Scarlet Meidiland and Sevilliana have bloomed and grown more than any other roses I have. They came from the bare root sale they had in 2006, along with Linda Thompson and several others. They got moved out of the rose garden because they got too big, and the colors clashed with all my pastel Austins. They deserve a bed of their own, anyway. The HD roses are already blooming, and while it seems like too many when I'm planting, once they bloom I always regret not buying more! Of course, this year we've had incredible rains and cooler temps, so even the body bag roses have flourished. I think the Wayside Buy 1 get 2 free sale was the clearance sale. I bought several, and one got cancelled for some reason, but the rest have not been shipped yet! They were supposed to go out today, but who knows... They are J&P stock instead of wayside. My very best performers are the ones I bought bare root. The potted bushes from local nurseries start out as bare roots from Weeks or J&P and are grown out in cool greenhouses, and they take forever to adjust to the garden. The bare roots either make it or don't fairly quickly. When Wayside/Parks posts clearance roses, I buy types I wouldn't normally look at like minis and ogr's and rugosas, and I've been really happy with all I've tried. I'm also more likely to buy in multiples on the sales. I'm beginning to understand the design principle of planting in groups. My group of Julia Child is awesome, and so is my row of Fourth of July, and today I saw the first buds on my hedge of Carefree Wonder. I'm hoping it looks like Pappu's someday. All were clearance roses! Anyway, if there is a late sale this year, I sure hope someone posts it! I'm still looking for Disneyland Rose, Laura Bush, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sweeet Promise, Catalina, Bishop's Castle, Chihuly, Happy Chappy. That's my fantasy, finding all those for 2.69 each with free shipping, haha. cindi

Exciting news indigo! I can only speak from my own experience and say that I have had Chickadees nest in a BB box here, and the Blues did not try to swipe the box. Then again, I had 2 other options in the yard for the Blues. Do you have another BB box up? I'd put one up if you don't. I haven't heard of using a Sparrow Spooker on a box of Dees. Hope that someone here knows. I don't put one on mine. It's cool that you will be able to monitor the Chickadee nest. Their little eggs are the size of Jelly Belly jelly beans. Sometimes, the moms will sit tight on the nest when you open the box, even after you thump on the box before opening it. :o)

Oh I can't wait to see your cabinets! Progress on the outside of our place was good last week but not so great for the inside. There is still MUCH to do. The electrician and plumber were both suppose to show up Saturday and get the electrical done and get the house hooked up to the well. Neither one of them showed up. Was perfect weather this weekend and now it is raining out. I am a tad bit ticked off by neither one of them showing up. The builder stated two weeks ago we would be in by my birthday. I can't wait to call him tomorrow and tell him it is my birthday. LOL! So to answer your question on the move in date. I have no idea! LOL! I have not set up the closing date, I was suppose to set it up for Friday but something told me to wait so I am glad I did. We did took three boxes of toys out of storage for DD and she played for hours on her bedroom floor. I was sealing her grout in her bathroom and I kept hearing her say "OOHHHHH! I forgot I even had this!" It made me smile. Soon, very soon! BUT not soon enough *wink* I start my new job on Tuesday so all my free time is quickly slipping. We hoped to be moving today but no such luck. Maybe a couple more weeks. Good luck with the cabinets! What kind did you go with? Can't wait to see them! Kel

Oh my gosh...what a thread!!! Must keep it. and I burst out laughing about the shamwow :) blackthumb, you are hereby renamed wetblanket :) (I usually put plastic down if I'm painting a lot [which saved us when DH backed into a roller tray full of paint once], but I was just doing a little finishing touchup today, so I scooted some newspapers under the door area to catch any drips.) natesgramma, I also definitely have a pair of pants I use when painting -- they have a significantly higher proportion of Brandon Beige on them now... yogacat...yogacat... And the slow-motion time you talk about groomingal in your highly dramatic rendering of the new-member-hazing -- I SO remember it from today -- we both have great reflexes because I almost (*almost*) caught mine again after my hand just froze and dropped it. Unfortunately the catch turned into a flip to keep a *little* of the paint in the can, but in the process of flipping it, I sprayed it out in an arc even further (onto the wood furniture). trailrunner, I just want to reach back in time and come help you; I can just imagine a pregnant mama collapsing in tears over what happened... And bronwynsmom, as soon as the paint spilled, one of our cats came trotting over to see what the commotion was. I said "Get away" in a somewhat urgent voice and she left, thank *goodness* or we would have had little beige artifacts all over the carpet in the other room...