I got a Chatty Cathy Doll for Christmas back in the day, after hounding my mother and hitting up Santa for one and dreaming about how wonderful she would be. She got stuck and never shut up, said the same phrase over and over no matter how you turned her, shook her, or abused her, and her intensely focused eyes seemed to be watching me for infractions of the "Doll Owner's Code"; worst request from Santa ever.

Anyway, I don't always have a lot to say, but when I do I'm sort of like CC. Here is a place for all of us to chat.

Sounds like that scary movie with Chucky.

I never knew there was a chatty cathy doll!!! LOL is that where the saying comes from?

I am loving this system btw, it seems simple and awesome! Added tons more to my seed inventory for the swap!

~michael

P.S. Christmas is only 4 days away!!! lol

Yeah. Chatty Cathy is old school. I was not a doll kind of a kid anyway. When I tried to shut her up by submerging her head in a mud puddle the only thing that changed was that instead of saying "Momma" she started saying "Ma-a-a-a-a-ma-a-a".

You must of been one "bad ass" momma. Just kidding.

Oh no, Alana was just giving her dolly a nice spa treatment.

Honestly, Alana, your Chatty Cathy story has me cracking up.

I'm afraid I was Duane. The only other doll I ever asked for was Hedda Get Bedda. (also old school)
Her head was enclosed in a hard plastic cowl and you could turn her face around to be either laughing, dotted with measles or sleeping. I kept ole' Hedda asleep 99% of the time.

Anyone else have any favorite, or maybe not favorite, Christmas presents?

Hi Danita!

So, I went out to check on my Giant Cape Gooseberry today, because I had someone ask me a question about it. That bugger is still blooming and fruiting, even in the dead of winter!

That's wonderful, Erica. I proposed adding that photo to the database entry for that plant. You will get credit for it.
I have not had a chance to take a picture but my Bellis perennis Super Enorma I grew from seeds bxncbx sent me in last years piggy swap are blooming again after a nice show in early summer.

I'm glad they are doing so well for you! Mine bloomed beautifully in the Spring. Not sure how many survived the summer. I think only ones that may come back next year were planted in partial shade. They are really pretty so I will definitely plant more if they don't come back!

Alana - Thanks for the suggestion. I went in to try and add that picture and it said "Caution: This picture is already in the database associated with this plant." I guess someone grabbed my picture and already added it. O.o

That was me Erica. It is in there under your name and you should have gotten an acorn for it. Two people have given it a thumbs up. Okay one of those was me, lol. I'll send you an acorn to make up for your not receiving one for it. I thought you would.

Thanks Alana. I'm not entirely sure. It's possible that I might have got one the first time around (haven't figured those things out yet). I did get mail this morning though that I received one, so I'm guessing it's probably from the one you sent. In a few more days I should have time to get most of this stuff figured out.

Until then, Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Acorns are good. I have used acorns to win some very nice Salvia and Cuphea plants and a stunning red Crepe Myrtle.

I found this while taking a quick stroll around my property. This is hellebore hgc Jacob from the gold collection. I picked it up at my local nursery for $1 thus past summer.

Merry christmas .

Lisa, He's beautiful!!

It is so warm that the Callibrachoa are blooming again and the fruit trees are showing bud development. I'm a little worried about losing the peaches and apricots when these 70-80 degree days give way to winter.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!