The last picture looks like what could be a couple of red spidermites in the picture (too small to tell for sure) and the one before that has the characteristic webbing that they make. Around here, they usually only become a problem if the plant is already suffering, i.e., they are not usually the primary issue. However, once they get going, they can become a real problem. They do not seem to like oils sprayed on them, such as Neem. I've also got some other horticultural oil that is a mix of garlic oil, clove oil and some other oil that I've used. Oils require full application on the tops and bottoms of every leaf, and are best to spray in the evening. It essentially suffocates the little devils. :-) Sorry you are having such a complicated year. It does seem to happen to us all at some point. Good luck Ray!

Don't assume it's coming out of a drain. Tubs and sink basins are often traps for crawling insects who fall in and can't get out because of the slick sides. There are lots of bugs in urban environments, with no grass or trees around, and if you're seeing them in bathrooms, it may be because they like or need a moist environment. Sometimes some have population explosions where you do see large numbers of certain insects at certain times of the year. It's not a tick or bedbug.

I am ape over my nanking cherry, too, and loving that delicate foliage! I'd like to pop mine in a five-gallon pot as well, I hope it will do alright. The only sad thing is that gorgeous peony plant. The dogs broke it off at the base, but I planted it anyway. Please come back next year, little peony! Everyone was planted in a nice square of earth, all prepared and filled with earthy goodness. I suspect that the lavender came from Dee directly. I'm going to use my little bulb of Applegate garlic from Lilacs tonight with dinner. I want to plant it, but mainly I want to eat it! Oh, and we brought home FOUR gourds!! Started with one and left with four...no idea how that happened, really................not really, I do know, I waited, waited, asked, waited, and then took more :) My boyfriend said he really liked you Kansas gals, "I liked them right off the bat." I liked everyone I met and wish I'd had more time to chat with you all. I really wanted to talk with Amester more and share info about our friends new cancer book, which is chock full of info on how to take care of yourself for prevention and especially on how to keep it from coming back. But, it was a long day and poor Darren looked like he was going to tear up while you were talking about your experiences. His aunt is starting chemo in six weeks and just had her bladder and uterus removed, so it is a touchy subject at the moment for him. I wish we had had time to stay longer, but thanks to Lindy-Loo for giving us a mini-presentation on the soil!! I wish I could remember the names of everyone we met...there was Alice, Lindy-Loo, SingCharlene, the lady who mentioned the flying spaghetti monster, the Kansas gals, Amester, Azura, the couple looking at the tomatoes (one in hat one with perfectly curly hair), CatLady, wasn't there a Ginny? oh, I can't remember!!!! Glad we went, how is that?

I can't say that you're getting good advice on the sink issue until you answer another question or two...do you have a "real" master bath with two sinks? And did you cap off the plumbing but leave it accessable in your daughters bath? If you answered yes to both, leave the long counter. You don't have to plan for a family that does not live in your home and two sinks in a one person bathroom is rediculous (I've had it...it's awful). IF you capped off you can advertise it's ready for two sinks when you sell if you want, but don't cut a hole without knowing if it's necessary. If you don't have a real master bath you've probably made a mistake giving it to your daughter and you should plan on making a real one when you move...but again, why do it now? It's an easy fix later. Someone mentioned whispy or gauzie for the window. IMO it's absolutely necessary. If you put in a bamboo shade you've added some texture but it's still a hard texture and your bath is far too high on hard textures and way way low on soft textures and the beach is all about softness. White for your towels and mats...keep it easy and soft (again because it's missing) go fluffy on those mats...fun and fluffy. I wish I had a pic but in my condo appt I went with a color very near your color and loved it. One thing I did to soften the big mirror was to use a bunch of picture frames on the mirror painted in a shabby chic type of white. (does that make sense?) They were all cheap picture frames, but mostly bulky frames, with the pics removed and then I velcroed (double stick velcro in white) the frames to the mirror, with a big one over the sink and the balance scattered around. You'd be amazed how the harsh lines of the wall mirror disapear in the debth of the framed pieces. I am with most in that I don't like the lights, but their placement isn't the issue, it's the harshness of the fixtures themselves...but that's an easy fix if you soften up the rest of the room with texture. Fluffy white mats, towels, white frames on the mirror, a soft breezy gauzy window covering (which could be done over a grass cloth shade if you want more privacy) and some lovely counter accessories (candles and sand, grasses etc) would really make the room sing, and fix all of your issues (IMO) I'd consider doing the gauzy covering by tacking the gauze to a whispy piece of thin beach wood for the curtain rod, and then hot glue sea shells or sand dollars or star fish every five or six inches as if they were holding up the gauze... A collection of antique perfume spritzers would be a lovely accessory to bridge your tween into teen.