HI PW!!! I a thrilled to see you pop in here. Giant HUGS!!!

So, DH came home all contrite. His way of communicating is soooo indirect. On Wed he was being so cocky and sarcastic and it continued Thurs AM. It is his backwards way of saying he misses me because I have been busy. The thing is, everything I do is for the well being of all of us.He knows that but was being a suck.
Instead of apologising he cracked a few jokes. It was lighthearted. I told him if he wanted a fulltime house wife he had better get out there and double his income.
Needless to say he helped out last night.
The kids do help with their own stuff and rooms. He does not. There is a shirt, hat and papers on every surface in the house. I put it all in a basket and toss it in his closet regularily. I do keep toys away and rotate.
The bottom line is this is a 2500 sq ft house, with a 900 sq ft basement and there are 4-10 people in her every day, I cook 3 hot meals and 2 snacks every day and it is a lot of work. Our yard is an acre.Plus there is the reno mess. I am tired of it right now.

On a happier note, I am thrilled that I have come through the last 5 weeks of massive work and commitments unscathed.I kept myself balanced and even tho I was exhausted last Sat I was smart enough to go back to bed and rest.
I am proud of my acheivements.
Last night I relaxed and watched TV and folded laundry. It was nice.
I didn't snack.
We had a long gentle rain all aft and eve yesterday.Great for the hydrangea I dug up and divided in the morning. That was job. Definitely a work out.
2 little guys for the morning and 1 little guy in the aft.
I am picking up cucs today. I will work on dill pickles over the weekend.
We have 2 bday parties Sat aft and then a very casual gathering for DD on Sunday.
She had a wonderful Bday. Loved playing with her Little Ponies.
DS had a awesome day!!! He asked his teacher to be moved cause the boys at his table were distracting him from his schoolwork!! I am so proud of him. What a huge deal. He has been getting his work done. He has a spelling test today.He has seemed calm and rested for a couple of days. Yahoo!!
I am looking forward to today and the weekend.
Best go feed the kids and get them organized for their day.

Mel! Thought this would brighten up your day

"Mel, I need a song!!! .... by dlzbth
I miss Mel and her songs! I was thinking of a good song for today. One that would reflect how happy I am that’s Friday. "

....from the journals

Holly-- Way to go telling DH what was required to have a "full time wife."
I'm giving a presentation on Marriage: a history -- from Obedience to Intimacy or How Love Conquered Marriage... (long title, no?) Anyway, it claims that women were valued (A LOT) until people stopped bartering and began using money and banks... Because THEN women didn't have access to cash. So maybe our plight isn't because of male patriarchy so much as because of BANKS!!

I had a lovely long nap this afternoon after collecting anything that I thought Rita might blow off our patio. They've changed the forecast for North Texas as well as downgraded the Category to "just" 3... so we might not EVEN get any rain here. It is anti-climax that makes people stop preparing for disasters, don't you think.

DH is watching the Friday night SF marathon... but first he took me out for dinner (I had soup and veggies... yay me!!) and then to Borders. I am set for the weekend whether it storms or not.

IF it cools down, and doesn't rain, I'll pull weeds. Otherwise, knit, read, nap.


PS: I look forward to getting to know those I don't already know from long ago at the journals.

Way to go PainterWoman by going out to dinner and ordering soup and veggies. It's really difficult to look at a a menu, know you can order whatever you want and ordering healthy. You should be proud.

I hear you on the hurricane petering out, people in traffic for 18 hours and wondering why and thinking I'm NOT going through this again. My niece lives in Houston and was no doubt stuck in the traffic jams herself. I think everyone was freaked after hearing about New Orleans so that was good that they attempted to leave but look at what happened... Just brings up the fact that disaster planning takes time, effort, thought and money and most planners feel it's not worth it until the disaster is staring you straight in the eye and then it's too late.

For a change I'm looking forward to a nice weekend. Mom insisted on doing some laundry today so that's all caught up. House is still nice and clean from my marathon cleaning session over the weekend, just some quick surface cleaning and I'm good to go. DH did the yard work over the last 2 evenings after work so he's free to goof off too if so desired. Mom wants to go shopping so we'll have a girl's day out tomorrow. Rains are supposed to come in late tomorrow and probably on Sunday too. Monday we might get a bit of the hurricane but shouldn't be more than a steady rain. We will have to see what else she wants to do as outdoor activities will probably be out and she can't really walk that well. Was complaining about the knees tonight so that's a sure thing that rain will be heading our way. Actually between DH's back, my head and her knees I'd say that's a DEFINITE

None the less it will be nice to be relieved of chore duty this weekend and spend it just having a nice time.

So what's everyone else's plans for the weekend?

Hi,

It's Saturday night and I've just got back to the computer after a busy day. The weekend is already half over.

I seem to have been busy all day but not got a lot done. Chasing my tail maybe? I got up early this morning and dug out the little patch for the new pavers, then I dug some more weeds and trimmed up some bushes. There will be some more veges going in down there soon. Bit more preparation of the soil needed there. Following that I had a light breakfast and went to the gym for an hour in the gym and an hour in Body Balance. I had intended to go do weights but got on the treadmill to warm up and was still there 30 minutes, 4k and 304 calories later. So I filled in the rest of the time with a 7.5k free weight in each hand doing squats (and sweating).
After gym came the shopping then I came home to shower, put the groceries away and have some lunch. DS2 invited me round to see the photos of his trip - that kid has the weirdest sense of humour!!!!! - I was taking a photo Mum of the sea and the sunrise when this dirty big whale got in the way, waving his flippers! Yes son. Sure here's a photo of him. Then the whale apparently ruined the next shot by flapping his tail. Not that you can see that much on the camera. It's a long way away and the lens wasn't anywhere near big enough to capture him in all his glory. I picked up my camera lens, bag and container and went to Joy heaven (hardware store/ nursery) for cement, pebbles, creeping thyme plant and came home with cement, pennyroyal plant, cat plants (yes for the cat to roll in and sniff) a large pot, some dynamic lifter and some potting mix. The pebbles will need to wait for an increase in my bank balance.
So tomorrow is cementing in the pavers, going to the gym, planting the pennyroyal between the pavers, potting up some mint that is not doing well in the terracotta pot, planting up the old wheelbarrow tray with the cat stuff and fertilising the garden. Talking of the wheelbarrow - I went down to Joy heaven last weekend to buy a tyre for the old wheelbarrow. No tyres, wheels only and the bl**dy wheels are dearer than the lady size wheelbarrows!!!??? WTF. I bought a new wheelbarrow.

Happy, how nice to have Mum doing the chores for you. Brings back memories of the times where my Mum came down and cooked up a storm - she loved to cook and she was good at it. When the fridge and freezer and the cupboards were full she went home. I then invited the Mother In Law down - she cleaned and washed and ironed - and she was good at it too. These are the times to treasure. They won't last forever unfortunately but enjoy them as you can.

Painter - doesn't matter if Rita peters out and you get nothing. At least you are reasonably prepared. The authorities have got it more or less right this time. It's far better to blame them for erring on the side of caution than blaming them for not doing anything or not being prepared as in New Orleans. My only whinge about the evacuation is that they should have opened the other side of the highways except for one lane in for emergency vehicles should they have been necessary. That may have had some problems too, but not the 2miles per 9 hours problem. And as for sending in the gas tankers - what were they thinking - or not thinking as the case maybe.
Now there sounds an interesting speech. Bartered brides versus the banks. Ummmmmm.
Hiya Holly, glad to see you are getting it all together again. That's just about all you can do sometimes. Just get on with it.

Oooh yes, I was speaking to Teel yesterday on the phone. She is okay, still trying to get in to see her doctor. The chest pains are no worse, no better. Linus got the flowers I sent. 18 long stemmed carnations. They thought Teel had sent them, then Teel's flowers arrived as well. Apparently when mine appeared, Andy said that they can't be from Teel as she apparently said that she would only send flowers if the baby was a girl!!! Nothing for a boy!!!! So then the second lot appeared from the worldly chicks and they were very puzzled. Don't know what was in Teels bunch. Glad the rest of you didn't decide to do something as well. We may have had the whole of Scotland trying to work it out. I did tell you that behavioural sanity was not always part of our brief did I not Painter??

So it is now bedtime. I have much to do tomorrow. Those concrete pavers are not light. Still it will look better tomorrow night. I'll take a photo for you.
Painter, stay in and stay safe. Happy enjoy the shopping trip with Mum. Holly don't work too hard. Mel, Tig, Meadow, Roseblush, Teel, Linus - time for another of those famous waves

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE
GLAD THE FLOWERS ARRIVED FOR LINUS AND CJ AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE BROUGHT PAINTER WOMAN!!! SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND WHAT A GREAT SATURDAY MORNING SURPRISE. PICK A ROOM AND REST THE WEARY BONES. DID YOU BRING YOUR KNITTING?! LOL HEALING TAKES TIME AND IS EXHAUSTING. GO WITH THE FLOW.

SHAD~ HAPPY PAVING OR SHALL I SAY CONCRETING!!!YOU'RE PROBABLY TIRED AND SLEEPING OFF THE FIRST DAY OF IT! YES I WISH WE COULD BOTH GET RID OF A FEW LBS INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY FINDING THEM AFTER WE HAVE JUST GOTTEN RID OF THEM!!

HAPPY~ HAD A GOOD GIGGLE AT THE 3 "WEATHER" MACHINES YOU HAVE NOW IN YOUR HOUSE!!!! IS IT RAINING IN NEW JERSEY....CAN YOU PREDICT THAT FAR NORTH?!?! HAPPY SHOPPING WITH MOM AND DON'T FORGET TO GET SOME LOVELY FOO FOOS!!!

HOLLY~ EVERYTIME I READ ABOUT THE DH I THANK GOD I'M DIVORCED AND OLD!!! GOOD FOR YOU TO STICK UP FOR YOURSELF BUT MEN ARE STILL MEN AND HAVE DELICATE EGOS. ANOTHER WORDS DON'T TRY AND MAKE HIM A BALL-LESS WONDER! YOU WON'T BE HAPPY WITH THAT EITHER!!

TEEL AND LINUS~ HOPE YOU BOTH ARE FEELING BETTER AND I THINK OF YOU OFTEN. ((((((HUGS)))))))

TO NAE AND TIG AND MEADOW. CEEJAY SEEMS TO BE LOST IN THE WATER PLANT WHERE SHE WORKS!

GOTTA GO AND GET DRESSED AND SHINE THE BUGGY FOR THE TOWN BBQ, TODAY IS A REST DAY. NOTHING THERE I CAN BE ASKED TO DO. MAY NOT STAY LONG CAUSE THE WIND IS WINDING ITSELF UP TO A FRENZY AND THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT GOOD FOR THESE PEEPERS. WILLY PROMISES TO GET ME HOME ASAP IF I NEED TO. A GOOD MAN OUR WILLY. I THINK HE STILL FEELS BAD. WE WENT FOR ANOTHER WALK TO THE STORE. I THINK IT MAKES HIM FEEL BETTER TO SEE ME OUT AND ABOUT. THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
HAPPY SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND GOOD MORNING MISS SUNSHINE!!!

Lordy I LOVE you chicks!!!!
PW~ we just read The Davinci Code for book club and the discussion was great about how the church ruined things for us chicks ,LOL. My inner Goddess was dancing for joy. The banks too, huh? hmmmmmmmm. Nice food choices. Hope you are resting and healing.
Spose us women could barter sex? LOL!!

Mel~ you wise soul. I wonder sometiomes why the **** I am married too. i could have found a sperm doner for the kids. I do love the guy....with all my heart and soul....
You post sounds so happy and lighthearted!!
Shad~ hubby cringes when I say iam "just" heading to the hardware store. Ohoh. I LOVE it there. Happy paving!!
Happy~sounds like a lovely time with your mum so far.Enjoy the girly time.
Where is my Meadow?????
Hugs to Teel,Nae, Linus and all her men!!

So here is my deep thoughts and questions for you wise worldly chicks today....
Is it me??
What is the balance between what I need and what my family needs and if their needs are just as important to them as mine are to me then is it their right to ask for it just like I do for myself?
This is my first real day off in 5 weeks.The cucs I had hoped to get couldn’t be got, so no pickles. So this morning at 7 am DD crawls in bed beside me and says she is hungry, we have a nice little cuddle and I tell her Daddy is already up go ask him, she kisses me and says okay mommy.
DS then crawls in and enmeshes both hands tightly in my hair and wiggles and whines and pushes at me. i told him I just wanted to lay quietly and please be still and he freaks out ,crys and stomps out of the room. A few minutes later DH climbs in on top on lifting my nighty, gropes a bit,I tell him I will get up in a few minutes, he scraped me with his beard by mistake, I tell him he hurt me, he stomps out of the room and slams the door.
Obviously they all love me and felt a need to connect with me. What I needed was a 1/2 hour to lounge in bed and enjoy some solitude. I didn’t get it and feel irritated. They didn’t get what they wanted and feel irritated. Hubby will sulk for a while.Big baby.
Is it a gender thing and just personality? DD usually listens and respects my requests. DH and DS always get mad and pissy.I always stand my ground and state my positon clearly to both. You think in 9 and 7 years respectively they would get it.
I feel sad right now that I dont get the tenderness from DH I would like( need).
I get it from DD and my cat. LOL!
If DH wants to have sex, which is how he communicates love, he should try giving me what i need to to feel loved, which is space, solitude and tenderness.Then I would come to him with open arms. It is hard to explain this to someone who cant stand to be alone. I am not sure he like his own company. Very much like DS.
Fro what it worth we have a regular, wonderful sex life. I am not sure how much he wants from me in life in general.
I have always struggled with the balance of my needs and those of my family. I LOVE to be alone as much as I love them. I lived alone happily for 15 years, I spent most of my childhood alone and feeling separate from my family.I love my own conpany.
So now I have a pissy hubby to deal with when what I want is to enjoy the day and him and the kids, puttered and clean, garden a bit.......

Is it a wonder I nurture myself with food?

Later, this aft, we have 2 bday parties to go to. I will check out the farmers market in town for cucs and pick up the south beach book.

thankyou all of you the flowers from you and shad were beautiful,teels flowers arent here yet they arrive on monday
my wee man is absolutly lovely and as soon as hubby gets his finger out ill have a piccie for you all im posting birth announcement cards this week sometime,im very slowly getting in to a routine and hopefullt if my wee man keeps being such a good sleeper mummy will finally find her brain and get organised,hes sleeping on average from 12.30 till 6 am for the last 4 nights now so i cant complain at all
right folks im so sorry but the wee mans stirring and im the only one who can feed him so i have to go
thankyou all again and welcome painter
kirsty+cj

Quick post, I'm on my way to bed.
Sorry I got the message wrong linus. Maybe I need to take English lessons, I obviously misunderstood Teel.

Here's pics of what I did this morning. The pavers are yet to be planted out with pennyroyal as I wanted to let the cement set before I started poking and prodding between the pavers. And the flowers are hippeastrums, rescued from the wild wind the other day. I see I now have some dark red ones out as well.

HOLLY~ A SPERM DONOR!! WISH WE HAD A SPERM SMILEY!!! BUT I UNDERSTOOD ALL OF YOUR POST!!! HARD TO FIND MIDDLE GROUND WHEN YOU "CARE" SO MUCH! GOOD LUCK!!! WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH THIS. PERSONALGROWTH....THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD TIMES BUT IT ALL HAS TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER.

LINUS~ SO GLAD THE FLOWERS CAME AND CJ IS SLEEPING SOMEWHAT AND GIVING POOR OLD MUM A REST! LOTS OF LOVE AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE MAILBOX!! OR PARCEL BOX WHATEVER YOU CALL IT!!! LOL

SHAD~ YOU CAN COME AND PAVE OUR BACK YARD!!! LOVED THE FLOWERS. WHAT A GORGEOUS COLOR. ARE THEY IN THE LILY FAMILY? SO LONG AS THE WIND DIDN'T BLOW YOU AWAY! LOL

MONDAY I WILL GO TO THE MALL AND TRY DIETING(BAD WORD) ONCE MORE FOR 6 WEEKS. IF IT FAILS, THEN THAT'S IT. GIVING IT ONE LAST ATTEMPT. GOING TO TRY RE ARRANGING THE FOODS I EAT AND NO TATERS OR RICE AT NIGHT.
WEATHER IS GLOOMY AND SUPPOSED TO GET RAINY. WON'T CARE CAUSE I'LL BE WINDING UP THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. LOOKING FOR SOME STUFF FOR JEN'S BEAU. POOR RICHIE IS ALWAYS LAST ON MY LIST BUT HE HAS A BD SOON TOO! SO I DO IT ALL AT ONCE. NOTHING BUT COOKING SOME CHILI, STEAMING RICE AND VEGGIES AND WATCHING A MOVIE WILLY LENT ME YESTERDAY....UP IN ARMS....WITH DINAH SHORE AND DANNY KAYE!!! LOL HE AND THE DW ARE OLD MOVIE BUFFS TOO. I BOUGHT HIM AN ABBOTT AND COSTELLO COLLECTION LAST XMAS. WE SWAPED LISTS OF WHAT WE HAVE. I THING WE'LL BOTH HAVE ENOUGH TO LEND EACH OTHER RIGHT THROUGH THE WINTER. WE'VE DESIGNATED ONLY SUNDAY AS OLD MOVIE DAY SO I KNOW THEY'LL LAST US.
BETTER GET GOING. EYES ARE SO SO. TAKING THEIR TIME BUT THEN THE FACE IS IN FULL BLOOM STILL. NO ONE NOTICED IT YESTERDAY. I HAD ON A MAKE-UP CALLED SHEER COVER THAT LEEZA GIBBONS SELLS ON TV. IT REALLY DOES COVER ROSACEA. EVERYONE WAS SAYING HOW GREAT MY SKIN LOOKED! ROFLMAO ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S GROUND UP MINERALS AND I THINK THE GRIT GETS INTO MY EYES EVEN WITH CAREFUL APPLICATION. LOL (SIGH) I AM BEGINNING TO RAMBLE SO I BEST GET THE BUTT OUTTA HERE!

TO HAPPU AND PAINTER AND NAE AND MEADOW AND TIG AND TEEL!!!!

HI Linus~ glad you are getting a bit of rest. Give the wee lad and hug from is Canadian Auntie.
Shad~ nice work!! I saw some lavendar in bloom there too.
Miss Mel~Have a great day!! You sound happy. Be careful of your eyes.

Woohoooo!!
I had a day off!! It was great.
I relaxed, had coffee, puttered at housework, took the kids to 2 relaxing bday parties, came home for leftovers for supper, had a nice time with DH, had a good sleep, enjoying a coffee again!!! Life is good.
I have been reading the south beach book. I was feeling depressed about it. There seems to be a lot of what you cant have. I was feeling like a big loser because of the food I eat that apparently is not good me.
I have trouble thinking a banana is not a good choice. They are full of potassium and other good things.
As far as the lean meats go I am fine. I need to read more and ask questions. i am not sure about the foods listed and what is a limited choice and very limited and how much that is or how often.

Today we are having DD’s bday party at 2. Cake and punch and bunch of her friends and the grandparents.
I wanted to do everything outside but the yellow jackets have been horrible. They were swarming the parties yesterday that were outside outside.

Okay, tidying, one more room to clean, laundry to do and a family to enjoy.
Oh, and eggs for breaky.

So good to hear from Linus about our little nephew and what a good sleeper he has been so far. Oh course he is going to be an angel just ask his worldly Aunite's!!!!!!! We are dying for a pic....
Well I have been absent in relating all the nature adventures here in the wilderness so I will give you a few tidbits. Last week the lone meadowlarks were gathering in groups to begin their long flights to where ever it is they go.
Inside this huge pine tree by the office the sparrows were so thick and riotous for about 4 days in the morning their little twitters and songs were deafening, but now they are gone. In the evening this week the temp was perfect the air so clear and warm that my little Toby and I were outside pushing around some rocks. When we began to hear the meowing in the tall grass just above us. So we looked and remained very stil the two of us expecting to see possibly a little kitten or two.... Instead from behing the rise came two does and 5 offspring and the fawns were mewing to each other it was so amazing..... soon the hillside behind my house was full of mewing deer..... what a treat to experience.
I don't know if I had related the story of thelittle lost dog that kept showing up at my house but he has not returned now and toby and I miss him.......
Shad I wish you could give me lessons in your paving and cement work.... I need to do so much here but seem overwhelmed to even begin.....
Yesterday I went to a rock shop that is outside of town and this place if full of fossils and beautiful stone and i brought home 3 big boxes for $7, I couldnt believe it so I have some nice ones to lay down for stepping type stones and interesting stone to surround my plants.
The tops of the mountains have a nice blanket of snow this morning and the air is crisp and cold.... good for working outside for a while today.... putting a small turkey in the oven to help through the week.
I do hope you are all doing well and this is a great place to come and sit with your coffee or tea and to visit with these amazing women around the world... welcome to all!
Blesssings to all,
Nae

Hello chickies!!
Linus its great to see you online having a moment to yourself at last! C.J. seems to be doing really well in the sleeping stakes....better than me and he is only 10 days old
Enjoy the flowers tomorrow..They are a called "INDIAN SUMMER" AND SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLOWING: 1 YELLOW CRYSANTHIMUM...opps! 1 orange crysanthimum 3 orange spray carnations, 3 orange Alstoemeria and 3 Solidago...the picture looks lovely. I hope you have enough vases!!! Oh and they are flying out from Jersey!!

Its come out a gorgeous autumnal afternoon here in Suffolk...but sadly I have spent the entire afternoon in bed...I caught a stomach bug on Friday evening...coo that sounds a bit funny but you know what I mean! and although I have stopped the constantly going to sit on the lavatory, today I feel as though I am a pregnant cow ...really bloated and I haven't eaten anything today...should be good for the weightloss!!

Hello to PW., I hope you are safe and sound in Texas with Rita having zoomed in. I am sorry you are having such a bad time following the chemo...HUGS to you.

Ah talking of chemo leads me to tell you that I spoke to Bob The Builder yesterday. He is having difficulty swallowing so cannot eat properly...apparently he went to see his consultant who said he didn't think he did have an oesophagul tumour but he would do an endoscopy and if he did come across a tumour he would blitz it with lazer...I don't quite know what to make of this!Ah well time will tell.

Holly has been trying to get me to give her her dinner for the past 30 minutes and I am not sure if I can hold her tummy any longer! So I had better go and appease her...hee hee hee!

Mel---I've not gotten lost in the water plant. If I had to go outside very far this morning I might of had to swim. Remnants of hurricane Rita. I've just not had time to post. I have been reading. I thought about you last week end. My aunt and I were shopping in the Mall in Jonesboro when I heard a familiar voice call my name. There stood this good looking hunky police officer in uniform. He was a former boss. Got a hug also. Think he was glad to see me.

Happy--Have you survived the remnants of hurricane Rita? Think this one was worse than Katrina. The water plant has weepy walls from the excess rain. Down on the street in front of the plant the water was up to the fire hydrant.

Hello to all the rest.

painter woman--glad you are here, even though I'm not most of the time. This is a good group of ladies.

Linus--Glad to hear that baby CJ is doing great as well as mommy. By the way I've been called CJ most of my life.

I may not post daily but I do try to read. Most of the time I'm at work and don't have a lot of time to spend on the computer. By the time I get home I'm to tired to turn on my computer.

Heard a boom while ago and got up to look out the window. It was a fender bender. I called the police station but an officer was already in route.

Gotta get some work done. Every one have a nice day.

Morning all,

Ceejay - good to hear from you and know you are okay. If you have too much water up there would you care to send some our way. We are getting to the desperate stage. Dear oh dear, Mel does inspire us to think funny thoughts does she not.

Teel - so your flowers came from the Jersey Islands as well! Mine came from those Charity Flower mob that I found when I first sent you some. They keep sending me (by mail) a brochure on their specials. Mind you I get brochures from the Colman's Mustard people too. I'm going to have to take lessons in 'Suffolk' speak.

Roseblush - what a wonderful place you live in. All those animals. I would be in heaven I think. Paving is not hard, just time consuming. All of the pavers on my patio are going to have to be lifted eventually and cemented in. That's a job I really am not looking forward to but it will need to be done as the road base that is there now is sinking and full of weed seeds. DS2 is not always the most patient or slowest of people when doing project jobs and doesn't take the time to plan and think - just do it was a slogan invented for that child.

Holly - so glad you got a day off. Pity you had to p*ss everyone off to get it. I was going to reply to your post, however my day got a bit tangled up with paving, mixing cement, digging, planting whatever. I'll get back to that post with words of wisdom in the near future. Meantime take it easy. South Beach is not a particularly hard diet as I figured, but I have problems with the phase 1 no fruit and no bread. I can see that it would work but it's a very long time to go without fruit. Being a fruitbat myself, I see that as deprivation.

Mel - Sorry to hear of the rosacea rearing it's ugly head again. Be careful with that makeup - may not be doing the skin much good. The flower is a hippeastrum, related to the amaryllis and therefore kin of the belladonna lily - so yes I guess it comes under the family liliaceae. Grows from a big bulb just like the lilies. Doesn't have much scent, but grows well in the tropics - I have a long bed full of them and they are sticking up through the heliotrope - the purple, lavender and mauve goes well with the pink, white and red lilies.

Gotta go do some work. Already given one bloke a slight panic attack this morning, so best go fix things up and soothe the savage beast.