Yes, we all need more trees. I saw something in the news that SL County wants to see 1 million trees planted in the next 10 years. I don't know how they plan to promote that, but it's a great goal. Anyway, I think that's funny how you planted in the neighbor's yard. Reminds me of guerrilla gardening (http://www.guerrillagardening.org) where people sneak out at night and plant nice things to beautify neglected spaces. Anyway, you DEFINITELY should be gardening, Sharla! Don't be daunted just because it can be complicated. It's not always complicated, and you'll learn some things along the way as you do it. It's so rewarding to grow stuff and see your accomplishments as they make your yard a nicer place. As for the red maple, just watch it and see. It may be fine, but if the leaves get pale or yellow, it is getting iron chlorosis from our alkaline soil. It's not that we don't have enough iron, but it can't be used very well by some plants when they're in alkaline soils. These are usually trees or shrubs that came from back East or some other climate that has rich, acid, forest soils. Anyway, if that happens, post back here, and we can help you deal with the sick tree.

I actually ordered four dresses, all from Macy's. They were all not too bad though I thought two of them made me look more matronly so I'm returning them. I may keep the other one that I liked just as you say to have it on hand if needed. The other one is less formal. Other dress Today I ordered three pairs of shoes to try - two navy and one pewter metallic. I just couldn't bring myself to buy caucasian flesh tone shoes. So maybe by the end of next week I'll have everything and know for sure if I can proceed to buy the blingy hand bag. I have been on an unprecedented shopping spree, starting with my tropical vacation attire. I think it has something to do with my previous post about delaying things you would enjoy when you could just do them before it's too late to enjoy them. When I bought the four dresses I also bought DH seven sport coats - all these things on sale. He wears a sport coat just about every day of his life and hasn't bought a new one in 10-15 years. So it was going to be a shop at home experience for us - try all these things at home and then return the stuff we didn't want to the local Macy's. He kept six of the sport coats - clearly a lifetime supply for a 61 year old. This bizarre purchase apparently triggered the fraud alarms. First I found out my Macy's card had been cancelled for lack of use. Then my Visa card was rejected. Finally I was able to make the purchase with AmEx - a card I only obtained recently. Then the next day I get a call from Macy's that my purchase was on hold until I called - apparently another fraud check. Finally after trying and failing to buy the stuff online, spending thirty minutes buying by phone and then another verification call the next day my shipment was on the way. Still easier than trying to find anything I want in a local store and I don't know if I could even get DH inside a clothing store any more.

Gellchom, I am reminded of my own wedding many years ago. One of my (two) bridesmaids had herself married about six months previously, and she still had her wedding dress. Her husband was unable to attend our wedding due to being involved in a cross country car rally, and so my bridesmaid was planning to leave the reception early enough to drive down to meet him in the hotel where he was staying that night. Since she had her hair all done up with flowers, and an obvious wedding-type bouquet, she went home and changed into her wedding dress before driving down. Then she dashed into the hotel with her bouquet saying, "Where is that rat?" giving the impression she had been left waiting at the altar. It was most amusing :-)

If money is no object....then money is no object. (Yeah, I know, I'm brilliant. Ha.) If someone has the cash to spend, I hold zero opinions how they should spend it. That's the beauty of America. :) How someone chooses to spend discretionary income is up to you. My concern is that there seems to be huge pressure to make the wedding An Event to Remember anymore. Too many people are focused on planning a party, and not thinking about the fact that means you're (allegedly) going to be spending the rest of your life with this person. As I said, I know people who took out loans to provide An Event to Remember for their daughters' wedding/s. Half of those weddings are already over. I'm not sure I see the value in spending multiples of tens of thousands of dollars that they had to borrow, particularly on something that is a transitory state for about half the people who enter into a marriage anymore. I'd like to see more people focus on the actual marriage itself, rather than the party which precedes it. :-/