You can wait until it droops which is always a signal or go by some of the advice given on this forum from a few years ago and stick your finger in an inch to see if it is dry or wet. If dry, water well. If wet, don't water until it dries a bit more. The idea is not to keep it waterlogged which usually ends up rotting the plant but not so dry that the roots die and eventually kill the plant as well. After a while you will find when and how much to water it by looking at the plant and the soil. One thing I've noticed is don't always go by the look of the soil especially if you have moss growing in it - it could be wet enough to sustain moss but the rootball may be thoroughly dried out. Different seasons will also dictate when and how much to water too. By the way, what kind of begonia is it?

Helene, you sound like my twin.. I too have gained a lot of weight and am now on blood pressure pills. In fact, the dr. is having a hard time getting my bp down. Working on our house this past year has been a diversion, something else to think about. I look in the mirror and I don't resemble the person that was there two years ago. Connie, my Mother lives maybe 6 miles from me and for awhile I visited her every day. Every day was not enough. I've tried questioning her when she starts talking about dying, she says as soon as I leave she will find some pills, will go out into a street and get hit by a car, etc. I can't do it, it's beyond my capabilities to talk with her about this. Her home is small, there are just four residents there now. The manager and workers come and go each day. They have told me that the residents with physical problems are so much easier to deal with than those with the mental problems. I'm just trying to keep my head above water at this point. My brothers came to visit last month and we went to a holiday block party, taking Mom. She started in with the dying bit, but she will look around the room to make sure that I'm looking and listening before talking about it. There was a men's barber shop quartet singing Christmas carols, beautiful food everywhere, and I was dealing with Mom and dying. To be honest, it makes me not want to take her anywhere. I know that sounds terrible. She has been a wonderful mother, this is not her, in my wildest dream I would never have thought she would be like this.. She was such a happy person, loved everyone, loved life. This dementia is horrible and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.. Mom's house has just sold, we need the money for her care. I will take her to her house to decide on some of her belongings and the thought of that scares me. I know it's going to be a hard day. If it were up to me, I would go in and make all decisions myself. But, I have my brothers to deal with and they will insist that Mom should make the decisions. I also know that she really won't make any decisions, will just walk around and cry. I will be the one left driving her the 80 miles back to her new home and getting her back into the house. Sorry if I've rambled on here... As I said previously, sometimes I just need to vent.

Are you musically inclined and patient with children? How about organizing the grand and great grand children to put on a performance for their grandparents. They can dress in the style that was popular when they married and they can sing the songs that have the most meaning to the couple. I saw this recently and it was a hit. You can even take it a step further and have them (or you) read out prices of items from 50 years ago, and headlines. Hopefully you're close enough to the family to do this without feeling like you're intruding, but it's something unique that they probably won't forget.

We celebrated our 50th last May and I got my husband a Seiko mantle clock. It plays six different songs and they are all so pretty. They had several clocks to chose from and each clock had different songs. We have had so many compliments on the clock and the beautiful music. My husband was so pleased and that is saying a lot as he usually doesn't pay much attention to such things. I had a plate engraved and put on the front of it. Felt like it was a real hit. The cost was around $300. Bought it at a jewelry store, but you might google and find one on line. By the way, it doesn't have to be a mantle clock, but that is where we put it. Congratulations! Dora Lou