'strap or rope' ? No straps or ropes I can see, you may be looking at a chopstick that is lying across the back of the pot in the last photo? I can't even wire these trees in the pots because most only have one drain hole, tried drilling a few wiring holes out and the pots just shatter, even the cement ones. If this one becomes hard to stabalize I'll use chopsticks and support it by tying them to the tree. So far no problem though.

I sympathize with your dilemma. At least you know, however, where the noise or problem is coming from. My problem isn't so simple to define, since finding the source of the noise that I hear seems to be about as likely as proving the single shot theory of JFK's assasination. I've been renting at this apartment complex for a little over two years and have had to call the police three or four times now. Sometimes it's actually quiet, but it's been getting worse over the last couple of months. First, the two apartments across the hall from me are occupied by a woman and her son and daughter-in-law who like to conduct loud conversations up and down the stairs (we're on the third floor) with the door open. Oh, and this woman has a voice that sounds like she's speaking through an artifical voice box. It's horrible and gutteral and low pitched and screechy like a demon from a bad horror movie. Anyway, I've already complained to the landlord about them, which seemed to quiet them down for a little while, but how can you hold back the sea? But before I could relax and enjoy the respite, the neigbors directly below me decided to start playing their music loud from around 10:00 to 11:30 at night. I tried to ignore it at first, but when it continued the next night I did contact management. This time, they seemed more hesitant to do anything. In the midst of all this, there are a band of lowlifes that populate one or other of the buildings behind mine, who like to scream and talk loudly at all times of day and night outside my window, toot their horns, and bang on the door of their buildings while yelling to be let in. How their immediate neighbors can put up with this, I'll never know. Since I don't know who these people are or even their exact apartment numbers, I've been hesitant to call the landlord. I have gone outside late at night and crept around trying to identify the source of the noise, and jotted down the address of the specific building and the floor I thought it was coming from. When I called the landlord about them, the manager said he would try to get security to look into it. That doesn't seem to be working, though, since every week since then I've experienced numerous disturbances, usually two or three times a week. I've been lying in bed at midnight and had to listen to loud street talking among what sounds like a group of guys, using rough language and acting like they're in a bar. Just today, I was awakened at 4:11 a.m to the sound of music blasting from someone's apartment, followed by loud talking and cussing that went on until after 5:00 a.m. When I finally went back to sleep (I had to get up early to drive my sister to work so needed the sleep), I was awakened again at 6:40 to loud music. This is getting to be too much to handle. How am I supposed to police this whole complex when the management apparently is unwilling to do so? How, also, am I supposed to lodge a complaint when I don't know the source? And apparently, the people living near these scumbags are either too apathetic or scared to get involved (or perhaps they're friends or relatives). Does anyone out there have any suggestions? This is ruining my life! I feel totally harrassed and violated.

I've been sitting here for a few minutes contemplating what I'd do if I had a day to myself. No kids? No interruptions? Peace and quiet all day long? It's sounding so good, I just might try to arrange it in the next couple of months! :) I would sleep in. I'd read in bed. I'd have a long bath, go check out a couple of thrift stores, eat lunch out.... I'd go for a nice hike somewhere quiet by the water. I'd go home and order in some Vietnamese soup for dinner. I'd read out on the deck with a big glass of wine and some jazz music. Then I'd watch a good chick flick before reading in bed some more. Ahhhh.... I feel refreshed just having written about it! :)

Funny, funny....have to send that one on, I think!