I've tried and tried to ID this guy, and have finally given up. Haven't found anything like it, anywhere. The blooms are about 1 1/2" in diameter. They start out this nice bright yellow. In about 1-2 weeks they fade to a very light, whitish yellow with pinkish - edges (?). They stay on the plant forEVER. When I finally get tired of looking at the old blooms and want new blooms, I nip them off. I'm really wondering if it wasn't a mini that kept growing...

nutherokie - thanks for your good wishes! I hope your build finishes up soon! trinitybay - Yes - it will be the best Christmas present ever! Even if it comes a little late :) So sorry that you were affected by Hurricane Ike. Glad to hear that you are in the process of rebuilding. Where have you been living in the meantime? I hope your build continues to progress and that you get back in your home soon. I have to take some current pictures this weekend and will post them soon.

My stepmother was crazy and paranoid long before she ever came into my family. She has a pattern of behavior that we have traced back more than 40 years, involving four different husbands (three of whom she lied about when she met my dad). She lied to get my dad to marry her; then viciously moved to manipulate, lie, cheat and deceive in order to isolate and mentally abuse my dad for the past five years. In doing so, she has estranged him from his mother, his siblings, his friends, his children, his grandchildren and even his faith. We have repeatedly attempted to get her help, which she refuses at every juncture. And yet you scold me for being "happy" to see my dad's marriage falling apart. She has nearly wrecked his health and completely ruined his relationships with everyone. She keeps him in mental isolation and verbally abuses him. I not only fear for his sanity, I fear for his safety should the marriage continue indefinitely. The best thing that could happen is not for this marriage to fall apart, for that would hurt my father even more, but for her to accept that she needs help. You can't begin to know how much pain she has caused my family. In fact, she does have several confidantes, but has lost several others because of her irrational behavior. In fact, one of the women with whom she made a connection abruptly severed ties. When questioned as to why, she said her son, who is a psychiatrist, met my stepmother and subsequently advised his mother that my stepmother exhibits paranoid and psychotic symptoms. No one can force her to go into treatment, though. My compassion for her extends to hoping she gets the help she needs, but having been the target of her brutal attacks and manipulations over the years, I have no interest or desire to ever be in the same room with her again. And I don't need to apologize to you, her or anyone else for my feelings. Here is a link that might be useful: Bullying in the family

Congratulations! I'm happy for you (now wait, I'm envious...) Can't wait to see the final pictures!