This year, in my garden at least, there were not many of the cuke beetles, but those little buggers made quite an impact. They affected my beans, heirloom tomatoes, melons and lemon cukes. The adults laid their eggs on my cockscomb amaranth, since no corn was around I suppose, which had grown to 6-feet! I can't imagine a swarm of the little devils! Although only the melons and a couple of heirloom tomato plants failed to survive the attack, they delayed maturation by my account about 2 weeks of several other tomato varieties, like beefsteak, producing wilt all round the yard or so it seemed. My early strategy, before I saw the beetle adults, was to attack the wilt problem as a fungus because we had so much rain in the Spring and the heirlooms showed the first signs. Once I found an adult in my melons, I mixed a solution of neem oil, antibacterial dish soap, and a horticultural oil and sprayed generally, especially the beans and tomatoes. While this had some impact on the beetles and aphids on the nasturtiums, what I found more effective was the addition of a jalapeno pepper solution to the initial mix which really seem to slow their advance. But, by then, however, they had already laid their eggs on the roots of my amaranth, which I discovered when pulling up a group that had fallen over, I thought from some heavy wind, but it proved to be the work of the spotted yellow microbeast that had attacked the roots. I was able to destroy quite a few of the young by hand and foot (where is that cordless vacuum when you need it?). Now, I'm preparing a plan to deal with this pest for next season as I clean and prepare the beds for winter. One recommendation is to turn over the soil to expose any larva and remove any root debris. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Also, below are two links to some information about organic controls related to this discussion: Cucumber beetles: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/cucumberbeetle.pdf Squash pests: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/squash_pest.pdf ATTRA Plant Diseases ID and Management Brochure, 4 pages (A very handy tool for newbies and masters): http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/IPM/disease.pdf

A couple years ago, I planted 700 tulip, crocus, and daffodil bulbs. The following spring, I discovered that with the exception of the daffodils, I had created a salad buffet for the little frickers. I tried all the home remedies, the blood meal, the dog hair, the coyote and other urine (granules), pepper sprays, owls, and water deterrents. With none of those working, I was going to try killing a few rabbits and either staking them to the trees at he property boundaries or burying them. The logic of this was along the same lines of what you hear about grasshoppers. If grasshoppers ae invading your flower beds, get your hands on some, blend them up in a blender and sprinkle them at the perimeter of your flower beds. You won't have to worry again. They can sense the dead ones and will not enter. I was wondering if the same would work with bunnies. Relax, I didn't kill any. If I staked them on the trees, birds and such would have gotten to them, and if I buried them, dogs would dig them up. I was at my wits end. Short of fencing off every flower bed, I wasnt sure what to do. That's when I discovered the rabbit repellant made by the folks at the liquid fence company. I was in a garden store and saw their money back guarantee. I asked the clerk and she told me the really meant it. I tried it, and bang! No more rabbit munchings. I'm going on my second year using it and it really does work. I love my tulips! This year, I bought a gallon of the dual action concentrate to keep on hand. It's about $125, but it will keep your plants safe. A gallon will do the average home probably for 3 years. I have a large property and will get about 2. I give you my word, it really does work and they do stand behind it! Disclaimer: I in no way work for them, get compensated by them or am affiliated with them whatsoever. I just live the stuff. It will smell for a day or so until it dries.

I've been following this thread and wanted to throw in my two cents for encouragement. I have a twist on a Scriptural truth that I do live by, "Don't expect to get what you want, if you don't ask specifically." Do not talk to anyone about a grievance unless you are prepared to state the remedy to the matter that will leave you in a justified state; so that you will be able to recommend a contractor's work again. Just compensation for the grievance(s) need to be accurate and stated firmly, but not harshly. At this point, it's best you put this in writing so that he can think about all of this before you see him again. I formed a little something for you to see what I was thinking. "You know John, I was excited about working with you on our kitchen. I had every confidence that you had the skill to handle this job. However, I must tell you that even though the wood floors are beautiful and the cabinets are coming along, and I do believe you will get them right, I have to tell you, this granite situation is not working for us at all. The bottom-line is: I want that counter with the broken granite replaced. We've worked hard for our money and I wanted a brand new kitchen without compromises. I don't want repaired granite, I wanted granite installed and fabricated by professionals correctly. With all of these delays and mistakes, I feel as though I'm paying for you to attend a granite seminar and you're the student. When you installed granite that had been cracked and you repaired it, yet failed to admit it to us, I was deeply disturbed and frustrated with this situation. I would be thrilled with your fix had my child broken the granite and you did that repair; but in this case, we are paying for brand new counters that we expect to be made of solid and unbroken granite. Anyway you look at it, it is broken and I want it replaced. Nothing else will satisfy me concerning the broken granite. As for the template layout, I do believe that if I had been present when you laid out the template on the granite, then we would not have had the other problems with the grain running in the wrong direction. If we work this out, I want to be present when you layout the next templates. You want to be satisfied with us paying you. I want to be satisfied for what we contracted you to provide. We are already weeks behind schedule. If you cannot get this granite finished professionally and installed by date certain, then please let me know as soon as possible. I know this is very stressful on you, so if you do not want to finish the granite that is OK; we think it more than fair that you deduct the price of all of the charges associated with fabricating the granite counter tops from our contract; we will then go with another fabricator and start over. Please let me know your decision as soon as possible." And remember, "Don't expect to get what you want, if you don't ask specifically." Also, let this be a 'lesson' for anyone shopping for granite: be present when templating and when laying out your templates on your granite. There was a gal on GW a few years ago that had the grain running in the wrong direction on each side of her range. I do not believe her fabricator changed her granite. Her entire kitchen was a mess. The templates were placed on the granite any which way, just to save stone, with no thought or care to how the finished product looked.

I just wanted to thank everyone here for being so helpful and sharing your stories about perimenopause. I used to be so full of energy, happy, positive -- all that began to change once perimenopause kicked in, which for me was around 47. The first sign was when I had a period just two weeks after my last one. My period became erratic after that. But the crap really hit the fan when I turned 50. I had always told myself that I would never act/feel frumpy/unhappy like a lot of women I had seen who were in their 50's. Well that's because I didn't know how very difficult perimenopause could be, and no one gave me a heads up about what can happen. I think many women go on hormones and thus do not suffer from much of this. But my doctor made it clear that she did not think they were a good idea. There have been days, though, where I've thought, enough is enough, I'm going to take them. I've experienced almost every symptom that's been discussed on this forum. I've had some truly awful panic attacks, which for me begin with a sensation of vertigo and feeling like I might pass out. My doctor gave me xanax for this, and I take a half or whole pill when the symptoms start. Since I now recognize what's happening, I know it will pass. The panic attacks usually occur when I'm out somewhere -- in a mall, grocery store, etc. Stress does play a big role in all of this, but it's made far worse my the fluctuating hormones. Regarding heart palpitations, I, too, have had them throughout my life, and wore "halters" from time to time to look for rhythm disturbances, etc. Of course nothing was found because magically when I wore the halter I must not have had any palpitations. Fast forward to a few months ago -- one day out of the blue my heart started flip flopping such that I had to sit down. After a minute or two it passed, but it got my attention. My doctor did an EKG which of course found nothing because again, at that moment, I was not having them. My doctor prescribed a low dose of Lexapro to address underlying anxiety. I have the pills but have chosen not take them right now. I've been taking Wellbutrin for the past twelve years to help with depression and it's done a pretty good job. I get them a couple times a day. I will say that since I cut out caffiene (including my beloved chocolate), the palpitations have decreased a little -- but I still have them. On the advice of several friends, I started taking CoQ10, which my doctor said was "unnecessary." I'm taking it anyway in the hope it might somehow help. Sometimes the palpitations start at night when I'm laying on my side in bed. But they can appear anytime during the day, whether I'm dealing with something stressful or not. I"m also trying to eat healthier and drop some weight, knowing that can only help in terms of feeling better. I'm tired of feeling like a sick, old person!! No one in my family understands so I don't talk about what I'm going through. I often pray and ask God to heal me from these symptoms. Sometimes my muscles/joints are so sore it's an effort for me to turn over in bed. I do not sit around all the time, I have three teens and tend to my family's needs, and I am involved in other things as well. My oldest is going to college this Fall, and I can see a time in the near future when I will have to get a job. Given how difficult some days are for me, I dread this thought. As many of the ladies here have said, "I want the old me back!!" And I wonder if that will ever happen. I truly hope so. Back to the heart palpitations, maybe I will try the calcium/magnesium supplements. I think I read somewhere that one should only take these for a certain amount of time. Thank you again to all who come here and honestly tell what's going on. I am very grateful for all the stories, advice, information and support I see here. Hoping and praying we can all move past this phase and get back our peace of mind, good health and happiness!