Wow! Thanks for the mention Vickie! I've got lots and lots of rocks. I use the sandstone to build up my raised beds. The shale I just leave where it is, or move to a lower spot. In Missouri, you'll be having limestone and chert mixed with lots of orange clay. Look for land with some bottom mixed in, and your success with veggies/fruits will be much greater than an upland site. Make sure you're not building or farming in a floodplain. Although, up there it seems most of the creeks dissappear into sinkholes to emerge as springs somewhere down the line. There should be some excellent sources for farmer's market and veggie and fruit growing in your area. There might even be grants available for truck stand production. One thing to remember about fruit trees is we get burned about once every three years by late spring freezes. Especially peaches. If you do end up with an upland site, you can consider wine grapes. Cynthianna or Norton is a red grape that makes the best local wines. Grapes can make tasty wines when they struggle for soil and water. Farmer's Market is always an option, but you may have to travel a ways to find buyers. Here in Little Rock we have some farmers who travel about 1 1/2 hrs each way to our market. I have no problem paying extra for their food because I know how they grow and know that it will be top quality. Other people at our market just go to the local wholeseller and you know it when you buy a tastless tomato. If you can't find any information for Missouri, let me know, and I might be able to look up some sources for you.

Dottie, I can't imagine the past year that you and your family has endured, and again hope that this year is brighter. But I CAN understand the frustration you're feeling. I too think she may well have begun a relationship and is either embarrassed to tell you or not sure how to. I see this type of thing so often and I just don't understand it! To completely cut off communication is a terrible thing to do to someone without at least saying a reason. If you're angry with a person, tell them. If you don't feel comfortable with them, tell them. If you don't trust them anymore or whatever the reason, at least don't leave them hanging. It's a very cruel thing to do. It's natural for you to be concerned. If you're close to her mother, I think I WOULD call just to see if she's all right. If you're close to her mother she may share some info with you or at least give you a reason if there is one other than our suspicion. I can imagine your fear for her well-being. I have a cousin out state who cut off all communication suddenly for a couple years or more. I never understood it and it bugged me. I knew there were some marital issues and with such an abrupt cut off altogether, I was to the point I had a PI friend do a little checking to see if she was alive. I had a real bad feeling that something bad happened. Finally she got a hold of me and apologized and explained that she and her husband had been having rough times both marital and financial (which so often goes together) and she was too ashamed to tell me about it. There's been other times too and like I said, why can't people just open up a bit and say something? If you do contact either, I would suggest you not raise the grave issue. If there is a new person, there could be an issue with even going to the grave. Some people are strange. I imagine your first concern is her health and safety. I'm guessing she's just confused. Good luck and hope you find out something soon. And here's to a much brighter year for all!

I wouldn't worry about rose purgatory. After all, you're planting on YOUR side of the fence, lol. I say go for it. But if you haven't completely settled on Treasure Trove you might look at some I've grown. If you're thinking in terms of coverage and securing your perimeter against mean neighbors and/or zombies, there's nothing like the sempervirens ramblers. I've grown all these I mention below (except Awakening. It's new this year) in my zone 7a without any problem. The only time any of them had dieback was after the Arctic Express back in the 80's when we set the record of -24F. All of them are healthy for me. My favorite is Francois Jaranville, a beautiful warm pink/peach. Gardenia is a great warm white with hint of creamy yellow. It will bloom in some shade and gets HUGE. I'm talking 30+ feet. Of course there is my pink trio: Dr W. Van Fleet, New Dawn and Awakening (once-blooming dad, reblooming sport-daughter, and double reblooming grand-daughter, lol). There are many other sempervirens climbers to look at on HMF, some more rambunctious than others, and I assume you want a BIG rose. If you're concerned about hardiness, you might look at the setigera climbers. Some are house eaters as well, but in general are hardier than the sempervirens. Long John Silver (white) and Baltimore Belle (pink) are big, boisterous and bountiful. If you just want to block the view, you probably couldn't do better than good old climbing Mlle Cecile Brunner. If you can track it down, there's an elusive reblooming form somewhere out there. Mine has rebloomed a smattering in the past when I've done some judicious pruning right after the Spring flush, but it's getting much too big to bother with. If I were you, I'd contact Lynette, aka oldrosarian. There isn't much about climbing roses she doesn't know, and not many she hasn't grown! And her photos...oy vey!

Honestly, I look at the layout I drew yesterday. The cabinet is nice for extra storage but I should have kept some of that space for more counter. With a 24" vanity, guests can pretty much just put a tooth brush and toothpaste. Where at the other stuff go: On the toilet seat? On the floor? some little shelves above the toilet would help (but personally I don't like that (I am always afraid that will drop (either in the toilet or on the floor very close to the toilet). Again this is your MIL house, she certainly can have any size of the bathroom she wants but 7'0" is the minimum required to be to code. She could check with her contractor.