Just wanted to let you know how the Spring Bazaar went (well the whole process). Thursday night Nathan promoted up to Blue Belt 2nd degree (with a white stripe). Now hes going to take the summer off and start up again in the fall. Friday at school Nathan got a certificate for perfect Attendance not only for the semester but for the entire year. He also go the Superintendents Honor Roll (a 4.0 GPA for the 3rd trimester AND it was the last day of school!!!! YIPPPPPPEEEEEEE! Then we had his Birthday party at the bowling alley and then 2 friends spent the night. Then I loaded up the car for early Saturday morning. Todd left out Saturday morning at a quarter to 6am and set up the crates, poles and sand (heÂs such a great man!). After he got back I went over and set up the rest. I shared a 2 car spot with my friend Mae who makes jewelry. WE had a great time even though WE ALL battled the wind. It was cool and windy. Later on it was still windy but warmed up a little to in the mid 70Âs. I got sunburned even though I doused the sun block everyday IÂm outside. Todd hadnÂt wanted to bring ALL the bags of sand (I had 8 for the crates and 1 to fill the water cooler that I put the Knick Knack Planty Tags in). I expressed how I needed all the bags I had bought so nothing would fall. Se he did and thankfully so! I had one person come up and ask if he could use one bag. I kindly said no because they were all for the display I had. It kept all I had there grounded--no casualties. (I had had 3 casualties the day befroe with 3 of them. They were the biggger items so I'm learning). WE had some strong gusts so at times I held the display (for my sanity) to keep it grounded. My friend Mae eyed my totems and I eyed her jewelry. At the end we did a swap. A big gust came through and she lost a glass candle holder that she had as part of her display) After all was said and done I only sold 3 items ($40) and I traded one. Some people got it and some did not. A lot would say "That is such a neat idea" which basically meant they liked but they werenÂt going to buy or just go home and make their own. I didnÂt sell any of the planty tags. I only was asking $2. But then again it wasnÂt a good turnout like I thought. A lot of people werenÂt buying. I think the wind kept a lot of people awayÂI have photos but they are taking forever to upload. AFter Todd came and helped me pack up we came home and unloaded the cars. He and Nathan went out target practice with some friends. I stayed home to recoupe! I'm burned on my scalp---that's the only one that really hurts (but tolerable)...So, we live and learn. Need lots of stability and make sure the venue you go to has really good advertizing and no WIND! :-)When people would ask if I made those totems I said yes....Then I would say, no, my garden junking community just encourage one another with our creations. I can honestly say that everyone who came by said they had never seen anything like what I had before! It's good to be unique!!! I'll post photos when I can get my computer to work a bit faster. It may need some innards dusting. TTYL and thank you for all your encouragement! Love, Jules

I don't seem to have that problem very often. Yes to Gaura, but I think that is often not hardy here. I don't grow gallardia. I do really try to pay attention to buying for at least one zone colder than mine. When I don't, it is with the knowledge that it might not make it. There are plants that although they are hardy here, really need good drainage to make it over the winter because they can rot out in wet soil, like lavender and some salvias and probably others. I'm aware of some of those plants and I either plant them in raised beds or avoid them. Every year though, I forget the perennials that come back late and I think I've lost them, then they show up. [g] I did that this year, with Hardy Hibiscus again.

I'm sorry to read that you are leaving. I wish you wouldn't let a neighborhood bully have that kind of power over you. Webster's definition of a bully is a blustering browbeating person, especially one habitually cruel to others who are weaker. The only difference is that weakness was only perceived by him. Cruel, nasty and hateful behavior is not well tolerated by inherantly fair people, the latter of which I believe are in abundance on this forum. There will always be the occasional flake. Your contributions will be missed greatly. You are a consistently polished class act. I hope you change your mind. If not, then I wish you the best of luck. Amy

You need a Change Order, spelling out the change and how it will affect the balance due on the original contract. Ask him if he has a change order form you can use. If not, see a sample form here: http://www.download-construction-forms.com/construction-change-order-form.html You don't need to pay to download that form, you can make your own by copying it. The format is not important and it could be written on a placemat. Just make sure you include all of the information that form asks for, and use the language they use. It is very important that you both agree to and memorialize how the change will affect the price agreed to on the original contract. After you have each signed it the change order, make sure you each keep a copy of the completely signed document. Follow this process every time you make any change. I totally agree with him about using friends to work in your home. Most people are not comfortable complaining about a job if they have a personal relationship with the contractor. I've accepted quite a few substandard jobs in my time because I couldn't bring myself to tell a friend or relative I was dissatisfied with something. I finally learned never to hire people I know!