Rosey, my life has been long, complicated, and I've lost track of how many times I've moved, and some of the things I've done and learned along the way... I've had wealth, and I've lived in poverty... I helped raise 3 stepchildren, which I consider to be my own, with my 2nd husband... we now have 3 fabulous grandchildren... and though we've had a wonderful time together, we've had the worst of luck. We've been in two serious accidents, not counting the industrial accident that my husband had which took away his main livelihood. He's a college educated industrial engineer, by trade... but lost physical ability when he was hit by a huge factory truck bay door on the neck and back. It took him about a year to walk again. And then, I was diagnosed with lupus, and have permanent injuries from an auto accident. Oh, and did I mention, we lost everything in a house fire, somewhere in there? It's the short version... but along the way, my husband managed to breed and raise a specific type of American Bulldog, and is considered to be one of the most known names in the breed. Without his input, I can't write the book. He's the one with the oldest memories of how it all began, from a breed that no one knew, and had no genetic definition or registry worthy stud books... to a breed that is already slipping into genetic ruin at the hands of backyard breeders and mills out for a buck. When he's ready to begin talking, I'm ready to begin writing. Until then, I'm stuck with an outline. I do have some other ideas floating about... and I'm slowly working on them. Some days I feel creative, and others... I can barely function. I can't complain, though... it's been an interesting an exciting life with a lot of varying scenery, and I've met some cool people and made a close group of the best friends along the way. Knitting and crocheting is something I never learned, though believe it or not, my husband does all that. He cooks, sews, quilts, knits, and does a lot more. His grandmother taught him as a child. We live on a very small income right now, so I can't still keep collecting craft supplies, but I have enough to keep busy in the boxes I have collected so far. At the moment, we help caretake a farmette/estate owned by a good friend who is older and unable to manage alone. But our hope is to move north to be near family again. If I can get the husband to begin spilling this book, we could get there... possibly. It would depend upon the readership, of course. I say keep painting, Rosey! You never know what you might come up with! Have you thought of decoupage for those gift boxes? That might be a quicker option?

Of those, I grow Saturnia and Purple Beauty -- and both require spraying here. Looking at the bloodlines of the other four you mention, I can see that they likely will also require spraying (strong Pernetiana and Charlotte Armstrong influence in the heritage). It actually looks pretty obvious from where I sit that these are not blackspot resistant roses that would be compatible with an organic/no spray gardening regime. We don't do blackspot here, but most any rose susceptible to our mildew here will also be susceptible to blackspot elsewhere. I can't think of any rose that mildews but does not blackspot, in appropriate geographical locations. For most areas (just not here), blackspot is the more severe affliction. Interestingly, there are a few roses that do get blackspot that do not mildew -- so it seems to be a one-way equation, as far as I can tell. You might want to concentrate on newer roses, if you are committed to the organics/no-spray course of rose growing. The reason is that, in the past, lesser air pollution controls -- the burning of dirtier coal and the spewing out of whatever into the air -- meant that roses received a sizable dose of sulphur (a very effective "organic" fungicide) just by virtue of growing in a populated area. Therefore, the older roses' breeders did not have to care very much about fungi in selecting which roses to introduce. That has all changed in the last twenty or so years. Generally speaking, with respect to "modern roses" only, the newer the rose, the more disease resistant. So, if you are "organic" and you want not to spray anything, even the "organics," then either go with the really old -- those survivors from cemetaries and so forth -- or the really much newer plants. Most anything from mid-century will be a disease problem for you. It wasn't that the breeders then were any less concerned about the health or beauty of their roses -- just that fungus-based disease was not really something they had to worry about. As I sit here, I'm trying to think of any modern rose introduced between say 1940 and 1980 that doesn't require spraying and I'm not coming up with much, which, I guess, is a large part of Vintage's problem. Vintage is however carrying quite a few rare, but newer roses now, including most of those recently imported by Eurodesert from Europe. Maybe you could look through that group. As a side note, the reason I put "organics" in quotes here is because lime sulphur, although officially an organic, is quite a bit more toxic to humans and wildlife than, say, Compass as a fungicide, and must be used more often and in higher doses to control anything. Good luck (although I'm sure that is not what you wanted to hear and sorry to be the bearer of bad news -- please don't shoot), Kathy

If you want someone to take responsibility for the things they say and do--BELEIVE what they say is what they mean, and BELIEVE what they do is what they mean to do. You said that your wife is working two jobs and is involved in nurse's school/training or something. I know something about the studying that goes into becoming a nurse--very intense. So just how much time does your wife have to be involved in home matters? Does she take care of the home, cook, shop, etc? Does she pay any attention to her son? Do you help her? Well, you said you love her dearly--I don't know how to interpret that--but do you pitch in and do you see to it that the kids all do what's expected of them? My sister (had 4 children) became a nurse and she had to have help from more than just my brother-in-law;our mother had to help her too. She had to spend just about every moment when she was home to study. She didn't even talk on the phone or go grocery shopping. She didn't have time to do laundry either. And she wasn't lazy at all. So believe me, Argon, I am in great sympathy with your wife (in spite of what some posters think). Of course your wife needs your compassion!! Argon, your wife has gone from distancing herself from you to threatening to leave. Remember when you wrote that your daughter said that she (the daughter) can't do anything right and that she (the daughter) is always in trouble referring to herself and what your wife thinks. Remember when you wrote about how your wife hates the traits of your X (manipulation and lieing) and how you believe your wife is reacting to the daughter with the X's faults in mind? You did not say that the wife was identifying your X with your daughter, but you made that implication. Some of what you wrote lead me to believe that your wife is feeling persecuted. You didn't reply to that post I made to you back on May 27th. I thought I was being insightful. You also brought up your wife's son that is 17. You wrote that he was a pathological lier. What about him? Are the two of you getting along? If you are not getting along real well with her son, could it be that your wife might think she would be better off if she takes her son and leaves? I know that being a single parent is easier than taking on a spouse and the spouse's children (was for me,anyway). Perhaps your wife was doing fine before she married you. You said you have been married only a short time. Was your wife a single parent for very long? You also mentioned all the activities your daughter was involved in, and that she made very good grades. Then you mentioned that she had a job and I don't remember how many hours you said she worked--but it was an awful lot of hours. So Argon, I thought your daughter was only 14; how does she get around? Does she pay for her own cell phone or other things that she wants? Does she help around the house--although I don't know how she would have time. But does she at least pick up after herself and respect the rules of the home? So exactly what does she do that causes your wife stress? Lieing? If your daughter is lieing about where she has been, why would you allow her to spend the night at a friends house? You don't let kids that lie do that--not for the rest of the days she lives with you. You can figure that one out. I would think that if she gets caught lieing that she would suffer a logical consequence. A daughter that lies would not get my permission to date--not even double dates. Especially when she is made to feel like a creep by your wife--and would love to get out of there as soon as possible. Don't enable your daughter to get involved with a young boy. You are not ready to be a grand dad--If she yells at your wife, she would get sent to her room and would not be allowed out of the house until she has experienced remorse. That includes going to a job. So she looses her job. She has to know that you are not going to tolerate her getting in your wife's face. Even if your wife is absolutely wrong--your daughter has to take it on the chin. When you say that she has been some place other than where you thought she was--are we to assume you have placed some boundaries on where your daughter can go, or who she can see? Just what kind of things does your daughter actually do that annoys your wife? Are the issues always the same, or are you able to figure out exactly what is going on between them? Obviously, your wife isn't so united a front with you when it comes to not being able to help herself with her reacting (The posters here don't know what that means, but I know you do.) Is she only united with you when it comes to giving the daughter a hard way to go? (That should get you babies something to cry about.) If your family were to go into counseling, a counselor would ask you all to be specific. Well, I don't suppose I have anything left to say. I don't expect you to respond--I've just put some ideas out there for you to discard or give some consideration. Best to you

Summers - yeah, I've seen that before...but it was fun to watch again. They are adorable!!! But, that's waaaay to much work for me to do...they'd have to be brushed every single day. I get mine groomed down to really close to the skin...then I wait until they're quite hairy (4 months) and get it done again. But, I'd LOVE to see pictures of your puppy as the hair grows out! It's still hard to find a dog with a natural tail here in Canada. And to find a large poodle (to help me with my balance) and with a natural tail is difficult. That's why I went with a St. Berdoodle. Our next dog in many years from now will be a poodle...so I'll have lots of time to find a breeder. There's a wonderful breeder in Nebraska (Solo Poodles)...I would dearly (when my current dogs have passed) love to get one of her dogs (natural tails)...but we would have to travel there to pick up the pup...she doesn't ship. But we may do that one day. :) You'll have to have your picture taken (so you can show us) on your scooter with the puppy when you start doing that...how cool!