hman, I don't have significant intermixed plantings. I could have nematodes but I have never seen them on trees I have dug up. In the majority of cases I would say there is an obvious disease or pest or light issue; one problem I had a few years ago for example was peach scale, that stunted several trees. My O'Henry for example had bad peach scale. The problem is even though you fix a problem the tree can be in a self-fulfilling path of low growth which it can't just pop out of. There is only one tree that I really don't know why its not growing more, its my Black Boy peach. I think the original cause is it got horrible brown rot two years ago, the kind that is so bad that it kills the small shoots as well, and it is very slowly recovering from that. This year it did much better than last year, no big vigorous shoots but at least some 2' ones. So it may have just been from the rot and its taking its time recovering. If you read all of the old fruit books they refer to the "yellows" on peaches quite frequently, something they thought was a disease of some sort. Today it is not considered a legitimate diagnosis. My view is this "yellows" is just this tendency for peaches to runt out under certain conditions. It often results in leaves that are more yellow. Scott

Well, yesterday I worked 8 hours of overtime. Busy day. They needed someone today too but there was no way I was going in again. Lauren and I went to Sears this afternoon. We went clothes shopping. I took my Land's End stuff I bought on-line back and bought another cheaper, better looking swimsuit. It was normally $88 and I got it 50% off. It's cute for a big women's sized suit, one piece girrafe print on top and bottom is brown. I love the way it feels too, silky and slimming at the waist. Lauren found two bras that fit her right. Poor kid, she asked me again about breast reduction surgery. Every time we go bra shopping she brings it up. All the cute bras are for smaller chested women. Now I need to go to Wal-Mart or K-mart and pick up a couple pair of pants for my trip and for Alex's graduation. I also need some shoes, only ones I own now are tennis shoes. I have a pair of dress shoes somewhere but I can't find them and the last time I wore them they killed my feet. I want something comfortable and something I can wear after his graduation. I looked in Sears but didn't find anything. Everything scraped the back of my heal. I'm probably the only woman who hates shopping for clothes but I really do hate it. Here is a link that might be useful: plus size swimdress

I was just telling my DH about your water aerobics, Glenda, and was thinking that when we move to Stratford, maybe I could do something like that. I had such fun exercising in the pool while in Costa Rica. I'd love to do more. I think I'm going to look into it. Laurel

Moni-What a fun bike! I've also never seen a bicycle built for 3 (and 5 if you count the kids!) We are at my in-laws house in Maryland. Luckily they didn't lose power from last weeks storm. About 80,000 still without in the VA/MA/DC area. We lost power for just a day, so was a minor inconveince. Anyway, my sister-in-law and family are also here from Alabama, so we have been having fun just spending time together. Gone on a few walks around the block to burn off some of the goodies we've been eating! Tuesday we went to Ford's Theatre in DC for a free tour and lunch. Pretty interesting and makes me want to read up on Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. Took the kids for a swim to cool off yesterday and may hit the movies today (same reason!) Didn't feel like dragging everyone in the heat so we just set off some little fireworks in the front yard. Neighbors came by with some bigger ones. The older kids are travelling to Gettysburg to get some more history. Tomorrow we are hitting the Amish market-I've never been so I am curious!