I hate Lilies with a passion

I just spent a half hour explaining this head line and then accidently dumped the text. I'm not retyping it . . .

Gardening is my new high

I was on the phone with Michael, desperately trying to give him my full attention as he talked about his very public "coming out," but I was completely distracted by rubber stamps and art paper. He had just parked his car and was rushing to an appointment and I admitted to him that I was in total shopping mode and very distracted, so we said farewell and promised to catch up during the week. Since I'm landscaping this summer and our wedding (that would be Billy and I) is being held in one of the most beautiful gardens and then the reception of course will be in another garden . . . garden seems to be the "theme." In an attempt to be cost effective, I'm thinking that the centerpeices for the tables will double as thank you gifts. Think terra cotta bowls full of fresh herbs and tied up with raffia and little handmade cards with a description of each plant on one side and a thank you/poem on the other. People can take them home and stick them on a windowsill or put them outside . . . which just made me think of something I need to research. More on this later, I promise!

Getting hitched and house shopping

What better way to increase one's anxiety levels than by combining two of the largest life altering experiences; getting married and buying a house. We are doing this as Billy says, "On a shoe string." We have, just today, eased off of the home buying part of the anxiety equation; this just after a reality check from my broker. He's a good friend and has very firmly stated that if we wait until my car is no longer a factor in the old debt ratio, I will suddenly qualify for a lower interest rate, another $14k in buying power, and (gasp) a 5% grant from FHA to pay for downpayment and closing costs. Three car payments and we are there!! Meanwhile, what started out as eloping has turned into a huge landscaping project in the inlaws backyard, catoring, and MANDATORY thank you gifts for the family/guests for all of the help in making this a "public" ceremony. Oh well, a much neglected yard is starting to come to life, a family who has been incredibly generous and welcoming to me has once again stepped up in support of this union; I'm truly blessed.