the growing instructions for each. I planted the orange appeal in a little 12 hole greenhouse, and put it on top of my computer (as it said it requires bottom heat), and put a little shoebox sized tin over it.

I also won't be able to take plants until probably May. And I LOVE playin' with the seeds!!!

Oh - BTW, no I have to convince Dave to let me spend $100 for 500 4" azalea pots (hopefully the things I plant that only need 4 weeks or so, will be able to be transplanted directly into the ground), 10 carrying things for them, 20 8" hanging baskets, 50 1 gallon lightweight pots, and 200 various sized bamboo plant stakes!

hello all, i like your idea kathy! pretty cool!! well i think thiss is the last week then i post partners. :')) hmm then we'll be on our way!! :'))
we have tons of stuff planted!! hubby hasn't said to much, his only thing,,,,, i HOPE it DOES produce food HONEY!!!!! LOL so this winter sowing thing, i hope i don't mess it up!! i'll have to keep checking on my soil and making sure its watered enough. because i have all my seeds in there!! LOL i can't tell you how many hundreds of seeds i planted alone this past two weeks!! more than enough. and i still have more to do!! i need to get on them carrots though!! that'll be cool!! LOL purple carrots, and orange one's. oh my!! LOL

Kathy, thank you for helping me out on some ideas! I love fragrant plants but don't have a clue where to start.

Becki, don't you just hate the little extras that keep popping up? I am in the same boat. I want to make some money with my plants. I am growing a ton of specialty perennials in hopes of selling them this summer and next for a little extra moolah. I keep having to invest in my plan! Ack! Where does it end? LOL!

Michele, me too. All my seeds are out there with my high hopes attached to them. I keep visiting the WS forum and the seed growing forum to find all the answers. lol! Not much in the way of food growing plans. I have some Better Boy Tomatoes and Some Spinach. That is about all in the vegie category. I have some herbs too.

If I'm not too late, can I join in on this swap, too?

Deb

Tracy - yes, those extras keep popping up! It was kind of pricey to buy all the 3 flaurecent light fixtures that I did, plus all the bulbs (I've got at least 1 of the 2 in each fixture a Plant/Aquarium light, which are almost $7 each! I hope to get to the point where they are all that way, but I'm going to add one or two at a time. And I'd like to purchase a case of 1000 of those azalea pots, but I think that's going to pushing it a bit. We'll see - I might have to be EXTRA good for a little while! ;) I wish we all lived closer together, so those of us that want to start our own little nursery could do so together!!! Wouldn't that be fun? We could chat while we're tending to the plants!!

Anyway, off to work on planting my petunias and coleus, and maybe the rest of my geraniums! I'm gonna run out of room really quickly!!!

Deb, I think you are still in time, dear! But, I'll let Michele tell you for sure!

Hugs,
Becki

Hi Girls! :O)
~Tracy, those pictures...wow. Very pretty! But, I'm freezing just THINKING about it. *shiver* Brrrr.
~Medo, Have you gotten your greenhouse set up yet??
~Becki, I'm jealous of your azaleas & camellias!! I've wanted both for FOREVER....I just can't seem to get around to snipping starts off anyone else's plants! :O)

How is everyone else doing this weekend??

I got a rose bush from hubby today! (he's a sweetheart!!) It's a deep purple/plum color...just gorgeous! I think it's called "Intrigue"? (I'll have to look at the label again)
He wanted to cheer me up, and by golly...rose bushes never fail!! :O) I'm tickled to pieces!! :O)

We've had a good weekend, actually. One of the best we've had in awhile. MIL watched all (all 5!!) the kids last night, so hubby and I spent the night alone (WOW! First time since last summer!!!). We got to watch a movie without interuption!! And it wasn't a cartoon!! Woo-Hoo!! We watched "The Notebook". Which was a good movie...but I really enjoyed the book SO much better. There was alot more depth to the book than there was in the movie. But, it was still great. Hubby even shed a few tears. :O)
THEN....we went out to Walmart! At 1am!! Without kids!! And we didn't even need a grocery cart!! And I didn't have to take my purse, either!! (we just window shopped!! LOL)
Wow, I felt so naked!! No kids, no cart, no purse....It was exhilarating!! Honest!! LOL I actually giggled while walking through the store....Made heads turn, that's for sure. :O)

Ahhhhh...so right now, I'm relaxed. But reality will be back in about 30 minutes. Hubby went to pick up the kiddos...and while I missed them ( a teeny bit, LOL) I really enjoyed being able to talk to my hubby without having to wipe a nose, change a diaper, moderate a fight, get a glass of water...etc...in the middle of a sentence. :O)

hiya!! welcome mom!! :')) everyone is welcome to join, they have til the 16th at midnight or till i fall asleep, LOL the 17th i work on that ever so happy list!! LOL :'))
geez bunny!! a actual movie!! :'))
hey we're waiting on some heat this way!! its kinda nice today! but its his first day off and he has to work tonight as a cop. errrr!! the poor guy never really has a day/night off. whenhe's not working in one place he's working at the other.
ok enough whining.
tracy ya wanting any veges?? Lord knows i have some. i'd onlybe so happy to share with my friend!! **big ol smile**
:')) i think the only thing i have to get is zuccini. tabor absolutely loves the stuff. don't know why but he does and i guess i love it fried. or is hould say baked. LOL
a case?? LOL my goodness/ how much is that??? definately approach it with a money making idea, becki!! dave seems to have that money making sense to him. but i'd break it all down. go with the if i spend this much, i could sell these for this much and make this much. for some reason my hubby see's it that way, and he don't own a busnss. but i bet from the way you say dave is. he will relate to it. and that's not bad. heck with me its pros and cons, or hmmmmmm..... LOL just tell me the bill is paid and i'm fine. ok. and tell me your gonna actually use the dang thing not like the dang ar you got and STILL have not shot!!!! ERRRRRRR....
LOL but i'm sooo not smiling about that. MEN!!! LOL gotta love them!! that's a smile :'))

Melissa - I am SO GLAD that you've had such a nice weekend!! My hubby actually came and picked me up on Friday night, and we left the kids at home, and went and got some booze, went to Walmart to look for more growing lights (which they were sold out of), listened to hubby make some very bad comments kinda loudly when he picked up 'Brokeback Mountain' thinking it was a cowboy movie, and I explained a little bit what it was about, then came home and sat out in the van (after checking on the kids) and drank and talked until 2 am! It was quite the evening, but a lot of fun! (Except for the dirty/amused/laughing looks we got at Walmart!)

I got my petunias planted (about 125 of them!) and coleus. The rest of the gernaniums are going to have to wait until tomorrow. I used up 2 greenhouses just today!

Michele - a case of 1000 4" pots is $90. But, they will ship it for free, and give you 15% off! If I am going to do perrenials that I will sell next year (which I am going to wait on planting until later, as they mostly won't flower this year anyway), I will probably want more of the gallon sized pots too. We'll see. Anyway, yes, I think if I can explain to him how much I can make, he will go for it - it's just the not knowing for sure if they will sell!! That's a little scary, when you are putting big money out there!

I have been fun planning out things for this summer! I'm planning on making a sunflower house for the girls, and a plant teepee for the boys. They are getting excited about it too. Plus, hubby said if I want some arbors, show him what I want, and he will make them. I also told him I could really use some hog or cow panels, and web some string around the bars to climbing plants, and he seemed to like that idea too. So, things are coming together! Yay! But, he's not so much thinking about that today, as he is working on building some more nests for in the chicken coops. It's looking good!

Hugs,
Becki

yay becki!! i wish i could send you some money!! LOL
why can't you take some of that money you make from them truffels?? i sooo have to order some!! grant buys some chocolate donuts and once in a while i take a bite or two, but i have to watch it or i could go hawg wild!! LOL
hey pixie!! howd the trip go??
bunny how'd the lunch go?? them kidd's are sure praying hard for ya and ed and his boy, that's what they say. LOL
ohhhh i slove them so much!!! they are so kind but as kind as they are they are wrecking my brain!!! LOL and today tabor was so happy cuz he was a trash digger and dug something so cool!! LOL ummmmm how embarasing that he told the minister or whatever he is!! LOL but gotta love the innocense of it all!! LOL how's your weather tracey??
and how's the job prospect for your hubby frances?? i sure hope its looking better!!
ohhhhhh becki i woulda loved to see dave's face on that movie!!! LOL HEE HEE so he's a MAN"s MAN !! LOL the ruff tuff type ehhh??? i bet his hands are all calloused!! ya know i'm sooo laughing just htinking about his reaction!!! LOL i think he might be my long lost brother or grants!! LOL

for me, its....i'll remember where i put it....then later it's.........wher in the world did i put that thing at??? LOL i almost never remember remember where i put something at. so what's your famous phrase?? LOL its gotta be good!! i know it has to be!! LOL

Well, not famous as far as someone famous having said it, but my favorite saying is "Your life can't be horrible with the bounty of Nature around you"

Just popping in to say Happy Monday all!

Hello from the Snowbelt! Left to right is Dan, Jack, Emma and Pat.

Jack Attack

Emma the Happy little Snow Bunny

Danny's Snow Castle

Emma throwing a Snow Ball at Mom!

"If wishes were horses then beggers would ride" is one of my favorite old sayings. My mom would always say that to us when we were little. Any time we got on a "I wish we could/had..." tangent.

Ed came home last night at 6:30 safe and sound but completely exhausted. We were only half kidding when we said goodbye to each other on Friday when we said "See ya Sunday". Turned out to be true. He only got around 3 1/2 hours of sleep all weekend. He finally got 7hours of sleep last night. He was up at 4 am today to go out and clear away more of the snow. It looks like they are going to be using a front end loader to clear some of the bigger lots and then haul it away in dump trucks. Thankfully this is the final clean up from the blizzard. It has all stopped and the 40 and 50 degree temps are on their way.

Michele, please tell Tabor and Talla I said thank you for all of their prayers. I love them for caring so much about our guys. They are the sweetest little kids. They are in my prayers too.

Melissa, I am happy to hear that you had a good weekend. Good for you that you got some quality alone time in with the hubby. What a sweetie he is for doing that. I hope you are feeling much better today.

Becki, I have been waiting for new trellises here for forever! I really need some after all of the clematis I picked up last year. Right now they are draped on my chain link fence but they will outgrow that in a heartbeat this summer.

Michele - I appreciate your wish that you could send me money, but don't worry about it - the government should be doing that soon anyway! You are way too sweet!!

ADORABLE pictures, Tracy!!! Wow, girl! You're kids look like they were having LOTS of fun! The snow here unfortunately isn't much fun anymore, as it's all kind of iced over. Makes getting around the yard for chore a dangerous thing!

OMG - I am SO excited!! The 'Orange Appeal' geraniums I planted yesterday are getting ready to pop up already!!! I couldn't believe it when I took them off the computer and set them on the desk and took off the cover! I can see two of them peeking out through the soil! I'll wait until they actually get above the soil to move them into the lights, but WOW! That is amazing!! I've got the jiffy pellets soaking now to plant the rest of my annual geraniums! I think I'll do them all in the dark now that I see how well that worked!! Now to just find a place that will work as a bottom heater for a big 72 pellet greenhouse!

Tracy - I'm hoping he will actually do it! I will actually draw up some plans, and hopefully the fact that I did that will get him to work on it. I hope to get some clematis this year, so that would be awesome on one! I also intend to have TONS or morning glories this year, and I think we decided not to have them climb the white picket fence, so I need things for them to climb too. Plus, I have lots more vines I want to start! BTW - I saw the Menards has wooden trellises on sale this week for $6.99. I'm not sure if they are big enough for your clematis, but it migh be worth checking.

Hugs!
Becki

I met Pixie, what a doll, with quite the handsome hubby. we had a great time. they treated me to steak.and we cruised the planters at my hotel for seeds. I had a ball, your turn to come to seattle now. Thankyou I love ya. hugs carol

Hello Everyone!

It is beautiful here today, though we have been getting frost at night, the little greenouse and seedtrays seem to be keeping everything warm enough (must be their sprouting like MAD things) I have so many seedlings now I think I will have to dig up my whole yard to plant them! (not that it would hurt my feelings.... but I think DH might take a dim view) Forsythia are in full bloom now! and the daffodil too. Dutch iris are developing flower stalks and my peony are bushing out! TB Iris are all sending up new fans.... I am so excited because this will be the first year of flower for almost everything in the yard!

Tracy what beautiful children! such open happy faces! I am glad that your DH has made it home in one piece!

Carol, sounds like you had a wonderful time!

Oh Becki WOW! you really make me wish for a basement (or any spare space really) I would love to have a nice area for plants indoors! OOOH I want a greenhouse!

Stay warm ladies.... spring is really coming! More later

Frances

awwwww tracy your kids are sooo adorable!!! i could just scoop them up and cuddle them!! :'))

becki i have some more clematis seeds if ya want!! and some mg seeds, not the ones listed, others. and i like to have them twist on twine. they grow really good!! its alot better then all over and you can get seeds easier!! LOL :')) mho

veeja that is soo cool!! i'm so glad that you all had a great time!! she is the sweetest!! it couldn't go wrong!! your the sweetest too!! :')) LOL :'))

tues its supposed to get 68 YAY!! but then by the end of the week, the usual, back down. LOL

well chat at ya'll later :')) oh and LOVE your saying tracy!! LOL

Whew! I just stuck 10 trades in the mail!

This pics in the snow are just adorable!

And I was lookin' at seed sites! Hehe.. didn't buy anything, got about 15 trades I'm waiting to have come in and two orders from value seed, but I was adding to my wants list!

Weather is pretty here today, didn't even need a jacket! And it's suppose to stay that way all week, with T-storms later in the week. But i know better than to start playing in the dirt just yet, EVERY year here we get a freeze over Easter weekend and I'd lose anything that's sprouting. Soooo I'm contenting myself with more winter sowing and I bought myself the cutest, very healthy Jade plant at WalMart earlier! *mumble* and bought some more bulbs for this RR.. and some other stuff... Errr.. what was that? Noooo, I didn't get anything else but groceries... :P Ummm...
Hear that? Yeah, it's my bread maker going off.. I need to take the dough out and set it to rise in the pans... laters!

Good morning Girls!!
Sounds like everyone has had a great weekend! :O)

I couldn't help it...with the warm weather today, I went and dug my naked ladies. So...at last count, I've got over 300 bulbs. And about 50 daffs. Now, I know that Becki had said she would like some...do you still want some, Becki? And Diene had said she'd like some, also...
But please refresh my memory about who wanted some!! :O) Just email and let me know....I've got plenty to share. Got to get them out within the next day or so, I think.

The meeting Friday went OK...I've got a chance to work with a fella from work, to learn some professional editing on the side...but it wouldn't pay right now. I'd just be doing it to learn the skills so that I could get a job elsewhere. But, there are some underlying issues that are keeping me from jumping into it with both feet. I've got a lot of prayer & contemplation to do before I can commit to anything. It would be a great chance, but there are no guarantees that I would be able to get a job doing this...and also...it's a bit like sacrificing to the devil at this point. (Tracy, you'll know what I mean here)
*sigh*

ANYWAY!
Just shoot me an email if you're interested in the naked ladies, girls!! They need a new home!! :O)

Bunny, I wouldn't mind a few. Let me know how to go about it :)

Kathy

Hi ya'll,

I have alot of catching up to do, miss a day and WOW!!! Fox went with me to Ft. Worth to meet Carol. We had a wonderful trip. I wish everyone could have gone with me to meet her, she is a wonderful Lady. One of the nicest ladies I have met.

Carol, I put the "rescued" plants in pots this morning after they stayed the night in a cup of water. They are happy. I also forgot to take our picture dangie! We got home about 11.5. Thank you for such a wonderful time!

Tracy, those kiddo's look soo happy! Their lil rosy noses are shinin!

I will catch up on all the posts and post more later. We are under a tornado warning here today and its hailing out right now but its in the 70's at least.

Smiles,
Pixie

Hi girls! Thanks for your nice comments on the kids. They are a very happy bunch! LOL! Lots of energy too so I was so happy that the temps gave them the opportunity to go play in the snow! They had a great time.

Carol and Trina, I am so happy that you had a nice time! Rescued plants? LOL!

Frances, I am excited to see some spring blooms. Please take pictures for all of us spring starved folk! Pretty please?

Bunny, it took me a minute and then I went "ohhh nooooooooo!"

Kathy~
Just email me and let me know how many you want. We can work out a trade or you can have them for postage. Either way!! :O)

Hazelnutbunny@hotmail.com

Melissa

oh bunny i'm sorry for ya. i dont know whats all that about but i'll send ya a big hug!! we're still praying something good will come along for ya!!

we went to topeka and got some capri's, YAY!! but now i have to shave my legs!!! this is gonna take a long time!!! LOL ya know winter and all!! LOL that's what i tell hubby :'))

man what they will believe!! LOL

well now we have fanny packs to start carrying so i don't have to carry a purse, and talla don't like to carry one since daddy has one for some odd reason. and that's the same reason bub has one too. so this will be cool i guess. ??? never really used one i don't think.

Here is a link that might be useful: medontdo rate

oops!! sorry bout that!! was trying something and then forgot!! LOL i'm like a ding dong phase today!!! LOL

OK Melissa!!!! I am going to grouch at you for a bit. YOU are the one that mentioned the Betty Crocker "Warm Delights"...... I got 4 last Thurs. 1- Lemon (I love Lemon) cake; 1- Hot Fudge Brownie; 1- Molten Chocolate Cake; 1- Chocochip (for Alan). I fixed the Lemon last Friday, it was ok but tasted like the lil cakes that are made in the lil girls Bake Oven thingie. I fixed the Hot Fudge Brownie tonight and ummm hmmm I ate half of it (VERY RICH AND YUMMY) gave the other half to fox (who didn't like the lemon cake at all) thinking he would have something bad to say about it and HE ATE THE REST OF IT AND THEN TOOK HIS FINGER AND SCRAPED UP ANYTHING LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE BOWL THING!!!! I know that the HFB will be bought again. I showed them to Alan just a bit ago and he said "what no more brownies???" So I had to compensate and tell him that I got the other two for him LMAO right, just the choco chip cookie for him. I am fixed on chocolate for a while now hopefully. But those are very good so I don't know whether to grouch or be thankful Melissa lol. Thank you really, I would have never ever tried them. Gonna keep some in the pantry now. (after all 1T and 1tsp of water and 45 seconds later a yummy fix: What more can ya ask for???)

Smiles,
Pixie

Smiles,
Pixie

Okay...well, Miss Pixie...You KNOW my motto:

So...you were warned. :O)

Besides...there are PLENTY of reasons to like chocolate!
EXAMPLE:

I rest my case.

I'm an Aunt again!! :O)

My brother's girlfriend had the baby last night. A little boy, 7lbs 10oz....named him Dreken Aikaus (ah-kay-us). SO...THANK GOODNESS it wasn't what he was wanting it to be. Evidently, GF had a argument with him about it, and won! Yay!
But on the other side of that argument...Dreken means "Snake or Dragon" & "Man or Warrior". Sooooo...it's not too far off from Lucifer, if you ask me. Just disguised. Oh well. :O)
I'm just excited the baby is here & healthy....and has a head full of black hair! UGH! I'm jealous!! Adora is STILL bald, and she'll be 2 next month!! Good Grief!! LOL
But he's dark complected, too...definitely a little Cherokee baby. I'll post some pics later, when I find batteries for my camera. :O)

Congratulations Aunt Bunny! Thank God she won the argument (seriously, I prayed over that name)! I am so relieved! Woo hoo! How is the new Mommy feeling? I am so happy for them!

Pixie, poor girlie, next thing you know there will never be enough of those bowls in the house for you when a craving strikes. You know what will happen, those men folk will have attacked them while you weren't looking! lol!

Becki, I am shocked at how quick those geranium sprouted! Holy Moly! LOL! I planted my perennial geranium "Painters Palette" yesterday along with a whole bunch of Apricot Foxglove. I have 33 containers sowed. Still hunting for more jugs and 2 liters! I may have to start garbage picking! lol!

congradulaions hnb!! the name is better than lucifer!! people won't pick up on that as fast!! :'))
grant totally loves that nameok pixie, wanna hear something, i told talla you were a real fairy, so she believes me!! LOL i needed to believe that i knew a real fairy. :')) so she would be really good :') she gets a kick out of it!! :'))
we have been using coffee plastic thingi's they work really good!! and cottage cheese containers the bigger one's. gosh we go thru them like crazy sometimes!! LOL i love, LOVE cottage cheese!!

Congratulations, Bunny!!! I am so happy they changed the name they were planning!!! I'm sure you are a very pround auntie!!

Pixie and Veeja - I am so glad you girls got to spend some time together! I hope I can meet some of you gals someday too!!!

Yes, Tracy - I am SHOCKED at how quickly that happened. Seriously, within 24 hrs. I saw green peaking out! This morning, I took 10 of the 11 and put them under the lights. They were already sticking out of the soil. Just 1 of the orange appeal is still hiding. Then, as I only had 11 of those seeds, I planted 1 border supreme geranium with them, but haven't seen anything out of him. I planted 72 border geraniums yesterday - most were mixes, and a few were just scarlet. I should have PLENTY of geraniums!! Between the geraniums, begonias and petunias, plus the other things I've done in much smaller amounts so far, I should have OODLES of flowers this summer!!!! I'm doing tomatoes and peppers this afternoon, and when I finish those, my table will be full already! In less than a week!!! Soo... I know I'm going to need another table and more lights. My poor hubby!!! He reminded me last night how much more important it was to pay attention to the things in the house, than what will be outside of the house, so I've spent the morning cleaning. 2 hours of that was without power - I was pretty happy when that came back on!!!

Good job on the 33 containers sown, Tracy! Are those all winter sown? I only ended up doing 4 winter sown containers. I'll be excited to see what happens with them! I might still add a few more - I see Geum looks like it's a prime candidate for that yet, and a few others.

I've been saving the plastic containers like crazy! I have a bunch of yogurt, cottage cheese, cool whip, ice cream containers - that will at least get me a start on transplanting!

I am a bit envious of you that are able to eat those Warm Delights!!! I used to think those were so yummy!!! My favorite was the chocolate chip cookie, and then I'd put a little scoop of ice cream on it while it was still warm. Yummy!!! I suppose someday, maybe I'll have one of those for lunch...?

Okay - I'd better go. I hope to have the house at least a bit neater looking before I start my planting again!

Hugs,
Becki

;)

Took some photos this morning Tracy, not too many actual flowers, the light around here is a bit odd in the morning.

but oh well.... lots of 'spring like' pics for you snow bound girls! Buds and sprouts and maybe a few birdies too. Just have to wait till I get back from lowes. (I need more seed mix or peat pots or something!) good heaven. I would really kill for some kind of grass to grow here. the 'lawn' is just evil and I would probably "ROUND UP" the whole thing if it wasn't for the Violets... (they are just too pretty to kill) should of snapped the dandelions! lol, this is the only time of year we have them! I do try to control them, but the climate does a pretty good job without my help.

More in a bit

Frances

Awwww! Violets! I wouldn't spray em either!

Well, lots of trades in the mail and sending to Melissa for those Naked Ladies! Should have seen my 20 yr old son's expression when he saw the subject line in our emails! Then he starts telling his girlfriend on the phone that she'd better watch out, that he can get 30 naked ladies for 6 bucks! We all rolled with that one for the rest of the evening!

Just a few more days til we find out who we're paired with and I'm really excited! I've got lots of goodies for my partner! So, we should probably send these in a Priority box, right? I'm getting ready to start putting mine all together cause it's scattered over my desk and bedroom!

Kathy

LIKE NOW!!!
Oh, My Goodness, Kathy!! Are you calling me cheap?!?
LOL!!
Whooo-boy.

OMG i am sooo laughing at that!! i told hubby about that!! LOL man the hoes in topeka'd be thinking something. LOL

oh frances i cannot wait to see them pics!! :')) we finally got ALL the snow gone!! no traces of snow here!! YAY!!! ya'd think with the 60 degree weather yesterday it'd been algone for sure then!! LOL

i forgot to save the yogurt ones, but at my moms, we did, and that's how i kept talla's fairy stuff separate, LOL my broccoli came up. geez i wasn't ready for that already!!
so now i have 17 peppers and 9 tomatos ready, as soon as the last frost i'm putting them babies out, they're 6" tall. the tomato are 8". all the others are being winter sown. nothing on them yet. :'(( boy am i praying i didn't mess them up. or should i say i don't mess them up!! for me, if there's a will there's a way to mess it up, i can find it!! LOL let's just hope i don't find it!! LOL :'))
now if i stop getting seeds and stop looking for them i'll do fine!! LOL i'm sooo nits!! oooops!! nuts!! ya know, al ong time ago i stopped trading seeds for the winter and such, but uhhhhhhh i just can't quit!!! ERRRRRR!!!! LOL :')) its crazy someone always has something i think is cool or i think,,,, hmmm that could go in the "yard sale" LOL :')) flower pot-zip, zero, nadda
potting soil- maybe .10
flower seed- maybe .15
plant marker-zip, zero, nadda
cost of total plant=.25
sell plant= maybe 1.00 ??
made 75 cents off the plant or if i sell it for 75 cents i make 50 cents either way its pretty cool!! that's not to much is it??? but in the end, totall happiness!! LOL

hope ya'll are having a great day!!

Frances, I will take all the green I can get at this point. I am starved for some spring around here. Can't wait for those pictures. We have tons of violets in our lawn too. Along with every type of weed, crabgrass, dandelion, etc. I don't use weed killer because we have well water and I am too afraid of the trickle down effect. No fertilizers either, not even miracle gro!

Becki, yep, those are all my winter sown containers. I will be doing my annuals in around 2-3 weeks. I will probably do those in trays and set them out on tables that I am going to set up in the back yard. I will have to take them in for cold snaps. I don't have grow lights or heat pads so will have to rely on mother nature being a little kinder with warm temps this spring.

Michele, last summer there was a lady in my town who had her "annual garage sale". She puts up a big carport tent for all her household stuff and then she has 8 tables with plants she divided out of her garden. Her lowest price was 1.50. That was for ground covers like pachysandra. Her daylilies were around 2.50 or 3.00 depending on how much she had. She made a ton of money. Our local paper does free classified ads if they are 3 lines or less so she was able to advertise her perennial sale/garage sale for free.

Kathy, you busted me up! Too funny!

Topeka hoes? ROFLOL

Sheesh all the hoes going around, is today national Hoe day??? Alan asked what I had been doing today and I told him I had hoed in the garden (made 4 long rows) and boy did that set him off. Too funny @ Topeka Hoes.

Well here is a pic of my bloomin azelea, it will be all pinkish purple in a couple of days.

YAY SPRINGTIME!!!!

well your azaleas are absolutely beautiful!!!!!! i soooo love them!!
see kathy!! i told ya, you had nothing to be afraid of!! this robin is a hoot!! LOL thay are absolutely nuts!! not one of them gals is unleaded!! LOL i'm sure all their caffein is all leaded!! LOL i know that bunny's is!! LOL

i'm so p*** right now at tabor, he thinks its ok to act like and call his buddies a , as he say's "wigger" i'm so mad!! i told him until he learns better things to refer to people by he cannot and willnot be hanging out with anyone!!! that is tooo demeaning and rude and offensive in my book!! and i tried to explain to him what the term wigger means. but to him it just means a white gangster. errrrrrrr!!! either wayyy not good!! how the h*** am i going wrong??? i so love that child but man is he stubborn!! but geez i wonder where he got that from?? LOL couldn't be me??? LOL
my passi edulis is growing like a weed!! i wish my maypop would!! but so far not!! :'((

Trina, your azalea is gorgeous! I love the vivid color of the blooms! So jealous, I am weeping over my keyboard! Boo HOO! I want my flowers! WAAAAAAAAAAH!

Michele, you aren't doing anything wrong, sweetie. They all say things they aren't supposed to. You did the right thing and told him it is wrong. I went through it with my oldest too. All we can do is show them the way and hope they follow.

Oh Michele, hon, you're not going wrong. I have a big problem with both the "N" and the "W" words. My kids learned really young with the "N" word, I use to smack them in the back of the head for it and they would even hear me say something to my parents, who are very old, deep southern, about that word. Like you, I find it degrading and rude as all daylights. It's used in the derogatory fashion, not the true definition of the word, which has no racial connotations.So they know well and better than to use it, but to be honest, each of my older boys tried it again when they hit pre-teen and at about mid-teen and still got smacked. Tiffy still hasn't tried it since she was young and heard her grandmother spout it. She's almost 15 now. I don't doubt that Vincent and Devin will try it again at least during one phase or the other. And they'll get smacked and talked to seriously at that time.

Tommy and Jarret tried the "W" word when they were young teens, it had just become the latest "hot" word. After trying,and failing, to convince me that I was just behind, they never said it in front of me again. I told them that I found it as degrading as I did the "N" word and the "B" word to describe women in general.

I don't physically discipline my kids very often, so when I do, they know it's serious. And more so once I explain the meaning of the word and why it's degrading and show them the correlation between it and other degrading words. Like Tommy likes to wear his ballcap backwards, does that make him the "W" word? Jarret likes rap, does that make the "W" word apply? They all use slang any more, so the same question again. Once they realize that it doesn't really apply to them and they wouldn't want others applying it because it would hurt their feelings, they stop using it... at least in my hearing. The same as using the word gay. Some people live the way they live regardless of whether others approve or not, as is their right in this country. Applying a label to them doesn't help the situation. My kids eventually learned to use a person's name when speaking about them, not applying labels, at least when talking to me or where they think I can hear. I keep adding that part because two of them are completely grown, so their choices are their own, but if nothing else, perhaps they will remember what I've taught them :)And at least I can sleep at night knowing that I did what I could to prevent another bigot in this world. And once they're grown, that's all we have.

Hugs,
Kathy~ getting off her soapbox.

Thank ya'll, I love the Azelea, it is close to 50 yrs old, was put there right after this house was built. Its HUGE believe it or not, the flowers are all the size of my fisted hand (my hand is 3"x5" lol).

Michelle you are doing the right thing. All we can do as parents is to raise our kids knowing right from wrong and with good overflowing. When they become adults they will remember their upbringing.

Michelle, I am going to have to drop out of this months swap. I have overdone things this month with swaps so am going to have to cool it for the time being. I am sorry.

Smiles,
Pixie

thanks!! i try to teach him that saying these things are wrong, and he says g a y , but i tell him its wrong, we like to use g a y as in happy too. to round out things more, but its hard to do that in public with the way things are these days. but more than anything they are polite in public, yes mam no mam or sir. so i'm happy with that. but it's the other!! and the f a g thing. man a nice bar of soap is looking good!! but then he'll clean up really well all of a sudden. like now. especially now that he know's he blew it big time!!

*GRIN* Ya know, when mine were younger, I went to a seed and feed store and bought a bar of Grandma's Lye soap......made for a nice threat, cause I never had to use it past having them put their tongue to it for a second just to get the "feel" for what it'd be like to have their mouths washed out. I still have that bar of soap to this day :)

awww pixie!! why'dya have to go and do that for?? LOL i stick to one, that's it!! but i get into trouble trading!! LOL
well i'll miss you!! BOO HOO!! hope ya get back on track soon!! i so know that feeling!! ya know it was probably them chocolates!! LOL man, they get ya everytime!! LOL (jk)
mine is brownies w chocolate bunnies in them, ya know shaved and i put more on them! awwww it tastes toooo good!! w a nice glass of milk mmmmmmmmm and some vanilla ice cream!! yummy!!

LOL Kathy, I remember growing up around my Grandma, she made her own LYE soap (aunt still does!) and I also remember tasting it a couple times! YUCKIEEEE

The one memory I will NEVER forget is when I was around 8 or so and my dad and mom had taken us three kids (two brothers and myself) to Kmart when I was around the 7-8 yr age. After daddy had parked the car but before we got out I, for some reason, said "J.C" and quicker than I had said it I felt the sting of my Momma's hand on my cheek, the only time she ever slapped me. I have to this day NEVER said that name unless I am praising Him or in worship. BUT, I had heard if from my parents so thought it was ok to say like I said it that day. Taught me a very big lesson thats forsure cause of course I asked WHY.

LOL Pix! I know the feeling! But you know, any more a parent can get into trouble doing that. But here's the thing, I really don't care. Though I don't discipline physically very often, my kids know I don't have a single thing against it. I've even told them I'll dial the police and CPS for them. I don't believe the government has the right to take away OUR right to raise our children. I don't beat my kids or abuse or neglect them. So I have nothing to fear in it. But a lot of kids and schools use it as a whipping stick, a boogey man in the shadows. That's why parents are afraid to teach their kids right from wrong definitively. That's why we have so many little hoodlums running around. My brother's stepdaughter, well, it's a long story, but she and her sister as well as my biological niece were all in DHS custody and my Mother and Dad were their foster parents. That child threw the most unimaginable tantrums! Even went so far as to SLAP my Mother! And then told her that there was nothing she could do, because the worker has told her that if Granny Faye spanked her that she would have her arrested. All of that was for putting her in a time out chair! Which was the only discipline available to us with these children. Oh...did I mention the child was 5?

That right there reaffirmed to me that my kids were going to learn how to behave, even if it took getting spanked.