lol Brenda, you sound like my MIL. SHe buys so many plants, and has them all around in pots cuz she doesnt have time to get them in the ground. Honestly though, her yard is so jam-packed with plants, I don't know where she does plant the new ones when she gets them in the ground. I wish I had that many hostas. Bought some babies last year for the shady area in the front, I hope they make it. The ones I have in the back should be a decent size this year, I think I'm gonna put some caladiums in with them. Patrick, I figured I'd just ask for the actual number because I really was pushing it just asking to begin with. Doesn't matter of I'd asked for 2 or 20, I'd have gotten the same response, "Are you nuts?" lol. I can't complain, he has bought me alot recently; new truck, new puppy, pump for the pond he finally agreed to let me put in the yard. More than a couple plants & cuttings I asked for here and there..o and seeds..and more, lol. All comes down to the fact that I need a job to support my plant addiction. I refuse to go back to work until I have to. ALready got my Easter pres in advance so looks like I wont get more money till mother's day. So, I just have to wait.

Wonbyherwits - that is sort of like I was thinking - maybe a little bigger. Basically, the way the county people described it to me, I should be able to buy the big (10"-12" diameter) black corrugated plastic pipe with Y-shaped "wings" on the ends, that would sort of serve as a funnel to collect the runoff and channel it down into the pipe. But I would want the wings to be only off to the sides, not on the top or bottom, since this pipe has to sit flush on the ground (the ground is too unstable from erosion to dig into it).

Oh congratulations on such exciting news! Little girls are wonderful, you can dress them up and take them to lunch and tr to keep them girls, but they'll end up playing basketball and fishing anyway, LOL. Yes, I can see that child is going to be "Maggie", no matter what you really name her. (grin) My grandkids got nicknames after they were born, and so I have The Monkey Princess and Bruvver or Bud. Annie

Reggie, When I met my DH, I was 29 years old and I knew then that I didn't want to have children. He has three children and he would also see them every other weekend. Believe me, I did find it hard when they were around. I especially found it hard with the oldest child who right from the start did not like me at all. With time, I started disliking it when she would come over to our house because what missy wanted, missy got! It would just infuriate me and for years I had arguments with hubby about the way he treated this child, never, ever, ever saying no to whatever she asked for. Well, she grew up to be a spoiled, irreponsible child.She quit school early, got pregnant at 16 years old, got in-debth, etc. etc. etc. She got married and treated her husband just like she had treated her dad all her life, that is, when she asked for something, she had to get it NOW, her husband is the one who was stuck with cleaning the house, taking care of the children, etc. etc. That marriage did not last long needless to say. Today, she is divorced and she has had to make major changes in her life. And I must admit that she has matured quite a bit in the last two years and she is now in a new relationship and believe me, she doesn't treat that man the way she treated her x. But I find it so sad that she has had to go through all these experiences at such a young age. I sometimes think if her father had spoiled her less and had felt less guilty towards her, this child wouldn't have had to go through such negative experiences when she was so young. Today, my relationship with this step-daughter is good but it was hell getting there. I always told her that at 20 years old, she had gone through what a 40 year old woman would have gone through. So sad. This being said, I feel for you. I know you have been with this man for several years, but believe me, he will never, ever agree with you if you say anything wrong about his child, whether it's about the fact that you think she goes to bed too late or she is really childish or whatever. He will always defend her no matter how much he loves you. And believe me, this little girl's demands are going to become more and more big as she grows up. Whatever she will want from her father, I guarantee you she will get it and that will cause major, major fights between you and him! Believe me, I've been there. I have been with hubby for 20 years now and there were many times that I said to myself, if i knew then, what I do know now in regards to being a step-parent, I don't know if I would have started a relationship with him. So, all I can say to you from experience is you either have to accept this child in your life and try and detach yourself from her with love or....leave this man. I know you love him but you will drive yourself mad and make yourself sick to death if you continue in this relationship knowing there is a child that will always, always be there. Sometimes, in order to understand my husband's behavior towards his child, I would sit down for a minute and wonder what would I do if that was my child. Most of the time, when I truly thought about it, I thought I would do the same thing he did. These men love their children to death and they feel really guilty about not being in their life 24/7 and because of this, they will do anything an everything for them just so these children will be happy and not hate their father. I truly wish you luck sweetie.Keep posting.