bboy, really???? well, I don't have a problem with the vaselike form...it's the stunted growth in the center, the leader. Wonder what caused it to be stunted like that? This year I din't get too many blooms, guess the late freeze didn't help. Thanks for your input. :-)

I appreciate all the input. Thanks for the pic, worthy. Six bays! Wow. I think rhome explained what I was thinking just perfect. Just dressing up the house doors a bit. oruboris, thanks. You kind of described what my DH did. He is afraid that it may look like "cheaped out", or maybe that one of the buildings would look like an "afterthought". I wanted to mention that all 5 doors will have the decorative hardware added (hinges & handles). IMO, that helps keep them looking the same. I promised my DH I would decide today, and i'm still sitting here with an unsigned proposal. I am really still leaning towards adding windows to the house garage doors. My DH prefers them all to be without. Ugh. We will not be adding windows to all 5. It's either 2, or none. I don't want windows on the detached garage at all. Any more opinions?

Paula, You have created a very nice website, and aside from the 'tweaking' you are talking about, I don't see anything wrong with it. One suggestion...It is a little difficult to find "dyno-dirt" using the link...and if you could provide a little more info about how much it costs and where to get this dirt, it would be a good thing. In any case, the site is a pleasant and informative place to visit, and it reflects the time and effort you have put into it. The fact that one is not bombarded with "pop-ups" is also a real plus as far as I'm concerned :) Hope this helps.. txKen:)

Well, Stevied, thanks for your concern about "hijacking" my thread but I think we would all be better off if it morphs into a discussion of how we can all (male and female) be more sensitive in communication with our significant others than if it remains a narrowly focused thrashing out of my little problem. After all...I've already relegated that to the "last week's annoyance" category. Some might say that I've swept it under the rug...I prefer to think I've moved on. And I think I might learn a lot from a man who is willing to think a bit about these things. A different perspective, doncha know? I suspect that part of the problem your wife has with your attempts to communicate stems from old hurts. She may be expecting repeats of earlier disappointments and such. It's hard to imagine that a husband who would make such a sweet, humble attempt to understand and change would be rebuffed. There must be some issue lurking here. Have you asked about that? You say that you still can't help her feel better - well, apart from the fact that one person really cannot be responsible completely for the feelings of another - have you asked her to break things down for you into really small, doable bits? If you find that you just don't know what to do or say, could you say, "Honey, I can tell that you are hurting and I hate that and really want to help. What do you need me to do or say right now? What am I not getting about this? Do believe me that I want to understand and am not trying to be thick...I just don't quite see it and need you to help me understand how to help you. I'm hoping that if you walk me through it a few times I'll start to get it on my own." Any woman who would reject that must have a LOT of mistrust left over from somewhere. And those issues will have to be dealt with before progress is made. Also, apology has its valuable place. If you react in a way that turns out to be mistaken, apologize! Right away you can say, "Whoa! I think I read that wrong. You were serious, weren't you? I'm sorry I didn't get that. Let me back up and try again cause I really didn't want to hurt your feelings." And you may need to start out by assuming that it's ALL important for a while. Rather than putting all the burden on her to announce whether you should really pay attention or not, how about just assuming that if her mouth is moving you need to get in gear? I seriously doubt that she will be as annoyed on account of you taking something seriously when she was kidding as she would if you ignore her when she is trying to get your attention. You say that you want to help and you just can't seem to figure it out? Well, take the time and trouble to just pay attention to everything she says for a while and see if that helps. Really listen every time she speaks, take a few seconds at least to try to see what she is really saying and if you don't get it ask her to clarify for you. If nothing else, it should be a huge compliment to her that you are willing to pay attention to her. We really do teach others how to treat us. Heaven knows what I'M thinking...I seem to always teach people to take me totally for granted and to ignore my needs. When will I ever learn NOT to do that? Or HOW not to do that? But it's always easier to give advice about someone else's problem than to figure out our own or to take advice when it applies to us. So why shouldn't your wife teach you what she needs? If you are as willing to learn as you appear to be, I think she would be making a huge mistake not to jump at the chance. Guys like you don't grow on trees!