Hi dk, Yes, the grey net fencing works well for me. I, too, have many (65 to be exact) new shrubs and trees and I like deer. However, the deer do not write out the checks for the new plants nor do they get a back ache from planting them. Rather than draping the netting, I tied it to stakes and arbors with garden twine that I had in the garage. This way no leaves or branches are touched and by encircling the plants, the netting actually went farther. Also, just before the snow, I really saturated everything with Deer Off which lasts for several months. Any day the temp reaches 40 degrees, Deer Off or the newer version, Deer Away,(smaller chile and garlic sediment and no clogging) can be sprayed. A neighbor about 5 acres away is now feeding the neighborhood deer 50 pounds of deer food per night, so I have no guilt and no nibbled shrubs. Keep protecting the shrubs, the deer population in New England is not dwindling. Kindly, Jane in CT

LOL, Dorothy, hey you really know how to get our attention! I've often wished I could go back and change something I've typed after I've already clicked submit too, so don't feel bad. I kinda like that crystal topper, might have to go see if my Lowe's has one. I usually use my angel or some bows for a topper. Oh, and welcome to the forum, nice to have you joining in, and I hope you will be chatting with us and sharing more ideas. Luvs

I read your post and I really felt for you. You're obviously trying very hard to help your SD integrate into your family and learn some basic life skills, but you're not getting enough support. From your description of the situation, it sounds as though your husband's parenting skills are very weak. Your SD is in need of guidance, but you need him to stand by you and start enforcing rules about hygiene, table manners, family involvement and courtesy. Also, it sounds as though your SD is struggling to cope with reality and find her own sense of self. The pictures of the BM, the focus on the "past" (probably an illusion) - none of it sounds real. None of it is helping her to build a future. These are big problems and I think that you would benefit from some couples counselling. Also, I think that your SD should get some help as well. As a teacher, I'm sure that you've seen kids derail over the years. Do any of them remind you of your SD?

If they had been facing the right direction, my husband and I would have purchased one of the lots in our subdivision that backed up to the park, *not* across the street from it. Two reasons: (1) Small and/or developmentally delayed children would be *constantly* tempted to dash out the front door, to get to the park (our park is near a major subdivision thoroughfare, as well as adjacent to the neighborhood pool). (2) None of the floor plans offered by our builder were arranged in such a way that I could watch the kids playing out front, from the main parts of the house. I will say that, surprisingly, the house directly across the street from our park took a long time to sell. There may have been other factors involved, but apparently, being close to a neighborhood park isn't as desirable as I thought it was, lol. Admittedly, though, even if I took a little hit in resale, I would still love to be backed up to a park (as long as there also wasn't a pool), so I could install a gate back there, and let the kids go nuts at the park every day. :-D Are there any lots with the backyard facing either South or East? I really like our east-facing backyard, because the house shades it in the afternoon, allowing for children and plants to flourish. A few thoughts on the corner lot (I promise I'm almost done talking lol).... How much do you like people and animals? It takes a great lover of people -- especially children -- to happily have a corner lot in a smaller-parcel subdivision. Kiddos in particular love to cut the corner on their way to school. I have also found that any time my dogs have had intestinal upset, it's *always* in front of the corner house, to maximize my embarrassment. I'm that crazy neighbor who, once my dog has made a mess and I get him home, I will return to your sidewalk with a scrub brush and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and scrub the concrete until the mess is completely cleaned up. I even freakin' blend the edges (or scrub the entire square), so you can't tell the newly-cleaned spot from the old concrete. I may be the only individual in my county (who is also married to the only other individual in my county) who would do this. Most of your neighbors won't. I feel so bad for the corner house, that on walks, I even pick up *other people's* dogs' droppings. And I have never even met that neighbor. :-/ Anyway, things to think about. :-D