I couldn't disagree more!! Potting soil or soil suited for growing in containers has very different requirements than soil necessary for inground growing conditions. This is primarily because container culture is a closed environment requiring frequent, often daily, watering, offering a limited root run and with a need for exceptional drainage. Too much organic matter (in the form of any kind of compost) will eventually adversely impact drainage, as it continues to decompose and compact, reducing pore space. The best container soils generally contain no real soil and very modest amounts of OM. Peat or coir (cocoa fiber) is a good base (yes, they are OM but very slow to decompose) and you do need the addition of pumice or perlite to facilitate drainage and provide porosity. High fired clay (Turface) is a great substitute for these if available in your area. Bark fines will help with moisture retention plus provide necessary texture and pore space. Check out the Container forum for many excellent DIY potting soil recipes, especially any of the posts by Al (tapla). If you have access to Gardner and Bloome products, look for their Blue Ribbon Potting soil. I've used this product for years and it is an excellent medium for any kind of container growing, especially for long-term containers, which can be a challenge to maintain with quality soil conditions and fast drainage.

Lynn, I did the same thing. I was lucky enought to find neighbors who lost all their plumeria in the same freeze I lost mine in. They were so excited, when I called to ask. I only charged them what I paid for the plants. Like you, I only kept the ones that I really love the color, size of the bloom and fragance. I went down to 36 plumeria. I ordered from Carol this year, only 3 plants, and one of them is waimea, which I can cancel, and buy yours if its not too big to mail out. Mine were all too big to mail. Andrew has been looking for a wildfire, so wait until he reads your post. He might just buy everything from you, knowing Andrew. Barbra

Well, if you've tried "everything", and none of it is working, then it might be time for you guys (parents/steps) to put your own feeling aside, and try something that might make him successful. I am speaking from experience here. My oldest son is 21 now. He displayed some of the same behaviors you describe. I yelled and fussed at him, took away privileges, tried reward systems...everything! The teachers NEVER complained about him or his behavior. They were always just a little disappointed, because he was "so bright, but just didn't seem to want to put forth any effort". He studied and seemed to get it, but then would fail the test...no matter how much I helped him study, etc. We just decided that he was lazy, didn't want to put forth the effort and wasn't a good test-taker. He frequently forgot to hand things in, too....even though they were done. What made it difficult was that he displayed NO evidence of hyperactivity at all. Eventually, when he was in high school and struggling, he told me he thought he had ADD. Again, I told him that his laziness and lack of motivation was not going to be called ADD. Period. I didn't buy it. Then, his 2nd semester of 10th grade, everything seemed to turn around for him. His assignments were done completely, his notes from lectures were well-organized and he could use them to study, he did well on tests. I praised him profusely for all his hard work..."I told you if you just applied yourself, you could do it", I told him. About a month later, he asked me if he could be tested for ADD. "No", I said. "You finally showed a little maturity, buckled down and did your work, and had good results". You don't have ADD. At that point, he confessed to me that the entire 2nd semester, when he had done so well, he had been taking his friend's Adderall. His friend had decided he didn't want to take it anymore, so my son did. I was FURIOUS, to say the least! I am a nurse, and had significant strong feelings about the overuse of behavior meds. But still, I couldn't argue with the results. I called his pediatrician, who agreed provide the testing. Luckily, in addition to a general pediatrician, she is also a behavioral specialist. She agreed to test him, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. She wasn't surprised that it had gone unnoticed all these years, since he wasn't a behavior problem in class...didn't display any hyperactivity. Those kids are the squeaky wheels that get greased. The kids who are "good" often get overlooked. Since he had already conducted his own "clinical trial" with good results, she prescibed a low dose of Adderall for him. He continues on it now in college, and I have to admit, it really has made a big difference in his life. He manages a full load of classes, a nearly full-time job, lives on his own, pays his own bills, etc. He frequently doesn't take his meds on the weekend, or during breaks from school, when he doesn't need to "perform". So, while I certainly realize your reluctance to treat your SS, if he's been diagnosed w/ADHD, you are doing him a huge disservice by witholding treatment. Certainly, if he had diabetes, you'd allow him to take his insulin, right? Behavioral/mental health issues have such a stigma associated with them, that all-too-often, those who would benefit from fairly simple treatment, are denied. Just my $.02 worth.... And for the record, I still think that ADD/ADHD are WAY over-diagnosed & treated. But there are definitely some kids who truly benefit from an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Those families who have "tried everything and nothing works" may find that they have to put their pre-conceive notions about diagnosis and meds aside for what could prove to be just what the kiddo needs to be succesful, not only in school, but in life.

lisalija, I assume this question--"...how do you put in new rug, coffee table, etc in place of existing??"--is directed at me. I use Photoshop. The dark chair you posted yesterday can work as it is, I think. The cushions look like they're covered in a light leafy fabric already. Put it on the left side of the TV console and give it a beachy side table of its own.