yes rhiz.. of course ... but i wasnt concerned with your comments about PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS ... it was moot to my point ... as much as i simplify things for newbies and those with lesser experience [which at times makes your head explode... lol] .. sometimes your stuff is so overly professional .. and i mean that in a good way .... [it makes my head want to explode] ... regardless you are a savant as far as i am concerned... if i can figure out what you are talking about.. lol which.. as is not uncommon... apparently i wasnt clear about my idea ... the simple idea ... is that ... again ... on any plant ... in any region ... there is a 'proper planting time' .. for me in MI .... you dont find some bargain in august.. when its 100 during the day.. 80 at night .. a tree ... and go plant it ... you simply wont be able to give it enough water to sustain it [well you can give it the water.. but can the roots pump it fast enough.. after you disturbed them] ... so why not wait 2 months.. and plant it in fall ... when its in the 70s.. and 50s at night ... so much easier ... buy it when you can get it.. but think about if its really the best time to plant it ... throw the pot in bright shade.. and nurse it along for a month or two ... [never put a black pot in sun.. you will cook the roots] the other end of the spectrum.. with frost/freeze liable plants.. dont rush out to plant them when its really too cold ... pot them.. and leave them in the garage ... warmish during the day ... but tempered night temps to avoid crystallizing the tender leaves ... and the coolness keeps them in slow motion ... as compared to forcing them large in the house .... babs ... i though i used words broad enough... for every region ... i am sure.. even you your eden.. there are better times to do things .... and the point was that simple ... peeps will think about plant culture... sun .. soil.. fert.;.. water .. and all these other variables.. and forget about TIMING ... so i guess the post is all about TIMING ... within the variables of plant culture .... ken ps: and here is the easy way to understand... you mail order from z8 WA ... and the plants are in a certain stage of growth ... and you are in z5 MN ... how about you plant them.. when as of today.. your weather is equivalent.. to the z8 they came from.. which probably means mid may ... but to take them outside.. and put them in 40 degree earth.. that is a recipe for disaster .... so one might think of the potting.. as 'hardening them off' to your conditions ... Here is a link that might be useful: rhiz ...you are a scientist.. i am a guy who has dirt under his nails.. and killed a lot of things... lol

Hi nohandle, All those animals are getting along just fine! We humans seem to have different plans in mind though. I guess if you want things a certain way, you'll have to figure out how to protect them from the wild animals or maybe put out some sacrificial stuff for them........like weeds! I made large tomato cages out of concrete reinforcing wire, and tied them together with twine. The birds love pulling that twine out for their nests. At first, I was irritated, but soon realized that it was nice to have something for them to use. Sometimes you can find enjoyment in seeing how you've helped so many other little beings. But if you're into just pleasing yourself, then you might be out of luck and in for alot of frustration. I do understand your frustration though. I had to quit feeding the birds so I wouldn't attract raccoons......who would do major damage to my yard, trees and watergardens.

This storm came from the west. Last week's storm (and it was a doozy here too!) was from the north which brought the cold arctic air clear down to us. Your problem Connie, is you live close to the arctic air. It doesn't have to travel very far before it gets to you. LOL The four day a week school system is great for students in sixth grade and older. The little kids struggle way to much for the schedule to be a success. The district tried this for two years when Jesse was in first and second grade and she struggled and struggled and struggled. For on thing, the days are longer and the breaks are shorter. Because of being required to cover X amount of subject matter in less time the teachers cannot/will not do the refreshing little kids needs....like, on Monday go over the new math concepts covered the Thursday before, etc. etc. It being too hard on the little kids was the reason the stopped doing this before. Now they are doing it again. Morons. This time Digger was a junior and a senior and things went much smoother. But then, she is older, more mature and learned the first and second grade basics. We're such a tiny school that when there is an away game everybody goes and not just the students. Teachers travel with the teams too. We got into trouble with the State Board of Education because of the low attendance scores. During the basketball season it wasn't unusual for the boys and girls teams to travel to a game on Wednesday or Thursday, then again on Friday. Throw in the wrestling team traveling somewhere during the week and that's a lot of time for students and teachers to be missing school. Now, supposedly, we are not to travel to games/meets on any day but Thursday to cut down on absenteeism. This is a joke. Most games are legal but about 1/4 are not. The starting and ending dates of the school year concern is strictly for the teachers, They don't want to start early and stay late. To this I say 'big woo'. Building in a snow day means we would have to have that many more days on the calender so they just don't schedule one. The board thinks they can fool mother nature. Morons. The thing that baffles me the most is if our schools are in session until noon (or if a student is in school until noon) it is considered a full school day. They could send everybody home at 12:15 any and every day and still meet the attendance standards. (Test scores would suck but that's beside the point) So why didn't they bundle the kids up and TAKE THEM HOME at noon, in full daylight? *sigh*. "There weren't any kids on the bus" is how the district is excusing the two drivers who ran off the road yesterday. Again. 'Big Woo'. Morons. Sometimes I think a man named Crandall actually owns this coal mine. Long ago if the roads were closed and guys couldn't get to work the mine would just not pay them for that day. New management changed that policy ten years ago and started taking a guy's sick/personal day. In a bad winter could pretty much eliminate a guy's sick and personal leave. While he was boss guys had to be pretty careful when they called the federal safety hotline because he would get even with them. Right now the union and the company are arbitrating two cases of harassment because miners either called the hotline OR said 'I won't move my piece of equipment because it isn't safe." The pit bosses will try to intimidate the miners. They can't fool with the old timers like Custer but guys who just started are pretty careful because they are afraid they'll lose their jobs. Yes, I think Mr. Crandall's son or nephew is running this mine. Now they have a new manager and he seems like a decent guy. Maybe there won't be any flack over last night? There's been times when the roads were closed and carpools would run the blockade, go to work and divvy up the fine between them. They've stopped doing that. The union lost an arbitration over road closures because if one carpool gets through (and takes the risk of a wreck or a fine) the manager figured EVERYBODY should get through. That's why they all stayed home last night. One fellow in Custer's carpool has only worked there two weeks and until he's off probation he has no time off. He was nervous and wanted to go by himself. Custer finally got the union president on the phone who assured him NOTHING would happen to his job if he stayed home where it was safe. I'm not sure he believed the guys but when Custer pointed out that collectively the guys in the carpool had over a hundred years at the mine compared to his two weeks he did calm down and listen to them. LOL Poor Kid. Driving on bad roads does not bother me. When my babies would get sick I would drive into the jaws of hell to get them to a doctor. I know what to do on slick roads; my vehicles were heavy and reliable. I also know 4x4 doesn't mean you can't drive 76 miles an hour on ice/snowpacked roads. LOL What always worried me was people who aren't as cautious as I am. They're the ones who'll get you in a fix. Today is beautiful though. The skies are blue, the wind isn't blowing and the birds are stealing cat food and driving the cats nuts. I'm feeling pretty good too. A little stiff and sore but I think it's because I've laid around all week. My house is starting to bug me too. My living room is a wreck and the carpets are begging for a vacuum. I think this means I'm feeling better. Lori

It sounds like a very difficult situation for you Jess... I doubt any of us will be able to help much, because if what you say is all accurate, then your SD isn't really behaving all that rationally, and there's not too much you can do about that. It does sound like he has a deep-seated disrespect for women as well as a short fuse. I can't imagine throwing my daughter out of the house at night for anything but the absolute worst behavior. What do you suppose would happen if you had a private talk with you mother along these lines: "I'm trying to be responsible by working to put myself through college, and save money by living at home. You know I can't afford a place of my own without going deep into debt, which I don't think would be wise. Since I am an adult, you and SD have a right to expect me to help around the house to help earn my keep. Do you think we could agree on what would be a reasonable list of chores for me to do -- and that if I do these chores as agreed, you and SD would stop pressuring me to leave?" Then ask you mom to discuss it with your SD? It might not work -- but then, you wouldn't really be any worse off for having tried.