Yes, I hope you can make yourself do it. Maybe you needed getting yelled at lol. Don't like to use the imperative mode with people, but you might try to make yourself do two or three, no more at first unless you get on a roll, and set goals that don't seem unattainable at first. I've been treated for depression, and one prescription is just to do some work, often helps to pull you up out of the worst of it. Often feel terrible but FORCE myself to do a little something anyway. Sometimes if you have a physical debility, that's a little different, but it's amazing what people overcome or learn to compensate. I did soak my filthy ones from last year in a large storage container in the bathtub, took a brush to them, wasn't too fussy. Then it was so heavy, I used a bucket to empty it and dump it in the toilet. The other ones someone assured me a little milk residue wouldn't hurt outside. I always swish mine when I've used up the milk a couple times until the water looks clear but it still leaves some residue. I do run some containers through bleach solution, but none of my jugs or 2 liters for outside. Make it as easy on yourself as possible. You might find that your enthusiasm builds as you can see a jug or two out there. I had to force myself to start this winter, should have taken the advice here last. Once I got started, a few a day, skip some days, I can't believe how much I've got set out now. Maybe this is a dumb thing to say but wouldn't be the first time. I use quite a bit of milk for an older person living alone plus it keeps longer now usually. I cook most of my cereal now and use it for that and cooking, seldom drink it but love cheese. One thing that takes a lot of milk is a creamy rice pudding recipe I clipped out of the paper. It takes almost a gallon for a double batch because it slow cooks down. My mother used to make the same kind, but this is a little creamier. I started with a huge the next size up from 9 X 11 glass baking dish, why just cook a little if you're going to bother at all? I'm used to cooking for 3 hungry kids and more, hard to change so I freeze extra, etc. Dump one cup of medium grain (very important) rice in the bottom. Dump one cup of sugar on that. Add about 1/4 tsp salt. Pour in 2% milk (sometimes I use some whole and usually add one lg can of evaporated milk). Get the milk all the way to the top. Place the oven rack on center, place the mixture (very carefully or start it there) close to the door so you can reach in later and stir easily. Stir it all up. Set oven to 275. Stir every half hour with a fork, go do your thing, doesn't have to be exact. Then in a couple hours, when you can see the rice starting to show at the top, add 1 cup or less of raisins rinsed but not pre-soaked, stir in a few sprinkles of nutmeg. Or cinnamon if you prefer. Or both. Sprinkle more nutmeg on the top. Don't stir any more and finish baking until you can tell when the center is almost set. Remove from oven and cool or serve warm (wait til it has a chance to settle and thicken a little more). The milk will have cooked down pretty far (I always have to remember not to have a pot on the burner where the oven vents). My daughter loves it, and over subsequent days, I can eat a whole double batch, sometimes crave it, keeps well for several days covered. I've since adjusted the amounts slightly and started doing it in a large ceramic casserole dish w/lid (DON'T COVER IN OVEN but after to store) because it's easier to store in the fridge than that huge baking dish. You can skip the evaporated milk as that may be less healthy. Don't use skim though. Starting with cold milk makes it take longer, but if I'm going to be around the house or in the evening, it's so easy, set the oven timer first for 40 minutes, then down to every 30 minutes, sometimes have to give it an extra 20 minutes. Sometimes I time cooking exactly but usually don't any more.

holly hocks are tough! they stay green in my garden all winter (zone 6)- they have a tap root- for me, this makes it much harder to transplant- I would just let them grow on for a bit and then plant right in the garden spot where you want them-no need to re-pot-(if you break that little root, the plant won't make it) I use plastic wrap on top of my containers too...after I have a few sprouts, I just start enlaring the holes in the wrap until finally they are all uncovered -then plant out- just watch the moisture when you first plant out good luck - holly hocks are SO pretty! Linda

I received some Cal poppies from LittleoneFB (Fran) at a swap that she hosted years ago. She is a long time winter sower who lives near by and shares many of her seedlings with others. They were really pretty ones, "Linen White" and "Purple Gleam" (pastels, yum). They have reseeded every year since! I get a nice border of them along the driveway. They reseed true to color, I get a mix of cream and lavender. So I would say they seem to be pretty easy to WS and transplant, and they also reseed abundantly so direct sowing no doubt works well too - if you have plenty of seed.

Your flowers are beautiful, as everyone else has already stated. I just love your canterberry bells, the color is spectacular. There is a flower in back of the Alyssium in the first picture, it's at the far right in that picture, what is that plant? It appears to be pink but that may not be correct. I would love to know, it looks very striking, as all the rest of your flowers do. Please feel free to post more photos.