Hi, I had quackgrass in one area, and I dug up as much as I could like you did. I did put down a few inches of shredded cypress mulch. Then I kept an eye on the area. When I would see sprouts coming up, I would pull it out. The mulch made it easier to pull because it kept the soil moist, and I really do think there were less sprouts. Anyway, I did get rid of the grass. How long it took me I'm not sure. I do remember thinking I got it all and then a long time later some popped up. Maybe you could put down the mulch for now and then once it is finally under control, remove the mulch. If it make you feel any better, I've been fighting Horsetail(equisetum)and Sedge for quite some time. The Seige of the Sedge, as I like to call it, is almost over. I'm loosing the battle with the Horsetail though. And now I have a new evil plant invasion, Bindweed! Good luck, Remy

My 90-95 lb German Shepherd typically rides stretched across the back seats (in either an SUV or extended cab pickup). I have in the past used seatbelt harnesses to keep her safe, though I haven't done so recently because they don't work well if you cover the seats with a blanket like I do to protect them. I should probably revisit the practice to keep my dog safe. Thank you for bringing up this topic as I think it's something I should be thinking about. I never worry about her bolting out of the vehicle as it just isn't in her nature and we're very careful opening the door. In a large enough vehicle I have sometimes put her in her crate for the ride. But unfortunately our current vehicles aren't large enough to get her into the crate while it is in the vehicle and she's too heavy to safely lift while inside the crate and slide it into place. (Plus that would make regular pit stops / stretching breaks difficult due to the need to extract the whole crate in order to extract her.) She has ridden in the front seat when she was smaller, but now prefers to lay out. On short trips I often just put her in the very back of the SUV (with seats up) because she seems to like that spot best and it's easiest to get her in and out (with her hip dysplasia and advancing age).

what I can't do is carry colour in my head. @blfenton, no one can. It's how we're wired. Doesn't matter how good color acuity may be, the brain will create a short-hand version of the color you saw and that is what you will remember. This takes the original topic referenced, the gray/greige thread, a level deeper. The brain creates the short-hand version for color memory because our language for color is limited. Thus the reason for 11 basic color names. (the 1969 Berlin-Kaye Study) Thus the reason why color words like greige, taupe, beige, tan, khaki are not at all useful. Thus the reason why Albert Munsell was so hell-bent on creating a color system that described color by the three psychological dimensions, hue/value/chroma. More if interested: Albert Munsell introduced the color notation because he wanted the study of color to be as organized and clear-cut as the study of music. He was fascinated by the written musical note; one could read musical notes and "hear" the music play in their head without any audible notes being played. He believed the same could be achieved with color. And he was right. His discovery of the three psychophysical dimensions of color, hue, value and chroma provided the framework to "see" color without a physical color swatch the same way one can read musical notes and "hear" music.

Thanks for your patience everyone (particularly Lisa). You've actually timed me pretty well and it's time to put everyone out of their misery with...the ANSWERS. The bouquet I would have picked and the one the primary woman being honored picked was the single overlap (knew she was a woman after my own heart)... Neon Lights of Broadway. I really thought I gave that one away in my descriptions since I mentioned neon at least three times in describing the various bouquets, but since there's lots of neon everywhere there were a lot of choices. When Cori Ann nailed my choice immediately I figured that would be that, but fortunately everyone had their own perceptions and that made it more fun. For the rest of her family members, as soon as I said they could all take a bouquet (or all of them) home, one of the other ladies made a beeline for Oddballs and kept a death grip on it for the next half hour daring anyone to challenge her for that one. Go for it! The other two chose Pastel Princess and Apricot Galore, which showed agreement with many of you. As we were setting up the bouquets, one of our male computer experts that was helping mentioned casually, "These are nice but I really like THAT one". Somehow I didn't even have to turn around to know he meant Prairie Harvest. When I asked if that was indeed the one, he said yes and added that they were "guy flowers" (his words, not mine). I heard the same comment from multiple guys at the party, including a male member of the family as they were gathering up bouquets. When he was reminded that he could take that one home, he looked at us like we were crazy and shook his head with a "what would I do with flowers" look on his face. When I scrolled these photos past my twins and asked what they would pick, my son immediately responded, "The purple one". Hmm. Since everything had purple spiky things in it, I told him I needed some help here. He had me scroll past the bouquets and singled out "The Pit of Despair". My daughter immediately chimed in "me too". The surprising orphan in all these selections was Seasons in the Sun, which I'd unofficially say was the majority favorite among you chiming in. Perhaps the gentle harmony of this one didn't draw the eye as much as the brighter bouquets in person, where you who have more time to contemplate things liked it more. I'd have to say among the rose bouquets it's the one I would least pick (granted, I like them all) because I like pizazz and this one is, well peaceful. It's like my yard - most people like the shade bed best because it has harmony and gentle colors that tie everything together, but I like any other bed that has something vivid in it even if it is spotty overall. Just my taste, but I can appreciate and even create things with harmony when I try. The selections left me with my second favorite - Ow My Eyes Hurt. The bouquet lasted a surprising eight days on my desk, only pulling out a few stragglers here and there. Maybe there's something in the caffeine of the Mountain Dew (smile). I'll see if I can find the picture I took after a week or so. I would stare over at Milestone and sigh happily into its neon depths (not a rose that usually blooms that neon for me, BTW). I also discovered that something in that bouquet had a scent but I have to say I didn't find it overwhelmingly positive (smelled musty to me). Everyone that came in my office commented on how nice it smelled though, so it's just my odd nose. Prairie Harvest went out into a table in our office bloc since a friend in that area had donated it, and the computer tech that liked it is also in our bloc. My secretary picked The PIt of Despair for her desk. Our clinic managers picked Seasons in the Sun, and Big Bertha sat proudly in a corner of the clinic for the week. So every bouquet got appreciated, and for those of you who liked that bouquet someone appreciated it sincerely. Thanks for playing everyone and I appreciate each and every one of your comments. Cynthia