One of our friends asked when we would have an open house. My response: "Our house is always open for you." Awnmyown, that is fantastic that you've built much of your house -- what an accomplishment! I usually feel a bit awkward saying we are "building a house" since it's more like "we are having a house built." My father worked quite a bit on the houses we had growing up, so I feel the difference; I also think dad is somewhat disappointed that he's not picking up a hammer on this one (though we'll have plenty of finishing projects). Crafty Granny, that is so wonderful that you will be able to have a home for wonderful gatherings. I bet your friends and family will be thrilled for you as long as they get an invite :-) We have an empty-nester colleague who is downsizing to a house bigger than our new house for 7 people. I think everyone just hopes that the remodel will be done soon enough that they'll host the office holiday party!

I remember when the afro was popular and I asked my Mom if I could have one and she said no. I was in the 7th grade and thought how mean. Well when I was a freshman(14) in high school, I asked again and she told me that I could do it IF I was responsible about it and kept it neat and always looked presentable. I remember it as one of my first big decisions and I was so proud of the fact that she had enough faith in me that I would do the right thing and I did. Fast forward a gazillion years later and my D son asked if he could grow his hair out so that he could wear it braided. At the time he was 14 and I remembered the encounters with my Mom and I said the same thing to him. My hubby immediately said no and we had a family meeting and we made it clear that if he didn't take care of his hair AND save up the money to pay for getting it braided himself, then it would be cut off. Well my son is now almost 22 with hair below his shoulders and he is very responsible about taking care of his hair. Actually he is almost obsessed about it :-) That was one of the first real mature decisions for him, just like it was for me. I think depending on the maturity level of the kid, 14 is not too young to start experimenting with hair. As long as it is made clear to the kid what the potential ramifications are, then I think it is fine. I think we as adults have to remember what it is like to be that age and struggle with individuality vs what's popular and how hard it can be for teenagers. It is just hair and it will grow back. I have had every imaginable hairstyle under the sun,afro, long, short, asymmetrical, mullet and braids. Each style represented me during a particular period and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do different things. We have to support, be honest but let them discover who they are. Oh yeah one other thing, as soon as my son started growing facial hair, he loved it and I hated it. He would let it grow long and I would beg for him to please shave and my hubby gently reminded ME about letting him express his individuality :-) To me he looked like Grizzly Adams but to my son it made him look older. Ughh.... So the running joke between us was that I would call him Grizzly but if he wanted to look like a mountaim man, that was his choice. Again fast forward a few years and he has a very nice goatee that is now well manicured and he looks great. I remembered my own experience and let him be and he eventually grew out of the Grizzly Adams look. Thank goodness!

No in this lifetime! I have this very thick, naturally wavy/curly hair that a good hairdresser can do absolutely anything with - including blow drying it straight. I can do zip with it other than stick my head under a tap and apply some curl enhancing guck. You would not believe the things that have been done to my hair - and in a few cases by a regular hairdresser - who took a course. I recall once going for a trim - my hair was maybe collar bone length and the hairdresser cut one side over my ear and left the other as is. I didn't think it was a joke because all I was expecting and asking for was a trim - but zap off came the side over the right ear in one piece. Moving on I had more not so wonderful experiences. I finally found a great guy in Ottawa and then we moved to Alberta. When we moved back to Ontario - Toronto this time, we occasionally visited my husband's family in Ottawa so I went to this fellow who cut my hair -by this time he owned his own salon. Then in the late 1980s he told me that he would be away for 3 months in Toronto studying at the Vidal Sassoon Institute - wanted me to know in case I called looking for an appointment - and was told that he was in Toronto. He told me that if I were to go to him at Sassoon's that he would be forced to cut my hair in one of the at the time edgier current styles because my hair would look very good - wouldn't suit me and wouldn't last - but my hair would lend itself to the various edgier cuts - and neither of us would be happy. I have heard this from other people and 3 weeks ago an acquaintance went to Sassoon's and well, her hair looked as if it had been cut with a bowl and then angled - and basically was told the same thing - that they do what they want with your hair. Of course Sassoon salons are all over so other people might have better luck. The icing on the cake was that 3 weeks before our wedding my long time hairdresser cut the front of my hair in a triangle. I sit on the edge of the chair every time I have to find a new hairdresser. And I always watch out for the "pinking shears" - not good and there is a well known hairdresser who uses these thinning shears as his trademark. I saw him on TV doing hair and the person was not happy with her formerly thick, but now thin hair. I think so much depends on each person's experience. I have no problem with anyone experimenting on my hair as long as it does not involve the scissors or colour - other than that - go crazy. Fortunately my hair grows very fast. I hope things work out at the school. It is very hard to find someone who can cut curly hair.

nightmart, Might hold off cutting the daisy back until you no longer see the bugs. That way, you'll be more likely to take any eggs away with what you remove. A very good chance the problem on the bee balm is actually fungi (powdery mildew) rather than four-lined plant bug damage; probably a bad year for this, too, due to all the moisture.... and many monarda are especially susceptible. If PM, yes it could also spread to the roses. Can't remember the commercial spray we used for our crape myrtle PM problems in Houston, but noticed that neem oil is listed as an eradicant on this master gardener PM page - so will hopefully will give you good results. We've planted PM resistant varieties in Dallas and have not had to resort to chemical treatments... so far, anyway. I second marti8a's recommendation to get rid of any potentially egg carrying cuttings rather than composting them.