Hi Brad, You're so right. Reading suggestions on GW is a big help, and one can learn a lot from people who grow really rare plants, like CP's. Think I mentioned, I didn't know CP/Venus Flytraps bloomed. Our local conservatory keeps CP's in a large aquarium, but last time I visited CP's weren't flowering..They are interesting to watch though. Brad, I WISH I had that book. LOL, you're right...Little Shop of Horrors..One day that movie was on Cable. An old version..B-Grade, badly made movie. lol. I can't recall much about the movie, except a guy own a store, maybe a plant store, and got hold of a plant that ate people..lol..Too funny. Swallowtail sounds right. Wings are black edged, yellow centers. So far, haven't seen a ST this year. Oh, you'll love your Butterfly Bush..What color flowers? I had white over 10-years, '17-yr Cicada's killed it,' and still have a dark purple BB in the back yard. BB attracts Butterflys, bees and a little insect called Moth-Hummingbird. The first time I saw this insect I thought it was a Hummer...boy, was I excited. I started a thread here on GW, and found it wasn't a hummer, but a moth-hummer..Don't know if they're related or not.. Its wings flutter exactly like a Hummingbird. They're tiny, maybe 1-2" tall. Of all BB color flowers, I think white is most fragrant and attracts a larger number of insects. Mine were bought at HD, too. lol. As babies. So, you prune now? Doesn't pruning halt flowers? Big decision is an understatement. Coco, 'little dog' is very lonely w/o his big brother. On the other hand, he's very selfish, lol. He has quite a few stuffed animals, which we call his babies. Coco never liked sharing. Even w/Sam. lol So, if I get another dog, I fear Coco will think he/she is his baby, and won't want me to touch the new little guy/gal. Training might be impossible. Sam gets credit for house training Coco. Coco watched Sam go out back..When Coco grew a little, I took Coco out back. He was so tiny, I feared he'd find a way outside the fence. Even though I took Coco out, he was only doing what Sam did, if that makes sense. lol. Then, Sam and Coco went outside together, under my supervision. Coco weight about 5 lbs, Sam was 172. I worried Sam would step on Coco. Too protective??? lol Did you get a chance to browse Black Jungle? Toni

It looks like Im going to go down to Muskatatuck NWR tomorrow instead so I hope I didn't screw any plans up for anybody. I'm trying to find and photograph all (or almost all) of the Indiana snakes before I go to college so when I head back up north later this year I may stay in state rather than going over to Kankakee. So far I've only photographed a few snakes (with my new camera), but I'm hoping to add these tomorrow- -Eastern Ribbon Snake- -Midland Water Snake- -Southern Black Racer- -Rough Green Snake- -Black Kingsnake- And if we stop at Brown Co. State Park- -Northern Copperhead- -Timber Rattlesnake- Since there won't be any boards or tin to flip most of those will be pretty iffy, but I'm hoping to find at least 2 or 3 of those. You can see the snakes I've found so far here (although the rest of my site still needs work): http://indianaherp.tripod.com/journal/id45.html

It is so hard at that age. When they get older, they know it's coming, too, and can get to the toilet. But toddlers/preschoolers, it just spews wherever they are! They don't understand, they just see/feel their body doing something very scary and painful. It's hard. Poor Grant! I'm glad he got his rest and is getting back to himself. The worst night I had was when #4 was about 18 mos, which made the others 3, 6, and 9 at the time. About 4am one of them woke up sick, threw up, about the time I had that one settled back down in clean sheets the next one woke up and threw up. And it continued until all 4 of them had thrown up 3-4 times. It was just constant well into the next afternoon. At first I thought I must have fed them all something bad and went through the kitchen trying to consider the possible problem, but some friends reported the same bug with their kids and DH and I avoided it. Oh, the laundry! Every blanket, sheet, pillowcase, and big beach towel in the house was a mess. I think I avoided that one somehow. A little girl on DD's gymnastic's team was sick (nauseous, didn't throw up yet) this weekend at while at the gym. Her mom warmed up Sprite in the microwave for the girl to sip before she took her home. She said it works for her kids every time.

Gerina and catlettuce, I feel your pain, I continuously deal with intrusive adult step children that refuse to live their own lives. "You'll get no say in your own household because the children* even if they are adults will come first, always." This quote is the most accurate thing I have seen posted on this forum. I was blasted when I posted my concerns and unhappiness, being accused of being jealous and needing help. People not in that situation do not understand how it truly difficult it is. My SD and her two small children lived with us for a while three months after my husband and I were married. Not to mention my SS popped up the night we got back from our honeymoon and stayed for a while. Having to deal with this is hard whether your relationship is new or having been in place for a while, particularly when the SC have no respect for you or your newfound place in their father's life. My SD sat on her butt the entire time she lived with us. She cooked maybe two nights a week, other than that...she did nothing but talk on the phone (to her mother) watch tv and play video games while her children ran amuck tearing up the house while I was at work. She didnt even apply for any aid for her or her children. My daughter has a vehicle and took her anywhere she wanted to go, but for some reason it never occured to her that she might need to get on food stamps, etc. My two teenage children where home, as it was summer and she constatnly met her father at the door when he would get off of work to inform him of what my children were doing wrong. Everynight I was hit in the face with accusations and stories from my husband that had be relayed to him by his daughter. When she finally reconciled with her boyfriend (who threatened to kill her) she left to spend the weekend with him and didnt return. She left the room she was using torn completely apart. Clothing on the floor and the beds and trash everywhere. She didnt call to let her father know that she was fine or what was going for one month. What really stings the most, I tried to make them comfortable by buying them items and taking them places so that their lives would be better and I was never once even told thank you. When I expressed my hurt feelings to my husband, I was disregarded. I have loaned her and her boyfirend money to pay for the children's christmas, bought school supplies for the children and to this day it is totally unappreciated. I have to be honest, I wish I had known more prior to the marriage. I love him with all of my heart but I never dreamed that the things that have transpired would. If I were you, I would give him an ultimatium and hold him to it. You do not deserve this and need to finally get this situation in hand. Good luck!