I've thought about this same thing, imagining that some day I'll get to build a house on a nice piece of land. I think it's definitely worth a try. Here's what I'd do: Pick the spots where the trees will be planted, and this spring build small raised beds, maybe 4 feet square, (one for each tree) out of 2X6 boards. Dig in some compost and fill the beds with compost or some other organic matter. By the fall, the soil will be really nice for several inches deep....rich in organic matter which will help with water retention as well as drainage, and loose and crumbly...ideal for root growth. Of course, if the soil there is already ideal, this isn't really necessary :) Order bare root trees for delivery this spring and pot them up in the biggest pots you can handle and transport. Maybe use rootmakers or smartpots to maximize root branching. In the late summer, plant the trees in the previously prepared beds. This way you will be transplanting essentially container grown plants, (which should minimize transplant shock) into loose soil that has good water storage capacity. Give them a good layer of mulch, like straw or wood chips. The trees will have the fall, winter, and spring to grow their roots before they have to face the rigors of a hot summer. With a good root system well on its way to establishment in good soil, they should be able to survive quite a bit of neglect. Good luck! Alex

Your BF never should have gotten into a relationship until he had worked out the issues he had with his ex-wife. It's not fair to you, him, or his daughter who is emotionally invested in you now. I suggest looking into getting him some kind of counseling. Meanwhile, while it is real easy to place all the blame on the ex-wife, just remember there are two sides to every story. I mean, many many people are emotionally and physically abused and yet they are able to start new relationships and are able to utter the words "I love you" with no problem. So it just seems a little too convenient to blame the ex-wife for all the hurtful things your BF says and does. This post was edited by Amber3902 on Fri, Feb 15, 13 at 18:27

Alisande: my dh was in a running shoe store. The clerk indicated that peoples' feet change over time. He used to be a 10.5 & now is an 11. So you might want to get your measurements redone. We had no idea that with athletic shoes [you know those extra holes off to the side] can be laced in several ways in order to make the shoe fit your foot/heel much better!

Finally got the rest of it unboxed and love it ALL. The plaid cocktail napkins are darker than the tomato-y red shown in the picture but it still works. The green napkins are TOO Wonderful and the plaid contains that color green. Large round tray of stainless with brass handles and riveting is monogrammed in the center but not a big enough or deep enough IMO so that was an unnecessary expense, oh well. Love the new serving pieces with wood and pewter handles, much more casual than anything I had. Although I purchased these items from several different stores, most have brass handles or some brass feature, even the flat rattan basket, and I think the mix strikes that casual downstairs vibe ☺️ Still waiting for three tier galvanized thingie, with tiers increasing in size from top to bottom, and a couple of other things Ive ordered. So far it is looking good! Thanks especially for the Pier One recommendations, I haven't even seen a store for years and did not realize they sold online, duh! (Houzz is welcome to these photos as they are only of new merchandise!)