Auntmeanie

I was sitting here thinking "Darn, I promised to pick all the Mangoes at Aunt Carmen's."Chores to one is heaven to another? LOL

I go with Darlene on it's a pleasure to see everything from riotous bromiliads, fences draped in greenery-ala-tropics to fruit laden trees, but I sometimes envy you your open fields,Mountains,domestic animals (the homestead bunch is probably OVER my questions) and change in seasons.

Okay..you wouldn't see a chance but we would, you'd be out in shirt sleeves in the 50º weather going "what?"

We'd be frozen going " The Cold, it's winter!!"

"where?"

LOL,

Cookie

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MOgal!!

Hello again,

I'm personally glad you felt moved to write right away, I did the same.

A very nice opening and your place sounds great!! Love the four-legged burgler deterrents also!!!

Another Miamian like Darlene,

Cookie

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Darlene,

Heartfelt prayers, well wishes, good thoughts and darnit, any other good thing from friends are sent your way.

Smacking self, I was so busy feeling sorry for myself, I forgot what real trouble was...

Forgive a pal and know you are seriously being prayed for. Flaming, industrial,titanium,non-porous,Impentrable Prays, that's right...and sent with sincerity.

The warm hugs, shoulders to lean and such are of course...always nearby,

Cookie

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But Darlene,

We weren't up to anything (angelic look #56..patent pending). Run Frannie! She's got the swatter!

Yeah SnowMom, the humidity can be rough here, yet still, I have neighbors who are South Americans and never turn on their A/C.

Not this girl, I have it down to an art-from the A/C in apartment to the A/C in the car to dash to the A/C in the mall. LOL.

But winter (the whole month and a 1/3 of it..LOL) is very mild.

I can see the hubby frowning on us all zooming to Isla Morada in the Keys. Snark!

I could hear your phone call,"Oh yes dear, I miss you too! Gotta go! It's my turn on the waverider!"

Lynnie!!! Chica!!!

I guess it sounds like we've all met the way we carry on.

I live in fear when some of us all meet.

Cookie-Yo-Soy-muy-inocente (blink blink)

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Welcome New-buddies!

Getting out measuring stick to see if Darlene's sand castle is of *sufficient height.*

There are simply wonderful people out and plenty of room to ask questions, voice opinions or simply visit. Your gonna love it,

Cookie, official rah-rah of Mrs.Survival

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Ya notice Darlene and I are just not saying anything.

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Yes! Miami!!!

Okay, I know we ran off with the salsa theme, consider it pre-pre-salsa ingrediant collecting!

Okay, tonight I'm off to the garden center to get supplies (insert:dramatic cresendo)

Deblyn, any "maters yet? Did you pick a salsa recipe? Am I nosey or what?

and what is a tomato cage? (Cookie envisions escapee tomatoes out of the cage and on the lam.LOL).

Thanks so much gang

Cookie

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I will never get over the image of Reci-ala- Dame Edna (helllooo Possums!)

Thank you everyone, I just need to say it out loud, brood,and start coming around to my usual positive thoughts. I know oyur all positively SHOCKED to learn that basically I'm a pretty cheerful person, and so my brief moodiness has startled my friends.

The idea of taking this by the horns and doing something positive is slowllllyyyyy happening. Hmmm, I've always wanted to really clean up my diet (not an easy thing to do in a city where you can get pastelitos at 3 AM ... LOL.)

More exercise will help build my moral and make me at least fell if not look all that better.

I'm getting there, just have to *survive* a party and overzealous relatives with bad puns and go on from there.

The cookie will not crumble.

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You have me very psyched for planting,

I also have two buddies who are going *help* (read: keep me from destroying everything)

USDA zone? Hmmmm I searched that but get different readings at different sites. The 30-40F zone was the most consistant? That is the coldest extreme it gets here.(If it gets 55ºhere, BREAK OUT THE PARKAS!!!)This is the sub-tropics.

Thank you for the detailed description on what to do, I'll roam Home Depot on Tuesday for seeds and essentials.(Insert Jaws theme here: Justtttt when you thought it was Safe to go back into the garden dept....)

Your enthusiastic Cookie,

Member: Chica Gun,Book and gardening club.

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LOL blush, yeah I guess I did didn't I.

Well, the balcony is a compromise. You see my roommate has a kitty, and I had visions of it thinking the planter was another kitty box.

Window box herbs are another idea I'm going to peek into.

Cookie

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Cat!!

I lost it over that description of Darlene!

still giggling

Cookie

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Yup, that's what's bothering me, in two days I turn the big *gasp* 40. I have no idea why this depresses me so.

So many have REAL troubles like Lois and her Mom, Spitzfire and her husband...I felt like I couldn't complain.Darlene and her troubles.

I feel so whiney (with you like cheese with whine?)

but at least here I can admit I'm emotional about it. I keep asking myself, what have you really done with your life? Keep seeing all the weight I gained from a rough year.

and I know this is silly, but really suddenly feel old. I KNOW forty is not that old but I feel it. I know it's all rediculous and petty but it is bugging me.

I reread the desterada and that helped.

Oh sorry gang,I'm hoping just *voicing it* will make me put it in a different perspective.

Cookie

Over-the-hill-and-picking-up-speed

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Dalene, B&N would never survive us if we rampaged there *wink.* (The Chica Gun club and Book Review)

Reci, my birthday is *sigh* in two days and it's something that is troubling me so I'll write about that part at *From Within*.

on a good note, I am shamelessly going to use it to get all the books and possible that Alaskan Geographic series you mentioned.

(and a solar powered flashlight from Lehman's but that's also another territory..LOL).

Cookie

Chica Gun and Book Club local 40

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I finally found my mini-fruit trees!

A friend turned me onto do-it-yourself net and I found a whole listing on trees for potting. Balcony and other miniature trees plus discriptions on how to do it. Theres actually a huge list including apricots and tangelos.

Get this, the one thing I didn't think to grow and is apparently the easiest...pineapples!

So your homegirl is going to give it a try this week growing a pineapple and tomato plants. Woohoooooo. I will be the balcony princess!!!!!

the ever excited Cookie

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I tried to cut and paste the whole desiderada

out here but it wouldn't work. It's a wonderful uplifting writing and I think we could all draw things from it. Any chance we can get it posted?

Cookie

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The next snow storm this winter, snow-mom and we're kidnapping you down here to the keys. *g*

Cookie

Hey chicas,Have you ever read the disiterada?

"You are a child of the universe,no less then the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. and whether it is clear to you or not, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

Another line I think you need is,"with all it's sham, drugery and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."

When was the last time you walked the beach Darlene? Hung out in Kennedy park and watched people through frisbees for doofus doggies? Sat and sipped cafe con leche at cocowalk and people-watched? (okay, it IS 90+ degrees but you get the idea.)

I know everything *feels* like it's hanging on by a thread. Well, I want you to imagine that thread is tensile steel and unbreakable *smile*. No beating yourself up for being emotionally distressed. Last time I checked you were pretty mortal and human like us and subject to the same foibles and flaws.

The key thing is forgiving each other and ourselves and continuing on. Picking up the pieces and striving for if not total happiness, then at least balance and moments of joy. Got that missy?

Okay, back off my soapbox, sliding out for someone else to step up on.

Cookie

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Hey girlfriend chicadita,

I'm so glad you spoke to your Dad, when thinks seem so *frayed*, isn't nice to find that one sensible ,stable thing to hold onto?

I know things are rough in your life right now, okay borderline purgetory.

I'm just glad your coming out here and touching your friend's shoulders for support.

TALK chica, say anything... even if you think it sounds silly.Sharing a problem halves it. Remember, you are much beloved, in strength and when you need strength. Don't deny us the joy of helping you back, okay?

warm hugs from the typo-queen,

Cookie

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Wayyyyy to goooooo Dee!

Woohoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Cookie

Alternative animals such as llamas, ostriches, emus, patogonia cavys?

I know here in FLA. it's okay to keep LLamas in some restricted zones because they are not *hooved* and therefore considered more environmentally okay. But, then I would think our harsh muggy weather would be *too* much for them.

Do you have an animal that's considered *alternative?*

The question is not just for me, a close friend just bought a good stretch of land near Bunnel (central FLA) and wants to stock some exotics. BTW, his will be my destination if another hurricane andrew comes by..

Just curious,

Cookie

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I love the *hint hint*. LOL

Also, the thing I love about salsa is it's actually not very fattening, can liven up food when your trying to *deprocess* your diet (meaning less processed foods) and is just darn right delicious.

P.S. a friend told me tomato plants do well on a balcony, so when you snag a good recipe, let *moi* know,girlfriend, pretty please? This means your city pal is going to attempt a mini-garden and maybe getting *brave* and try some preserving and such.

your rubbing off on me.

Cookie

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Well said girlfriend,

Cookie

I can't WAIT to see the pics!!!

Please post them soon,

Thanks,

Cookie

(who keeps wondering if she's strolled past Darlene at the farmer's market or at the publix.

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Thanks soooo much on ideas for books!!!

I'm going to *flamingly* hint to my family and friends to get me perhaps Artic Homestead and trapline twins as a starter pack for my birthday. I am a voracious reader so this should be fun and maybe just request gift certificates to half.com and Barnes and Nobles? LOL.

Living wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down here in the sub-tropics, I can only imagine what snow life is like.

Also, a question, if I'm wandering through B&N, where would I find these homestead series? What are they considered? Non-fiction? Autobiography?...you get the idea. Where would I hunt for them? I mean we won't even discuss what it took to locate the *left behind series*. LOL.

Pssssst Darlene, if you hit the Coral Way B&N, The *left behind* series is scrunched up against the glass wall seperating the music section from the books.

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Congrats Dee!

Pssst Girls we'll have to behave now, we have adult supervision.

Cookie

grinning and cheering Dee on