At least it's not in the "god" category and "other" instead :D You made my afternoon. I just had to pick up the orchid that would be a challenge :) and agree, there probably isn't much right or appropriate for its culture here. The "general info" I've been able to get about it so far is it needs a bit of water and a high level of filtered sunlight during active growth - well, it's had a lot of rain (to the point I was bringing it in to dry often) but the sun wasn't very cooperative this year. Give it a 30 degree temp swing, down to 40 in fall. No water from mid october until spring growth? All year it needs warm days, cool nights. House in the winter is generally around 70 day/night. It does get quite cold here for several months so in a window would be the only temp difference I could give it. Does any of this sound right or possibly hopeful? I should hopefully be able to eventually make the other orchids happy and bloom but the Cymbidium and the Encyclia will probably be given away free next spring (hopefully they live) to someone who would be better able to grow them. I would like to give them a shot this winter, hopefully they will make it. If not, I'll know what not to buy in the future. Thanks!

I realy enjoyed clerking. I learned alot. It of course rained for several days upto and including the day of the show with high winds so roses in my garden were experiencing much bruising of petals and botrytis was on the rampage... so many of the roses I had planned to take didn't make it to the show. I still tend to cut my roses too tight or too late. Most were still too tight the day of the show and nothing I did would help them to open up. I think most of the exhibitors in my area cut when the first out row of petals are perpendicular to the center of the bloom... but when I try that the centers are blown by the time I arrive at the show. I just need to practice with the timing more. But still I did end the day with the following: HTs and Grandifloras - Antique Brass - Red Ribbon Black Magic - Yellow Ribbon Gypsy Curiosa - Yellow Ribbon Hot Princess - Blue Ribbon Love - Blue Ribbon Superstition - Red Ribbon (oh and Hocus Pocus was D'Qed because the judge thought it was the "other" Hocus Pocus and wrote wrong class should have been Grandiflora on the tag.... I wasn't with that judge so I didn't know about it or I would have showed them in my CRL that there are TWO Hocus Pocus Roses and YES one IS a Florabunda!) Minis - Bee's Knees - Blue Ribbon Glowing Amber - Red Ribbon Hot Tamale - Honorable Mention Special Exibition Fragrant Rose Competition Mr. Lincoln - Blue Ribbon (mine lost the trophy to another Mr. Lincoln that was more open...almost full blown and therefore more fragrant) Novice Rose Competition HT - Raspberry Swirls - Trophy mini - Glowing Amber - Red Ribbon Challenge Class Three HT Blooms of one Variety in one vase - Gypsy Curiosa Red Ribbon English Box - HT (2 of each type HT) Superstition, Tickled Pink, Hot Princess - Yellow Ribbon Rose in a Bowl - HT Black Magic - Red Ribbon Rose Display in a Calico Can 11- 15 blooms - Blue Ribbon Minatures 3 of a kind in one vase - Glowing Amber- Honorable Mention Minature in a Bowl - Bee's Knees - Red Ribbon Miniature English Box - Glowing Amber, Bee's Knees, Erin Alonso - Blue Ribbon Overall I was very happy with my day and left with a very nice Crystal Vase

I'm one who likes to be a guest when I am a guest, and likes to be the hostess and treat my guests as guests when I'm hostess. In other words, I feel no compulsion to help clean up at others' homes, and I do not allow my guests to help clean up at my house. I tell people point blank, I wish to do my own dishes and that they are guests and should have a seat and let me worry about the dishes. I will usually do a quick rinse/organization of dishes but not a real clean up or loading of the DW. Now, as to your friend, here's how I'd handle it, since she's already in this habit. Next time she gets up with her plate, I'd immediately get up and meet her in the kitchen. As soon as she put her plate down, I'd give her a hug, and then instead of fully releasing the hug, I'd hold her at the shoulders or arms so that we were eye to eye. Then I'd say something like, "Debbie, You are such a sweetheart to always help me with the dishes. I appreciate your thoughtfulness! But to be honest, it makes me very uncomfortable for you to be doing that here. You're the guest, and I actually prefer to do my own clean up in my kitchen, just because I like to do things my own way. So please, sit down, and enjoy the gathering, and don't give clean up another thought." This accomplishes a couple of things. First of all, it doesn't make her feel bad because you start out by saying how nice she is. Holding her close as you speak sends the message that this is a serious talk, not just a polite aside. It's also done in the kitchen, away from the other guests. If she still insists, I'd take her by the hand and lead her back to her seat. In other words, be gentle, complimentary, sweet, etc, but FIRM.

We use Diamond Vogel opaque deck stains with good results. Needs to be renewed about every4-5 years. As bad as that wood is, however, I would not expect too much. Were it my deck I would set all the nails, rent a floor sander and try to get down to good wood before staining. To answer your questions: 1. Can anyone tell what type of wood my decking is made of? Treated pine 3. Can I wood-fill smaller cracks and splits instead of replacing? No. Wood filler is not for unstable environments like a wood deck. 4. Do I need to prep my railing differently than other surfaces? Only the top of the rail should be weather-worn. Sand it down before staining. 5. If I replace some boards, any tips for trying to blend the old and new boards? Blending is not really possible. The new wood is full of treatment solution and will take stain differently than old wood. The usual recommendation is to let new wood sit for a minimum of six weeks before staining.