Thanks for the replies and the hugs. Unlike most of you, my backyard is pretty much a desert. The previous owners were elderly, did nothing and allowed their kids to take down a big tree and poison the ground to get rid of the stump. I have very very little grass and mostly dirt that is very dusty. What I look out on is very ugly and bare. Until my husband became too ill, we rescued abused dogs. They pretty much trashed whatever I planted. So I decided on roses and put these only along the fence. My New Dawn turned out to be root stock, my Golden Showers isn't doing much showering and the dogs pretty much trashed my clematis last year playing tag and knocking over the fence around them. The clematis are coming back slowly, we dug up the "New Dawn" and did replace it with some lovely climbers I bought on line this year. Unfortunately, like all bare root they are twigs that will take time to grow and bloom. I really wanted...no make that...needed something pretty in my yard. That's why the local ordering so I could have a few plants in bloom. I did get 2 Veteran's Honor and a Pope John to go up by the house. The order they haven't called me back about is a Compassion, which I was hoping to have bloom a bit for me. I don't have a lot of places I can put roses, so I have to be choosy what I put in. I wish I could do like some of you and order a bunch at a time. I ordered several clematis on line and bought some at Lowe's but they won't be ready until next year. It's not that I don't know that it takes time. It's just that what I needed to have here for my soul is proving incredibly hard to get. I probably will never be able to afford to actually landscape but I did so want some color and some roses to look out at when life is gray. I'm only way down to Wal-Mart to get a trellis to plant some morning glories up on my deck. I guess its just for me that roses are very special, not just a hobby, but a need, so I guess that makes it worse when things go wrong. I was having a bad day yesterday. Depression is like that, but you do what you can to make the next day better. I have my dogs -- all 10 of them -- and what flowers I've been able to find and you lovely folks to keep teaching me new things. I hope you all have a marvelous Sunday! Peace, Jane and the Hole in the Wall Gang Here is a link that might be useful: Our Rescue Dogs

Sometimes the strees of replanting or moving can cause more red than usual as can the addition of fertilizers. Addtionaly, and most likely, is that Red Select does not stay red as the hotter summer months approach. A good green will come through in the leaf base color and you will get a more purple color than a red. There sould be a blending of colors. The other very likely possiblily is that Red Select is used or misused synonymously or unknowingly and often the tree is an Evered, Garnet, Inabe shidare, etc. But on Red Select, the green will and should show through in the summer--it is characteristic of that plant as well as many other red dissectums. If if was sold to you as plant that would be red through all seasons it was misrepresented a bit and the name is a little misleading also. I love Red Select as it is a terrific plant. MJH

Ramekins are always so useful, I use the ones Dishesdone bought me for everything from melting a couple of pats of butter to snacks for the kids. I even make MLCs in them, which is why she got them for me in the first place, LOL. Linda, I'm sure you'll use yours a lot. That size microplane is so useful, I know you'll love that, but I've never seen a vase grinder, so that'll be interesting to see how it works on your herbs. A very nice swap box indeed... Annie

Hi sayhellonow, Thanks for replying. I searched Google for Toxic Parents and came to some comments posted here from '07 or so under the topic "Adults Estranged from Parents." I think it is sometimes good to vent similar growing up situations. I am trying to improve my own outlook and my relationships with my alcoholic somewhat abusive Mom as a middle-aged adult. I would guess there are many lurkers who read the forums, but never bother to post as it is very personal. And for such things, I think using Facebook is a big disadvantage for sharing very personal issues like growing up in a very dysfunctional family. I keep Facebook usage to a bare minimum and rarely post anything considered too personal as the site is not that private anyway despite what some people may think. Anyway, with some good search skills, someone can find many answers to their personal problems, but in some cases, professional therapy is useful as well.