Forget twice a week, water when the plant is dry. That might be every day. 50% shade cloth would help with the desert sun altho I don't know where to get a small piece, just the big rolls are at any greenhouse supply. Try total shade during the hottest hours, full sun morning and evening.

Thanks so much, Homebody! Although it has not ALWAYS been FUN, we have really enjoyed this house project. I hope your dream comes true very soon...and cannot wait to see pics of your home too! =) I have enjoyed hearing about this Beadboard Wallpaper. I am wondering if those of you who have used it think it will withstand the MAJOR moisture of our 2 young sons' bathroom??? Is this paintable so it can be sealed? I am worrying what the spattering and running drips of water near the pedestal sink will do to it over time if not 'sealed' with paint???? I am still curious about the 'rules' in my initial question as well as these points about beadboard wallpaper. Thanks for the input =)

Well, if she does finally retire, she'll be on her own! We actually called this project "Operation Wrapped in Love", or "Project OWL" for short. We gave her an owl pin so she can finally be in on the secret, too. I still have to give her the care instructions, but that is not a big problem. We honestly wanted this quilt to be able to wrap her in our love and affection and help her through the tough times that everyone has from time to time. If she's going to leave us, she can still take us with her!

I respectfully disagree with sweet_pea. I am a clergy wife, so I can tell you what happens in our congregation, at least. You should check around in your parents' congregation to see if the custom is different, because that is what matters. You don't need to invite the officiant to the rehearsal dinner, but you really should invite him and his wife to the reception, and yes, you do it by sending them a regular invitation. Otherwise, you are sending the message that he is not a social equal, just hired help or a vendor. But you say he is the minister at your parents' church, not some freelancer (in which case I would not feel you had to invite him). As I said above, the custom may be different in your parents' church. But if it is the custom to invite clergy, then it is very rude and disrespectful not to do so. Whatever the local custom, the following factors are completely irrelevant: - how often your parents attend church - how well you personally know (or like) this guy - how much your reception costs per person - how big of a gift you estimate you can expect to cash in on from him And now I will give you the good news. It seems that your concern here is that this guy (and his wife) will be expensive to include, and might not come across with a gift big enough offset that expense. Well, guess what: they probably won't come anyway, because, as you said, they don't know you at all and evidently aren't close with your parents, either. Your parents will know if he accepts every invitation, but I'll bet you he doesn't. As for your questions, "Do you expect to get a gift from the minister? What kind of gift or price range?" I'll just answer, not comment: we give a gift if we attend, and we give the kind of gift, in the kind of price range, we would give if we were any other guests. If you are applying some sort of what-can-we-expect-them-to-fork-over formula to your relatives and friends, just apply it to the minister, too. Sweet Pea, I wouldn't do an oral invitation. Clergy know they are not obligated to send a gift every time they receive an invitation (we get several every week), just when they attend (or can't attend, if it's the event of a close friend that we would have gone to otherwise). So I don't think that it is important to avoid a written invitation in order not to make clergy feel obligated to send a gift. Conversely, I do feel that an oh-by-the-way spoken invitation is kind of a snub -- "A list" guests certainly don't get those -- and sends at message that the hosts really don't want the person there (at least in the case of an invitation to the wedding reception, not so much for a rehearsal dinner, if they decide to invite him to that -- I wouldn't think that that requires a written invitation).