Congratulations on the win. Awesome looking roots. Happy Holiday to you also,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Looking forward to your interesting posts to GW in 2012.

Interesting information about F. Bennett! I like the photo of Foolish Kisses that you posted on the other thread. Debra

I'm so sad for you, Shey. You are NOT a failure; I'm amazed you keep trying in the face of such a lack of support. It is not failing to not be able to achieve the unachievable...would you consider yourself a failure if you tried to fly by jumping off the roof, and didn't fly? You should also show your BF this post, it is so articulate and sums up the disconnect between your attitudes well. But I was thinking of some answers you could give to BF's accusations as well. I've regrouped them a little as some pretty well fall into the same territory. You don't hug the kids enough, you're not affectionate with them. Why don't you treat my kids like I treat yours!?! You were really quiet with them today, what's wrong with you? - Because they don't care to be hugged by me, talk to me or even to spend time with me. This is evidenced by the fact that they never initiate conversation with me, ask me not to be at their events, and ask to be alone with you. I would love to be more affectionate with them but since they don't like it I try not to irritate them by offering unwanted hugs or chit chat. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells in my own home, but I do it because I know you want to stay close to your children. But they're picky eaters you know that, I don't want them to go hungry! -Well, I don't want them to go hungry either. If you have a better idea of what they'd like to eat, why don't you cook while they are here? I'm trying my best to make meals they will like, but clearly it's not working. Let's try a different tack. I'm going to have 'family time' with the kids separate as that is what they have asked for... You always wait for me to suggest something, don't you want to see us? Let's spend less time together because they need me. -I would dearly love for us all to spend time together but if your children prefer not to then I am content that they should spend time alone with you, since I don't want to upset them. It's hard to suggest things to do when I know they would prefer I was out of the picture altogether. Well, I can't do anything about what she says or does can i! -No, you can't, but it would be nice if you were more sympathetic to how it makes me feel so that I felt you were on my side. They're struggling with their mother, what am I supposed to do, lose my kids?!? -Of course not, but I feel this issue is driving a wedge between us that is going deeper and deeper. I feel you think I've failed somehow and I don't know what else I could do to encourage your children to like me. What would you suggest? If this situation doesn't improve, I feel it's going to eventually turn into our discussing whether our relationship is worth continuing with. I am very unhappy with things as they are and would dearly love for things to improve but for this to happen we both need to be on the same side and working together toward the same goal.

I am new to roses and ordered my first David Austin's at the end of the season last year - I have Jude the Obscure, Molineaux, Crocus Rose and Boscobel coming. I was very nervous about planting David Austins because I thought I read somewhere they don't do well in my zone - but if you already have some and they're doing well enough for you to get more, maybe I don't have to worry! Thank you for this post!