The daisy and the sweet pea are the month's traditional flowers
April is a month that is brimming with all sorts of special days! This month we’re going to celebrate those days. While these are not the only special days or weeks or themes that April has, I though I’d mention a few that encompass faith, friendship, gardening and children. So, whatever your heart’s desire to include- Easter goodies, Stress relief, garden decorations, frogs and fairies (Beltaine being a time to see the fairies as well as the hand-fasting between the Lord and Lady!), fun things to do rather than clean house, something to celebrate Earth or Arbor Days, something to make a friend feel special for Hug a Friend Day, or things to share our gardens with a child. All are wonderful ideas for this swap! (And I’m sure Mark and Dan will take care of several pranks for April Fool’s Day!, but you can include some in your box as well!)

THE RULES
#1 You have to be 18
#2 You are to send 5 or more seed packets (plants, cuttings, spring bulbs, etc are welcome too! Just make sure there are 5 different items), 2 goodies for your partner that speak to at least one of the special days listed, and a note to your partner telling them more about yourself!
#3 Sign up's are until the 5th at midnight (April 5 midnight ET) and then partners will be assigned the next morning after I get up and moving (April 6).
#4. The boxes are to be mailed out by April 20th. This should give time to put together the box and hopefully have them all received by the end of the month. If you will be mailing late, for ANY reason, please either post here or contact your partner AND me privately by email. This way the at least the three of us are in the loop and know what's going on :)
#5. The Delivery Confirmation number is to be posted or sent to your partner and to Kathy(people like to know when it's arriving)
#6 You have to share what you’ve received by posting your box’s contents for us all to ‘Ohhh’ and ‘Ahhh’ over!
#7 Remember to post a review for your sender in the Rate and Review Forum!
#8. This is all about fun and friendship! Have a good time with it!

*hobbling out of bed, veeeery gingerly, cause mornings are the worst until the muscles warm up,* Okay, okay! I give! Clean up this mess and I'll show you the list! *hands on hips, surveying the carpet with the rather large 'smudges', you know, the ones that look more like holes* Is that my favorite sauce pan? *eying Tracy and the clanging pans* Oh, and I did the list with direct links to each person's trade list so it's easy for everyone to get to :) *tacking up the list* and giving you all a couple more links to April Celebrations that had some ideas about celebrating and activities.

Melissa (hazelnutbunny)and Linda (lindaruzicka)
Dan (dan_the_mailman) and Iris (rane_grow)
Monica(mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Tracy (joy_unspeakableand Kamil (kamiljablo)
Wendy(sassy butterfly_2008)and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Denise (antiqueorchid)and CA (sakura_komichi)
Cindy (cjcjmass)and Carol (veeja11)
Margo (smitties)and Deb (debbya)
Tonya(tootsiepop254)and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Jamie (ashcraftbunch)and Kim (hillbillygal)
Nikki (nikkineel)and Kathy(jaleeisa)
Mark (markcase1964)and Joseph(jdkind)
Annie (canyonwind)and Nichol(gardenmom2)
Diene (diene)and Amelia (amelia_pepper_lady)

Let the mayhem...ermm.. I mean thoughtful, caring swapping begin! I hope everyone enjoys getting to know each other! If there are any problems, let me know and I'll see what I can work out!

Kathy *wandering off to work on a devious...errmm... delightful box for Nikki!

List of April Special Celebrations 1

Woo-Hoo!!!

Oh, and BTW....100%, entirely true flaming marshmallow of death story. I was known for YEARS as chicken killer. CK for short.
Yep, I have yet to live that down.
My own KIDS won't even let me roast marshmallows.

The fear for the cat.
ROFL!

Kathy

Bunny, I wonder what other mayhem you caused while you were growing up! That is funny about your kids not letting you roast marshmellows, my kids got to the point they didn't want me using knives. I always get cut when I do, so if I needed a knife and asked them to go get me one they would bring me a butter knife!
I am the one that if it can happen to it will! I think you are the same way hehe.

Here is one of my if it can possible happen it will happen to me things:
I have a broom that had one of those plastic things on the top of the handle to hang it up with if you wanted to, well it was cracked and I was sweeping with it and moved it the wrong way, USUALLY I made sure the crack was to my palm. WELL THIS TIME I WASN'T THINKING as I was in a hurry. WELL! The crack splits open in a quick second and grabs my finger near where it attaches to the hand.
At this point it HURTS like all get out and I can not get enough grip on it with my other hand to either pull the plastic thing completely off or open the crack back up to get my finger out. Needless to say it HURT, and I am standing in the middle of the kitchen IN PAIN afraid to move because it was pinching the dickens out of my finger.
After a good mintue or two I decide I am going to have to go outside where the SO is to rescue me, so here I go OUTSIDE with a broom attached to my finger, as I am telling him I have the broom STUCK to me, he gives me this HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT LOOK and the you are so pathic look sort of at the same time!
After he gets it off my finger and I can move again, I said DIDN'T I TELL YOU! IF it can happen it is GOING to happen to me!
OK, you can stop laughing now.....

WOOOOHOOOO, THANKS KATHY! I think you have paired me with a terrific gal!

:) Fran

Debbya, any chance you can give me some clues as to hobbies or collections. :)

Oh, and last week....(this is embarrassing)....at church....I was nursing Lili, and....well....I flashed a few of the deacons. LOL At least they are understanding, and didn't call attention to it. But I can't look them in the face anymore....
I've also walked out of the nursery at church with my shirt tucked under my bra, exposing a good portion of skin.
Then, there's always the mail man.
He's been flashed a few times, too.
Plus the utility workers that came to fix the electricity.

I'm thinking maybe I should give up breastfeeding entirely.
But...on the bright side...at least it's keeping me humble!
ROFL!

I am out of town and will be home later today...will email you tonight or tomorrow! Oh this will be fun!!!

Thanks much!

Annie

(I was caught up in my own pot and pan clanging parade).

Have emailed Kamil - can't wait to get swappin'

~ Tracy

*cowering behind Kat*

this is going to be SOOOOO much fun!

***putting hose away after putting out the bonfire***

off to do some research and send an e-mail to Iris...

I'm really excited to have Nikki, and yes, hon, it is rather appropriate! I believe it was April last year that I hosted and that was Nikki's very first Round Robin.. along with a few other of you- Wendy and Dan, I believe- not sure who else though :) Not to mention that Nikki and I share a lot of similar tastes in the gardens!

Nikki, email me and let's see what kinds of goodies I can find for you!

HUGS,
Kathy

Hugs,
Wendy

Newbies, take a look at some online catalogs, please, and try to add a few things, even if it's just a few wants. This can give your partner an idea of things you like and they can either help you help them in figuring out what to send you or can use what you've listed as a jumping point :)

And if you do not have your email available on your page, please email your partner so they have it!

I'm so excited! This is going to be a wonderful swap!!

Kathy

How cruel! You gave me a newbie! Oh, oh, oh... poor Joseph!!!!!! LOL!

Joseph, I tried to email you but your email link did not work on your member page. Can you check it so we can chat about our swap?

Oh, and Joseph, If you haven't figured it out yet, Dan and I share a warped sense of humor! I like to have fun.

LOL! Hope you find that one funny... I thought it was. Looking forward to chatting.

Mark

PS that poor newbie gummy bear ...LOL Mark that is warped ... I'm not scared... but maybe Joseph should be ! LOL

~ Iris

I'll check into that link thing. I emailing you now.

Joseph

Okay, time for a shameless plug y'all! Next month we're going to try something never done before here on the GW! Bump (my fearless feline for those of you who are new), will be hosting the May MNF swap! I'll be watching over his shoulder, helping him along, but he's going to be doing all the work while I watch...lol! He's got a lot of good ideas, and will be posting the sign-up thread in a couple of weeks, so be prepared! Here's a picture of our next host...

Is anyone else having difficulty with the links to the trade lists that I put up? I know Pat had difficulty because I forgot to include the numbers in Joan's ID. I want to make sure no one else is having problems :)

Kathy

Guess I should get busy.....

I just sent you an email via GW. Let me know if you do not receive! Look forward to hearing from you!

Annie

How's everyone doin' today? It's freakin' COLD here today... but supposed to be back up to 70 tomorrow... this weather is NUTS!

Hugs,
Wendy

And Mark....WHY oh WHY couldn't you have used a GREEN gummy bear?? I don't know ANYONE that actually likes the green ones....LOL

~Wendy

I think it was a green gummy bear! Thats blood your seeing, O NO, Im in Trouble! LOL

Yep it's snowing here linda. 49 wensday though. If it's gonna snow i want alot so i can go and push it around and make $

O and Kathy I will be holding you personally responsible for my safty! LOL Fire? You mean like marshmallow?
Just hope
Mark doesn't think I'm a chicken.
right bunny?

Joan

Yep, watch out, Joseph. I've never received a box from Mark....but every guy I've ever known with that name has been ornery as all get out. And so far, Mark is proving that theory!! LOL

Okie doke, Ms Linda.
I have your box ready, all except the plants. I can wait a bit longer to mail, if you'd like.
I'll find some bulbs to stash in there for you, if I can't mail you plants.

We had snow blowing around like crazy today. But supposed to get back tothe upper 50's tmorrow and 60 the rest of the week. I am hoping for some wind though for a couple days though to help dry out the garden. I need to plant potatoes and lots of other things but can't near it. I wonder if I poke holes with the fork if t would help dry it out some. OF course I can't even do that until Thursday at the earliest b/c it is almost a pond right now.

Joe,.... I need to ask.... do you have any unwanted animals or friends???? I can supply the ingredients that will dispose (oops... sorry... dispel) the unwanted ones.

Mark

It will be May 26th. I check in at 6:30 am, surgery is at 8:30 am. It should take about 3 1/2 hours. I will have Cliff call Melissa to let her know how everything went and she can post here, if she's willing.

More info tomorrow, I' going to go eat and take some pills. I've been making arrangements with the children's father about the two youngest boys for during my recovery period.

I'll answer emails from those that have sent them today and be back on the board tomorrow. Nikki, I got yours and will respond tomorrow.

Just wanted to let all my family here know ASAP what's going on.

HUGS,

Kathy

I would be sure to open the box from Mark with tongs for sure! You never know what might jump out at you!

Yeap, Nik, we are getting a freeze tonight too! It is posed to be down in the low 20s! UGH!!!!!!! NO FAIR I SAY!!! Where is SPRING, MARK! YOUR COUNTER IS WRONG! I think you or ma nature are off by a few days!

:) Fran

Kat~ DUH. (lol!) You bet you can have Cliff call me, I'll be looking for it! Big prayers going out for you....Let me know if there's anything I can help with. :O)

We had a close call this morning. I was loading the girls up to go to Kmart, just to get out of the house (no boys this week, and we're lonely). But at the last minute, I decide "ya know...since we've all been sick, it probably isn't a GOOD thing to go expose everyone in the store to this junk...".
So I decide NOT to go.
Good thing, too, because the bank RIGHT IN FRONT of the Kmart I was going to had a bomb scare. Someone placed a box with a fake bomb in it at the front door of the bank. They had to evacuate everyone within so many blocks of the bank, and the ones inside the stores had to stay put, and then they had to detonate the "bomb" 6 times....just to make sure it wasn't real, and posed no threat. Took a few hours to do all that.

So it was a good thing I didn't go. I can't imagine being held hostage inside the Kmart for hours with 3 girls under 5.
ACK!

Glad you are all safe.

Nichol

Joan

You have mail.
Cindy

I've also got to finish getting some seeds together for a couple small trades as well as my young partner in the Adopt a Newbie swap and get those into today's mail. I'm also working through Nikki's list to see what goodies I can find her :) I have a couple things ordered to share, but I never figure a box is ready to go until it's stuffed as full as I can get it!

I agree Diene, it's rough asking someone in a lot of pain to wait longer. But I saw how busy this man's office was! Not to mention this week he's in France teaching neurosurgeons there how to do the surgery he will be preforming on me. How's that for reassurance that he knows what he's about with this? :P

So, the surgery for my spine is set. The reduction surgery I will find out more about on Friday when i see the plastic surgeon.

My two youngest boys, Vincent age 12 and Devin age 9, will be going to visit with their father for a month following my surgery to allow me some time to heal and recover. I'm not going to be able to do ANYTHING for that month and we figured that it would be best if they could visit with their father then. Surprisingly, their father agreed. Something he has never done before, even after I told him he would have to meet us halfway for drop off and pick up, and that I would not be able to send money or food for their care while they were there. He found out several years ago that he still has to pay child support, even if he has them the whole month, because child support helps maintain their primary residence. And that he still has to take care of their food and care while they are with him. So, he's chosen not to take any of them for more than a few days a year before now. And yes, this means I've not had a break either. LOL, we're not going to get into all of my issues with their father and his lack of assistance. But, he also knows how bad this spine problem is... we were dating when we had the wreck that was the catalyst for it. So, he knows what I went through that first year and afterwards learning to live with the pain.

So, they will be going to visit with him, so now I need to figure out what all kinds of paperwork I need to send with them for him to see to their health and well being while they are there. Cliff and I take care of their health and medical insurance, but I'm not sure if I should send the policy info or not. I'm thinking that I might need to send a medical power of attorney.. I have full custody. Any suggestions? Anyone else who has dealt with out of state visitation?

LOL, the ironic part is that I've not had a break as being a 27/7 parent for over 8 years, and now that I'm getting a month, Cliff and I won't be able to do anything with it!

Not to mention, the surgery is two days after our first wedding anniversary.

I'm going to get to those emails now and then get the seed packets together that I have going out, then see if I can get some veggies going in my wonderful raised beds!

Kathy

Another thing that SOUNDS weird and like over kill, but honestly isn't....make sure you have ALL your ex's information- home address, work address, phone numbers, his wife's parent's addy & #...everything you can think of.

Trust me, I've heard enough things to make even the most calm parent freak out & worry.
Which I won't share here, because they honestly ARE bad.

Anyway, that's the basic stuff. If you want more information, email me & I can get answers for you. :O)

:) Fran

Wow! It's really quiet around here! Did everyone else get a really nice day and a wonderful extended forecast too? I got to play in the dirt yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my veggie seedlings into the new veggie beds and planting seed for those that don't like being transplanted, but I was playing in the dirt! It felt wonderful!!!!!! I got a little sunburned, but it was soooooo worth it! I had kept holding off planting out my seedlings that I started indoors, even though we've had a couple of nice weeks, because I wasn't 'feeling' it, ya know? But yesterday I wasn't the only one in Oklahoma finally 'feeling' it. Several other Oklahoma GW'ers were of the same mind.

I'm a little sore today, but even without the back issues, I'm always a little sore after the first day of planting. This is more those muscles that got winter lazy than my actual back issues causing this soreness. But it was worth it to be able to play in the dirt! Especially after I took my first cup of coffee out to the beds with me to check and see how much transplant shock I'm looking at. Most of those seedlings were med to large nursery sized, so there's going to be some shock, even with hardening off and preparing them. But, it was a minimum, I may lost two tomato plants, but we'll see after some babying the next few days.

So, what was everyone else up to yesterday? What's up today?

Kathy

Haven't heard from my swap partner yet. But I'm trying to be patient, the list hasn't been up that long. :o)
Just excited to get started on Kamil's box.

(you're welcome!)

Bunny I don't have speakers so nyah nyah! :P

Hugs,
Wendy

Okay, give me a sound off please... whom has heard from their partners? Nikki and I have been in touch. I'm waiting for her to email me back again.

Linda, I hate to ask, because we shouldn't have to, but could you please contact Kamil and let him know his partner is trying to reach him? Every time I try to email him I don't get an answer. We need him to contact Tracy.

If there's not communication soon between partners, I may make other arrangements. I want those who really want to be in this swap to have fun, and it's no fun when you get stonewalled by your partner. The list has only been up for four days. Mailouts are due by the 20th, so we're 10 days from that deadline. Let's give partners through the weekend to be in contact, then if there are still a large number that have not been in contact, I'll do a quick reshuffle among those who have not been able to contact a partner. Hopefully that will still give everyone time to mail, and if we do that, I'll extend the mailing deadline a little. I just do not want us running over into Bump and Dan's swap too much :)

So, please, give me a sound off of who has and has not heard from their partner and after the weekend, I'll see what we should do.

On a separate note, I see the plastic surgeon today at 9:30, so we'll see what they have to say and where we need to go with that part of things today.

Everyone have a wonderful day!!

Kathy

I have been intouch with Mark. I got an email from kamil yesterday about the newbie swap so he's been online.

Have a great day
Joseph

Yep...Linda found me. :O)
I hear she's having some cold weather....better get my messenger sent out ASAP...

~CA

I have not heard from Nichol yet...sent her another email last night.

Happy Friday!!

Annie

Those green gummy bears may not be good for eating, but boy can they sing! LOL

Joseph

Oh, and I even remembered to get a DC #: 0308 1400 0000 7309 4816

Now, I'm off to finish Adora's birthday cake....And peel the girls off the ceiling. LOL

Wow, it is rainy and stormy outside. We keep getting these Thunderboomers. Can't get out and do anything it is too wet!
Nothing going on on here either, wow....I guess I should pull out some seeds and get them ready to plant!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I might get to go shop for some plants!!! YEA!!!

:) Fran

Oh, I wasn't supposed to say that... sorry.

And THAT is how I get through my day. :O)

thanks

Spent the day looking at plants with a friend. Picked up some things for me and a couple of items for the swap.

Can anyone tell me how Bunny manages to get a package out so quickly? It's just not natural.

Working on my box for Iris...

I received your email...will email you back today! Let me know if you do not receive.

Happy Easter to all!

Annie

I hope the Easter Bunny brings you all nice weather. We do not get much snow where I live, but we did get an inch of hail yesterday.

Kamil and I have been in touch. Looking forward to getting a nice box of 'goodies' together.

~ Tracy

I'm away for a few days and I almost missed the party you guys have going here.....

I sent my partner tootsiepop254 (tonya) and email through GW so I hope she gets it.

Kathy, I wish you the best in the world with your surgery. I hope your pain will meet it's end with this surgery!!

Just wanted to wave 'HI' to everyone!!!

Monica

Well, I spoke with his replacement (my 3rd cousin Emil), and he says he's stopping by your house with a special gift, Dan!

and now we know why I only buy Jelly Belly Jelly Beans!

lmsao

Appointment with the second surgeon for the second, related surgery didn't go very well. This guy was a total jerk, would not answer our questions, seemed to have more important things to do, etc. So, we'll be looking for someone else to consult with about that surgery after the spinal surgery and I have some healing time for that.

On the "heard from list" I'll go over all the posts Monday and see if we need to do some re-pairing :)

Heavy thunder storms here with LOTs of lightening, so I'm going to get off the PC.

HAPPY EASTER to you all!!!!!! I wish you blessings, love, and lots of goodies from the Easter Bunny!

Kathy

HAPPY EASTER everyone!

Kathy that sucks, doctors nowadays for the most part act superior to everyone else. It is funny when you think about it. We are the ones they went to school to 'treat' and take care of, without patients they are nothing and then they act like that?! Amazing, you don't treat patients like that, I like you if I get that treatment from a doctor I will not go back to them either, I bet a lot of other people do it as well! Anywho, hope it all goes well for you.

AGAIN HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

:) Fran

I won't be getting your package out until the 17th or 20th. Need to finish my annual report to Uncle Sam!

In the true Case family, I went to bed last night with my three sons in the house. I woke up this morning with 7 boys in the house!!!!! Several friends of my sons crashed here last night. So, I went out and hid the eggs and made even the teen aged one go look. LOL! What a rush. Took them all to church and came home and getting Easter dinner together.

My oldest two went to Wally world and dived in the clearance rack and brought me a ton of flower bulbs! They forget, if I can't eat it, it is nice, but not what I mainly do. Guess who put them to work! Yea, they went outside and planted for me.

Time to get back to the kitchen. Again, Happy Easter!

Mark

Monica (mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Wendy (sassybutterfly_2008) and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Margo (smitties)and Deb (debbya)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Jamie (ashcraftbunch)and Kim (hillbillygal)

I know that Monica, Fran, and Wendy have all sent at least one email to their partner. Has anyone else? Has anyone seen the others posting elsewhere? My time on the computer has been very limited lately, so I'm not keeping up with the several forums that I usually do.

I'm trying to get an accurate picture of how many folks we're talking about here, and I'm going to email the ones we've not heard from this afternoon. If we don't hear something from them by, say... Friday, I'll re-pair everyone who still wants in and will extend the mailing deadline. How's that sound?

Diene, great job getting that box off so fast! Gotta take advantage when you can get nice weather at this unpredictable time of year!!! And as long as you and your partner are happy with the box, no one else will have a problem! Personally, I'm always happy to get a box full of plants, even if there's no 'stuff' aside from them! Big boxes of plants make for a VERY tickled Kathy!So, if you upgraded all the 'stuff' for plants, I don't know of a single gardener that would complain! And yes, I consider plants, bulbs, tubers, seeds, etc as a BIG upgrade!! The gardens that I can imagine you having and from what I've seen posted about your boxes in the past, I am hoping that in some swap we'll be partnered, though i doubt my box would measure up to yours!

Amelia, you are in for a real treat!

Sounds so far like everyone had a wonderful Easter! We did too. Took the kids and went to Cliff's Mom's for Easter dinner. She is wonderful, always has a basket for even Cliff and I and she made an amazing meal, only asked us to bring my potato salad, which she and Cliff's stepfather like a lot. We enjoyed visiting and the kids did an indoor Easter egg hunt.

Came home and spent some more time with my oldest son, my second having gone to spend the day with his girlfriend's grandparents. He came by earlier in the morning and spent some time with us and picked up his and Sarah's Easter baskets. Then texted me later to let me know that she cried when she saw the basket with her name on it :) She's a sweetheart and they are 'unofficially' engaged... in Louisiana, we called it promised- they have exchanged a small, modest engraved set of rings. She is a very welcome addition to our family, but they are waiting to become officially engaged until they both get to their senior year in collage. Sarah's graduation from high school is the evening of the day I have my surgery, and we're making sure there are several video cameras there so that Cliff and I can see it, even after the fact. It breaks my heart that we won't be able to be there. In the last year and a half, she has become one of our children :) She understands, but I'm very disappointed.

So, everyone let me know from the list above who has emailed, who still hasn't heard anything and this afternoon/evening or perhaps as late as tomorrow morning, I'll email those involved.

Still raining and chilly here, so I'm going to curl up with some seed cats, a book and a heating pad, but will try to check in again later.

Have a great day!!!!

Kathy

Confession #1:
I forgot to put the bulbs that I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT FOR THIS SWAP into Linda's box. D'OH! I will send them out later, because they are REALLY perty & I REALLY wanted to share.
Confession #2:
I feel very bad, because I didn't send plants in my box to Linda. I WANTED to, but since she's had snow and lots of cold weather this past week, I was thinking it might be better to wait. But she did get an "i.o.u." in her box, so she can pick out some plants for me to send her later on, when it's warm enough up north!
Confession #3:
The kiddos helped pack the rest of her box, though....so they're to blame for EVERYTHING else. Except one thing. I chose that. So I hope she likes it. :O)
Confession#4:
I went off my diet this weekend. I ate an entire box of Milano cookies, 5 huge pieces of birthday cake, one hamburger, a handful of chips, 4 Cadbury eggs, 3 Starburst candies, 4 Tootsie rolls, a bowl of potato salad....BUT NOT ONE JELLY BEAN! Yay for small victories!

*bowing head in shame*

Am I forgiven, Kat?

I know you and Linda will work out your boxes and you will both be thrilled with them, so I'm not concerned about that.

The diet... hehe.. well, I'm on one too and I went off of mine as well because the Easter Bunny brought me popcorn eggs, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, and Sweet Tart chews, all of those are favorite candies, along with LOTS of dark chocolate in various forms, then MIL made ribs AND ham for Easter dinner along with a sinful spinach dip for the veggies and deviled eggs along with the pot roast and potatoes that I made for dinner Saturday and couldn't resist a second serving of potatoes, as well as the potato salad that I made for Easter dinner (I make a killer potato salad and don't have to say so myself, everyone else does that for me!)

So, we can forgive each other for the weekend follies, forget it happened and strictly stick to our diets. LOL, I had more chocolate and "whites" than I should have had in a month!

So, I'm making a VERY lean homemade meatloaf tonight with lots of fresh bell peppers, shredded carrots, and other veggies for a wonderful flavor and boiled rutabagas mashed with just a teeny bit of butter instead of potatoes and a nice mixed greens salad with no dressing for me but a little lemon, cracked black pepper and small sprinkle of sea salt to toss with it. The others can add dressing of they want, but I've become rather fond of the mix I toss with the greens.

*smooch* so if you forgive me, I'll forgive you and we'll consider confession good for the waistline as well as the soul :)

Kathy

BUNNY, your a NUT...you are so funny, the confession of all your sins were just too funny. NOW, in order for the rest of us to forgive you, you must run around the house 4 times chanting "I shall not break again" over and over until you are finished running around the house. Well, that will be for the junk you had.
Linda can tell you if she will forgive you on the box contents LOL. I am sure whatever is included she will adore. I have not see one box of urs that you have sent that I wouldn't have wanted!

Anyone else need to bare their soul over the Easter Meal? I had beefstew with stewbeef, carrots, and potatoes so I think I am ok. We didn't even get ANY Easter Candy....so I am ok with that on my "diet".

Yes, Dan would get too much of a thrill out of a wet noodle lashing. I can just see him now "Master, can I boil the noodles for you? Ehhh? You know how I like boiling the noodles in the dungeons, makes all the peoples in the holes cry because they're hungry Master....please Master can I?"
All the while rubbing his hands together. Imgine lol...and Mark would be there right behind him, HEHE.

:0 Fran

Soooo..I was thrilled with what you sent and I'll post it in a separate email...((HUG))

Bunny Bubbles (these look like a bunny peep and have bubbles in them...I immediately started blowing them)
"When pigs fly" now you have to picture this..it's a pink polka dotted metal pig with wings. It's attached to a spring and when you hang it, it bounces up and down which makes the pig look likes it's flying..I laughed and laughed at this one!
furry mice for my cats...they were trying to get to them through the paper. Needless to say, I now have cats running around with furry mice in their faces! They send their thanks!
a mug with a cat on it with the saying" Women and cats will do as they please, men and dogs should get used to the idea" (my husband agreed.."L") It had different types of Chai tea inside the cup and the box it came in. I washed it out and used it for my morning tea!
a mini stationary set..it's really cute. It has paper, pen stapler,tape and it's really tiny!
wax melts: Mai Tai, lemon merangue, and white zinfandel..yummy!
Oscar Meyer bread bag clips..I have never seen these before (how did you know that unfastened bread is a pet peeve?)
body lotion coconut (smells like the beach)
Fruit nugget gum-tastes like orange and strawberry
Dk chocolate and peppermint lip balm (I had thought about eating it..it smells really good!)
sugar cookies lip balm..another one of my favorite scents
smiley stickers (might stick one on my grouchy daughter's face.."G")
a "for after late night parties": a sleep mask (I really do use these) Burt's Bees day cream, burt's bees calming candle and facial cleanser, super energy boosters ('nough said!)
Bubble playset for the kid in me..as I said, I love to blow bubbles!
Hershey's favorite recipes cookbook..(need I say more??)
seeds: white swan coneflower
old fashioned lilac
eggplant Ghostbuster White
Rhubard
gladiola bulbs
an IOU for three plants when I can plant
and finally:
Kitty Krispies..this looks like cat poop in the litter box..ROTF! It's made out of grape nuts and rice krispies cereals and it's just what it looks like! Jeff reached right in and ate one but Sara had to be convinced. I had fun with that...and it's really good too!

Soooo Miss Bunny...I was very happy with my box and I'm working on yours. Please tell your kids that the cat poop was a big hit..."G"

Funny thing about the cat poop: The girls and I made that Friday morning, right before sending your box out. Of course, you can't make a SMALL batch of poop- we had a 13x9" pan full. So the girls were eating the left overs all day.
LOL It was Adora's birthday, so while we were running errands and mailing your box, she was telling everyone about it. They'd ask if she was having a good birthday, and she'd say "Yep! I eat cat poop!"

You should've SEEN the looks I got.
Gosh, I guess you can't let your kids eat cat poop anymore.
What's the world coming to??

Did you get The box I sent??? DID ya DID ya!!!

hee heehee snicker! LOL

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAYBE YOU'D ENJOY this one more DC# 03082040000056379465
I hope I go ya!! still laughing!!

Joseph ;)

Oh and I do have a confession. I too broke my rules this weekend. No one knows here that I am a life time member of Weight Watchers, (since February). I started January of 08 and in the year, dropped 48 pounds. We attend meetings every month even though we really have to weigh in the first Monday of each month so I lucked out. My husband and I (he has lost the same) opted out of going tonight. I am blaming the salt in the ham. :) I have three weeks to work it off.

Kathy, Deb and I have had several traded emails so we are good. I am planning to get in the garden Thursday to get some goodies to put in her box. I was hoping to get it done this past week but ended up having an overnighter at the local hospital and then tests following during the week. One of those medical surprises you really don't want but have no choice. Grrrrrr

Monica (mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Wendy (sassybutterfly_2008) and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Jamie (ashcraftbunch)and Kim (hillbillygal)

I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to start emailing those who still haven't let me know. That way everyone will have this evening to be able to see that I need to to.

Excellent box, Melissa! Sounds like lots of wonderful things in there for Linda to have lots of fun with!

So, as far as boxes moving we have:
Melissa (hazelnutbunny)Sent and Linda (lindaruzicka) Received
Dan (dan_the_mailman) and Iris (rane_grow)
Monica(mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Tracy (joy_unspeakableand Kamil (kamiljablo)
Wendy(sassy butterfly_2008)and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Denise (antiqueorchid)and CA (sakura_komichi)
Cindy (cjcjmass)and Carol (veeja11)
Margo (smitties)and Deb (debbya)
Tonya(tootsiepop254)and Mary (maryataylor_2008)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Jamie (ashcraftbunch)and Kim (hillbillygal)
Nikki (nikkineel)and Kathy(jaleeisa)
Mark (markcase1964)and Joseph(jdkind) Sent
Annie (canyonwind)and Nichol(gardenmom2)
Diene (diene)Sent and Amelia (amelia_pepper_lady)

Margo, thanks for letting me know that you and Deb are on track! I hope you're feeling better and it wasn't anything serious!

Gonna go and finish up dinner and I'll check back tomorrow morning and then get to emailing folks.

Hugs!
Wendy

Thanks for the smile Joe

Mark

So, I need to contact:
Monica (mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Jamie (ashcraftbunch)and Kim (hillbillygal)

I know Fran has sent emails to Carrie, but I'll try as well.

What kind of seeds, Mark? I'm sure Joseph has a great box planned to go along with the seeds :)

I'll get these folks emailed and we'll see just who is still in. Though Fran and Joan are really the only two that I'm sure will still participate, I'll give the others 24 hours to contact me, then I'll probably just pair up Joan and Fran...

I'm CCing a couple of our experienced members so they have a copy of the email I'm sending.

Kathy

Sorry I've been MIA.....I was kidnapped by my garden :p

I'm still in Kathy. I just haven't heard from Tonya yet. Sent her an email last Tuesday but no answer yet. Will try again.

It's been fun reading all the diet 'sins' on Easter. That's why I don't follow diets.....I can't say no to good food :0)

Linda, that's a great box you got there. Please show us pictures of the pig.

See you guys later........back out to the garden I go.....

Monica

More later as I hear, or not, from everyone else.

Kathy

I thought I'd share a picture of my bunch from Easter morning. Of course, I'm not in the picture, since I was taking it...but if you look at the kid on the far left, I've been told he looks just like me. LOL Just give him hair down to his butt, and we may pass for twins. :O)

Thanks,

Joan

I am back! ncgardengirl! Glad to have you as my partner! I haven't checked my e-mail yet, going to go do that right now!

Happy Spring!
Carrie

See Bunny, I do it too! BUT when I do it I do it BIG! lol.
:) Fran

okay, time for a bit of a shameless plug y'all! Since Bump is going to be hosting the May MNF Swap, I thought I'd host the Blue Seed Swap. So, if you've got some blue seeds, or seeds for something with blue in it, then come on over and share in the fun! We've already got some MNFers in the group, so I thought I'd pop over and invite everyone here to jump in! I've got the link listed below...
-Dan

Who told you about me and wine??????

Hi, everyone. Just kicked my H off the computer for a minute to let you know I received my box from Diene. It is fabulous.

I don't have time to list the contents now. I'll try to make a list tomorrow and post.

The old wine-o,
Amelia

But on the bright side....I have TONS of columbine going nuts in my flower bed now.

Ah, children. Aren't they cute?? :P

Dan, I'm gonna give the blue swap a pass, though blue is one of the colors I enjoy in my gardens. I'm too close to gearing up for this surgery. I'm hoping that I'll feel up to doing Bump's swap. Any hints on what he's got planned?

Kathy

can of cocoa: dark chocolate blend
anticoh hostas
Emerson's Giant Sempervivum (Chicks and hens) This is HUGE!
Belgian dark chocolate bar
kalanche pinnata plant (has healing powers south of the equater!)
hummingbird feeder
dutch iris (miss saigon)
leek starts
victoria rhubarb
Japanese cobra lily
Virginia bluebells

and seeds
aster
phlox
celosia
statice
hlichrysum
marigold
zinnnia
portulaca

WOW! What a box! Thank you so much. Your box will be going out on Monday. You are off to being a well sought after swap partner!!!!

Mark

~ Tracy

So, as far as boxes moving we have:
Melissa (hazelnutbunny)Sent and Linda (lindaruzicka) Received
Dan (dan_the_mailman) and Iris (rane_grow)
Monica(mommyto2)and Tonya (tootsiepop254)
Carrie (barefoot_contessa)and Fran (ncgardengirl)
Tracy (joy_unspeakable) and Kamil (kamiljablo)
Denise (antiqueorchid)and CA (sakura_komichi)
Cindy (cjcjmass)and Carol (veeja11)
Margo (smitties)and Deb (debbya)
Joan (ejmoore)and Pat (fairyoak)
Nikki (nikkineel)and Kathy(jaleeisa)
Mark (markcase1964) Receivedand Joseph(jdkind) Sent
Annie (canyonwind)and Nichol(gardenmom2)
Diene (diene)Sent and Amelia (amelia_pepper_lady) Received

Did I miss anyone?

Melissa, I have some sugar snap snow peas that I could send as well as the pole beans Diene's sending you. They should make a lovely teepee as well :) I'll drop them in today's mail as well.

Anything else you're wanting for the girls?

Kathy

Kat~ Just anything that will attract lots of butterflies. I *had* some flower seeds set aside for their butterfly garden, but....*sigh*....they are probably growing in the sidewalk cracks. The seeds I DID have left, after the girls went on their wild sowing expedition, I found in my desk drawer. I had stashed them there after opening the mail one time, and forgot all about them until just a bit ago. Seeds are NOT safe in my house. LOL
My mom did give me some radish & cucumber seeds last week, but they are in the glove compartment of the suburban...which is 3 cities away right now...
Fat lot of good THAT does, huh? :O)

Just got an email from Tonya (tootsiepop254) and she says she's still in and will be emailing Monica back, she's a bit behind on emails :) So, if Joan is able to get into touch with Pat fairly quickly, then we're back in business with no hitches! If not, we'll just have a slight delay while Joan and I put together a box for each other :)

Kathy~ going to lie down for a bit now that the pills finally unclogged her brain and she remembered how to add a tab to the .xml file to update the host record!

I opened last night as my "dessert" after dinner. (Cut back on the calories that way.)

Here's the contents...

PLANTS/BULBS
Daylily - Stella d'Oro
Iris
Siberian iris
Hosta
Variegated sedum
Monardo
Spirea
Bleeding heart (Been wanting this for a long time!)
Coral bells

SEEDS
Oak (acorn)
Joe Pye weed
Chocolate Joe Pye weed
Datura, white
Shasta daisy
Cleome, mixed

OTHER
The cutest little garden gnome!!
Trinket box with Pinot Noir wine bottles on the top

OK, I know how Diene knew I collected boxes. However, I never said ANYTHING about my wine habit. My husband says it's a serious habit. I get birthday and Christmas cards from some of the guys running tasting rooms at the wineries. I've had to arrange assistance at airports for my carry-on cases of wine. (It's amazing that they let me carry on 3 cases on one flight.)

THANK YOU, DIENE!!!!!!

Nichol

You have mail with your DC number. It leaves NC tomorrow!

I was able to catch the experiment and get into a cage. Be careful when you open the box. It will have gone three days with no feeding....

Mark

:) Fran

Happy Thursday!

Annie

Fran, I heard from Carrie yesterday and I know she's still interested and looking forward to this. I also know she's way behind on emails due to several circumstances all at once. I emailed you regarding your questions.

Carrie, hon, you really need to get in touch with Fran. I know she sends really wonderful boxes and has been looking forward to getting to know you and has been concerned over the lack of contact.

Nikki, I'm not worried, hon. As I told you in my last email, I'm likely going to be late myself. Ya know, it's really sad how the online nurseries do not plan better to handle what they should KNOW is going to be a busy time of year! It drives me nuts how slow they are on shipping at times. If I wanted plants in the middle of July, I'd order them then, right? Sorry, personal rant here, but it does drive me nuts. Not only am I waiting for things to share with Nikki and my adorable young partner in the Newbie swap, but in Oklahoma, if something doesn't have time to get well established before the hard heat sets in, I have to stick it into a holding box til fall and hope I have time for it to recover before first frosts. And with ordering through the mail, you don't really know what you're going to get until it arrives, ya know? Bare root can have so many definitions in the nursery world, apparently. So can 4 in. potted plants. Really tweeked me last year when I ordered from a company last year and my 4 in potted plant was a scrawny, sad looking little thing that I seriously doubted even my usually well thought of recovery skills could save. On complaining after the poor little thing was given a lovely ceremony before being laid to rest in my compost bin, thankfully they sent me a much sturdier plant, but it took the three weeks while I frantically attended it in my ICU, but another four weeks. By then it was too late to attempt putting it into my full sun bed, so it had to go into a mostly sun/partial shade holding bed to wait until the days started cooling some. It's a pretty plant now, but it's the principal!

Another thing that irks me is that sometimes you can only find a certain plant from one vendor! So, if you really want it for that year, you have to deal with them!

LOL, rant finished... for now!

So, boxes are flying, hopefully our MIA folks are all back on the ball and getting with their partners and I'm planning for contingencies. I'm off to get out a delayed bubblie of seeds for my young partner in the Newbie swap now that I have more seed baggies! WooHoo!! And I'm gonna try to talk Cliff into taking me to Lowe's today, now that his mother has loaned me the wheelchair his Grandmother used, so that I can get around in places that don't have motorized carts available.

And I planted more strawberries this morning in grow bags :)

It's been a GOOD day so far!

Kathy

Oh my goodness, I recieved a wonderful box full of goodies

Peach n cream dahlia
Astible
Hugh bag of chic candy
Dogg biscuit for maxx & simbad
Lemon grass sage bubble bath
White tea Ginger bubble bath
White magnolia bubble bath
Lilac breeze ceramic burner and tea lights
2 Easter bunnies filled with jelly bean
Welcome frog for my garden
Hosts seeds
Light pink columbine
Cactus
Carnation mixed colors
Red hot poker
Columbine barlow mix
Delphinium magic fountain

I've really enjoyed reading and getting to know
Everyone. I really love my package everything will go in the ground this weekend mr groggy will me at the front door.

Your box went outt yesterday carol

Deb, I hope you enoy your package.

Joan

p.s. Stella would say hello, but she's busy watching the birds through the window.

What a beautiful day. I was able to dig till my heart was content. I sent Cheryls box off today as well. I stuffed it as much as possible. I don't think I could have fit one more thing in there. I sent her an email with her delivery confirmation number. She will have beautiful weather this weekend to plant all her new babies.

Bunny, that is one precious kitty!

Kathy, Tonya and I have been in contact and will be sending out boxes out next week so they don't sit in the post office over the weekend. Will post a DC when shipped.

I hope everyone is having good weather to play in the dirt!!!

Monica

On another note, Bump has asked me to tell everyone that he will be posting the May MNF swap sometime this weekend. He's calling it "Bump's MNF Mayday, Mayday Swap", and looks quite interesting to me. He says he's putting a bit of mystery into it...

Fran, have you heard from Carrie yet? I know that Joan's still waiting to hear from Pat. Fran, hon, get back to me on the latest, then I will make a final decision this evening on what needs to be done.

Cute kitty, Melissa! I'll have that package for the kids ready to mail later this afternoon. I'll let you know if it goes out today or tomorrow.

Glad to see so many boxes flying or about to be!

Bump's swap sounds like it's going to be a LOT of fun!

Kathy

*rubbing bleary eyes*
I got more sleep when Lili was a newborn!

No Kathy, I haven't heard from her yet. I don't have her address and she doesn't have mine either.

Dan, you are too funny. I can't wait to see what Bump has came up with!

Ok, I need to be getting my hinny back outside....

:) Fran

I think I've contacted everyone that I needed to today. If not, someone drop me a note. We're forecast for severe thunderstorms today through tomorrow night, so my computer time may be limited. I don't like being on when there's lightening even though we have cable internet.

Fran, please let me know ASAP whether you hear from Carrie. That will be the deciding factor in what I set up for Joan.

By the way, Jamie emailed me and is still trying to get in touch with Kim. I let her know that officially, I'd dropped them from the swap, but if they complete it, both of them, and send me DCNs and post contents, it will have them clear for the group with the condition that they will have to send first in the next MNF swap they join. I felt this was the most fair way to deal with it, if they both complete the swap. I invite her to hang about and get to know folks and she's assured me that she will :) I'm very happy about that!

Oh, and I called the company I ordered from and they're putting a rush on the order, and I found out that it's always best to call the order in and request a rush. Have a really nice conversation with the young lady I spoke with. We discussed my theme gardens and she's going to be checking into GW. She's interested in seeing my Gargoyle bed and Naughty Garden and I'd bet she'd be interested in seeing some of the other Goth type beds and any of the themed beds. She was really interested in the possibilities of those. I told her she'd need to check back in a couple months to see pics of mine since they're still pretty dormant at the moment and it will take some time for the kids and DH to get everything tended to, especially in the new beds that we just started working on. Anyway, she was a really sweet young lady and we had a nice conversation and she tried to see if there was more she could do to get my order here quickly. The rush was all she could do, but I should have my order here sometime late next week or early the following week. So I'll be able to have Nikki's box to mail out then. Everything else is ready and packed. Or ready to be packed :) Though the longer I have to wait to mail it off, the more seeds I find to tuck in ... for cushioning, ya know?

Kathy

Kat~ Thank you!! I know the kids will be tickled with it. It was very sweet of you to send it.

Hey Bump & Dan~ Can you explain the difference between cat grass and regular grass? The store down the road has a neat cat grass container kit that I am considering getting for Gypsy, since she is chewing on plants. I want one that's safe for her.
Or do you think catnip would be a better choice? I have NO clue what cats like.... :P

Fran - I don't think our e-mails like each other :-(
I haven't received anything from you, and I am guessing that you never received anything from me. I think I am going to get a yahoo address as I seem to be having major problems using the one my internet provider provides.
You and Pat get together and send to each other, and I will jump in some other time.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Carrie

Kathy

Hope everyone is having a great Friday!

:) Fran