50/50 sphagnum peat/perlite or silica sand. You can also use LFS (long fiber sphagnum) by itself but IMO the roots will intertwine in it and make it harder to separate them if you ever do a complete media change which is recommended every 2-3 years due to mineral buildup. Yes you're going to have to use distilled or RO water if you don't save rain water. I now save water via a 55 gallon drum. It is possible to distill your tap water but hardly worth it. It will cost more in gas/electricity than just buying the water.

Not sure if I like the first or third one better, and love the Asian Fairy seedling. Have problems here with chicken fat sticking so don't know if I'd get along with the last one. I have a few rufflies that I have to help open frequently.

I am in a similar situation except maybe a bit more complicated, who knows! I understand. Either way, you have to be understanding to all sides of the story, including that she is their mother and may not like you being a part of the children's lives like you want. But, if you and your man are going to make it work, eventually they will have to get to know you. As far as him...I understand that the way he is trying to deal with everything in his head is the right way (which it's not, but to him it is...for now), and you can't make him change. He needs to realize himself...that although it will be hard (more than hard or a bump in the road), that if it's you he wants to be with, he needs to focus on getting himself together as an individual and take a chance in not living with the children and realize he can have both, maybe not exactly how he wants...but it's a compromise. Basically, he has some things to figure out (and so do you). Will you always want to have to deal with his ex and everything that comes with her? Nomatter how much it seems like everything is in place, he is not...none of you are. It does take a toll on the children and I understand he wants to see them everyday and be in the same house and help financially, but where do each of you want to be next year...or say in 5 years? How long can this go on? I hope that it works out and soon. Believe me, I am not judging, just giving you things to think about that I know I have. I am only 23 but I feel I've been through quite a bit for my age. My man and I have been together off and on for 5 years, he is 33. Within those 5 years we have had other partners, he has gotten a divorce, had 3 children, I moved away and came back, and now he lives with his ex-wife...all the while she's known about me and wants me to have nothing to do with the children. Things have come a long way. We plan to get married and have children of our own and even move in soon, but with all the rollercoaster action in our past, we want to make sure everything is right before going to the next step. He is figuring out his life and so am I so we can become a union and bring God in our relationship.

Alisand...what a wonderful photo! Can you tell me what camera and lens you used. It's perfect! The house wrens' natural instinct is to protect their food sources, their young, and their territory from other birds. That's why they search out and destroy any eggs they can find within a certain area. It's just the way they're programmed. They're not big enough to "fight" for territory and chase off competitors. The Carolina wrens do not have this habit. I agree with you; house wrens make perfect porch companions. I had them nesting in my front yard, next to my "reading tree" last season. I'm trying to determine just how big one nesting pairs' territory is, so I'll know where to let them nest next season. I've been juggling tree swallows, chickadees, robins, nuthatches, and, of course, my beloved Purple Martins all season long. Now if I could only get Blue Birds in the mix I'd be in Heaven. I do love the little wrens; they're the comics of the yard (at least not when they're not being the axe murderers.) Still, I try to bother them just enough that they move across the street. This year they won the battle for my side yard. As always, I gave in graciously, and "legally."