As a follow up to my earlier post (potted JM leaves brown and crispy), when you listen to the advice from some lovely people here, you will be successful! Despite the wrong time of year to do so, I repotted my JM. It was planted in that MiracleGro tree and shrub stuff (thought I was doing good) and it was sick and dying. I laid it on its side and coaxed it out of the pot, removed as much of the MG from the roots as I could. Repotted in an equal mix of good potting soil and pine bark mulch (small pieces) - also added a couple handfufls of perlite. In a few weeks, the ugly crispy leaves are still there, but there are new buds and signs of new growth all over! So anyone planting any trees or shrubs in containers: DON'T use MG tree and shrub mix - it's NOT for pots! And thanks to those here who set me straight. Copying this post to the Container forum, too, because I used quite a lot of the MG stuff for other plants (now suffering, as well) that I have to re-do.

This is a great thread. I first have to say that I had my husband look at some of this, and I will say upfront that he is totally engaged (he does most of the cooking). But I'm terrible. My family is here and rated me at a 9.5 out of 10 for being a witch the hours before a party. I remember yelling at my daughter because I had just hung up a perfect clean towerl on the hanging ring and went in, they had used it, and wadded it up over the ring. I yelled at them, and still feel bad about it today. Most importantly because I don't want them to think that entertaining is awful and never have a dinner party because they remember it being hell day. I grew up with my mother keeping a horrendous house. It was a mess, and I mean a mess. Counters piled with crap, dishes not done for days, and she didn't care. She was always having friends stop by. Even as a young child, it embarassed me to all heck. I can still remember coming home from babysitting at midnight or so when I was 12 or 13 years old (I started young), and I would clean the kitchen from top to bottom. It would take a couple of hours. I was different than her even back then. When my dad remarried, it was Martha Stewart land. She had to have it spotless. Every Saturday was crack and corner day. We quite literally had to pull the couch out and vacuum under it at least every other week, and we had to bleach the counters. Crazy the other way! So, I can't seem to have anyone over unless my house is totally cleaned! And our parties themselves are quite memorable to everyone who comes. They talk about it afterward for weeks. I do enjoy having wonderful parties but I also wish I could relax about my house. I know its wrapped up in my childhood psyche. I will even make sure the main counters are clean as guests are arriving for a dinner party. And that's while we're using the kitchen! But I'm also so proud of our kitchen and want to show it off. Now one time, we had a Chinese extravaganze where we covered our desk with Chinese ingredients, friends came over at noon and didn't leave until midnight. The men mostly cooked and it was a blast. Every inch of every counter was covered with crap. I remember walking in the kitchen, the dust was flying from someone rolling out potstickers while someone else was frying a whole fish over the wok burner, and someone else was mixing something up. I didn't care what the kitchen looked like that day. I'll never forget that party. I don't know if I'll ever change about the clean house though. It's so engrained in me. Well, my husband is making London Broil so I'm off to the kitchen!! Great stories though. I think we have more in common than we realized.

It's nice that with Fabric.com you can get a 15% discount when purchasing more than 5 yards. I just ordered samples them the other day but haven't received them yet. I'm not a fan of sewing so of course My3dogs has much more buying experience than I do, but the one and only time I've purchased from Fabric Guru, I was a bit disappointed. A month ago, I bought 3 large remnants of a Robert Allen print I really love, each one in a different color way. The fabric is a linen rayon mix so it should be soft with a pretty drape. Two of them are perfect, but the 3rd one is very stiff and so rough, it feels more like burlap that's been starched. The print and colorway are fine but it's definitely not a Rayon/Linen mix as the listing said. I bought them to see how the print would work as a valance in our kitchen/dining rooms so I'm not planning to use it. If I was, it wouldn't work and I'd be returning it. It could be a fluke, but for this reason, I'd personally think twice before purchasing from them again.

Although I have never lived in one (and wouldn't want to), I have dealt with any number of HOA's in my capacity as a landscape designer. I have never encountered any issues with them signing off on my designs. Once they have the plan and plant list in hand, they can easily verify that nothing will exceed any height regulations or expand rampantly. I even had one with a 'must have lawn in the front garden' reg (ridiculous when the entry garden area is not much more than 150 square feet!) that agreed to its removal and replanting. I'd try it. Often when presented with a professional design plan, they cave :-) It is true that many HOA's have boards that consist of petty despots who like to throw their weight around to feel important and that some of the regs are arbitrary at best. My ex moved into one like that after we divorced and after butting heads a few times, got himself elected to the board and made the landscaping regulation changes he wanted and thought others would appreciate as well.