Well I have read all your comments about the rude DIL. The mother that said "have patience"....I've been patient for 10 months now. My grandson was born last October. I welcomed my son's girlfriend in my home 2 years before she became pregnant (living with me). I think I have a great relationship with her personally. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to come to the hospital for the birth. I respected their wishes because they wanted it done this way. No one to be there so they could relax and bond with no company. Her mom did not respect this and showed up anyway and stressed her and my son so bad by being there (constantly talking, laughing, etc) all day that her labor became stressful. My son was so upset. Finally they booted her mom out. Again I'm saying, I respected the wishes. My DIL breastfeeds and she claims he won't take a bottle. I say she's wrong. A little bottle manipulation will take care of that. Mfg. companies do not make the nipples wide enough so not enough milk comes out. (I breastfed my son but pumped so my parents could feed and bond with their grandson--I had to have the nipples opened a little more so he would take it). I feel she doesn't want me and my husband to feed him, which is a bonding experience to grandparents. When I told her about this trick, my son was excited to try it because he too wants to feed his son. If I'm giving to her (money, gifts, going out to eat, etc.) she comes over and stays for a good while so I can play with him. If I don't have anything to offer, I never see her and she's always busy if I want to go over to her house. Her mother and family dont help them out or see the baby but once a month, but when there is holidays, her family gets first dibs on the visit. Me and my husband are always last and the baby is tired because they get to my house so late. His first birthday party is being planned around her mothers schedule, not the grandparents that have literally spent out thousands of dollars to help with their bills and baby items. (they have asked and I have offered). Yes, I am expected to help her out with buying decorations, food, and the rental space at the park but me and my husbands schedule didnt matter. I, too, have taken care of many babies and know what I'm doing. She won't let the baby out of her sight. She's always "right there" and seems she wants him to always want her or cry for her when he sees her so she can take him. I feel I haven't got a grandchild or bonded the way my parents bonded with my son. I've respected their wishes since she gave birth to him. I've only babysat 20 minutes a couple times. Although one time she and my son was doing some delivery work to make some extra cash and left him with us for 3 hours when he was 5 months. I insisted on them not to ride around that long with the baby in the carseat. They agreed reluctantly.....Believe me, by the time they got back, my grandson was not happy. He wanted food that I couldn't give. Did not have a bottle because i was not allowed to feed him. So needless to say, I dont watch him long periods like that anymore (with no bottle). She pumps but claims she doesn't pump enough. He feeds and within an hour he's hungry again and she feeds him again. Seems like she's breastfeeding constantly. Like I said, I feel I'm being used and I have to "pay" to see my grandson. When hes out of the baby stage, boy, people will be getting some good deals at my yard sale because everything is new since I see him maybe once a week, sometimes once every two weeks. I've tried everything. In my opinion she's too too too overprotective. I'd like for my grandson to grow to be a tough playing little boy not the opposite. I need that bonding experience. Yes, i have tried to talk to both of them and theres always excuses that doesnt make sense. I do want you to know I love my DIL very much. I just want to feel I've got a grandson and feel the baby stage experience... not blink and he's a grown boy. Any advise, please help. I've done everything I know of and now just being unemployed, I'm short on money. Makes me feel I'm being used. My husband is upset, too. HELP!!!!

I have the 500plus and can live without the comforter cycle of the 800. I think it uses a little more water, but I have washed a queen size comforter on a cotton cycle and found that the water level was adequate. I didn't have any visible soil on the comforter so I can't comment on how good the washing performance actually was. It did smell nice and clean though. If you feel it is necessary, you can use the 2 hour soak cycle to get the comforter wet before you start a wash cycle. I have done that with some pillows that needed the soaking for stain removal and it worked good. I don't really use the jeans cycle. I think I have used it once just to see what it does. I am not sure what the temperature setting is, but from what I understand it uses a reduced spin speed to avoid excessive wrinkling. I wash my jeans in a mixed loads with t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. using the warm cotton cycle and the highest spin speed. I don't experience any wrinkling that the dryer won't just about completely remove. The description of the Kidscare cycle is kind of vague, but I like to use it for towels and seriously stained items. The temperature setting is 150 F, so it nicely fills the wide gap between the hot cotton cycle and the exxtrasanitary cycle. I chose the 500plus over the 800 because I think it is much easier to use. I have read some complaints that it is kind of difficult to go through the menu and find all the appropriate temperature settings, spin speeds and rinse options. On the 500(plus) you just turn the dial and then push a button or two if you want extra options like heavy duty, an extra rinse or a different spin speed. Between the 500 and 500plus, I chose the 500 plus mainly because of looks (the chrome ring around the door) and the eco-option instead of the bleach option. I don't use any chlorine bleach, so why have a cycle for it. However, I have to admit that I don't use the eco option much either. I like my washer a lot and I don't think you'll be disappointed with either the 500 or 800.

Good I did not see it and Jean always posted all her daylilies blooming....and sshe ans I were not far apart; many of the ones we both had would bloom first for her.

Here’s an updated photo of how it looks now. Her lettuce is growing so fast, we can barely keep up eating it! And everything else is growing well. We may have been a bit too ambitious with how much we planted but it’s a good experiment in intensive gardening. Here is what is in the bed from left to right: - radishes, we just planted more seeds as the last ones bolted in the heat we are having - corn - drying beans - carrots - peas - bell pepper - cucumber - tomato - green onion - lettuce I’ve started writing an ebook that goes through the full construction process of the bed/planter which I hope to have for sale by next month.