Ingrid Yippee! I am celebrating with you!! These tiny darlings are truly our little rose babies. I have a RVR Botzaris that subjected me to similar parental joys and frets. When the postal stork arrived with it, Botzaris was just a minute green sprout tucked into its cozy 4" pot. I watered it and then transplanted it to a larger plastic cradle in a very special corner of my nursery. I checked on Botzaris several times per day, testing its soil diaper and nursing it diligently. One morning I went to the nursery to peek at its progress and discovered that...it was gone! Eek!! I practically stuck my nose in the dirt in my frantic search for traces of Botzaris. Then I spotted the remains. An 1/8" stub just above the soil line. The fluffy-tailed tree rats had struck my garden again. In a tearful panic, I ran to the garage in search of anything resembling armor-plating. I spied my rather expensive English riddle teetering on a shelf at the back. (This unique piece of equipment was purchased from Smith and Hawken back in the day when S&H was truly S&H.) Yes, the riddle would serve the purpose. But the riddle would rust and disintegrate in Portland's late winter/spring downpours. Hmmm. Rose. Riddle. Rose. RIddle. As you may have guessed, Botzaris--my precious baby Botzaris--won the debate. After keeping a watchful eye (like a mama hawk), enduring more stretches of constant nurturing including many gentle feedings of compost tea, I spied a microscopic stem with even dinkier leaves emerging next to the stubbins. My neighbors must have heard the WHOOP for blocks! I left the rusty riddle in place and maintained a constant vigilance against further attacks by fluffy-tailed rose assassins. When I finally witnessed my little white damask growing into a strapping young toddling beauty, I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Ahhhhh. The joys of parenting! Please post photos of your first grandflower! Still cheering for you in PDX-- Carol

Communication is the key to not having that wedge between you and your wife.You have to express to her how this hurts your feelings.Perhaps you should also make it clear between you,that if you say something to her daughter or disapline her in some way,that she NOT override you.this alone causes tension between you and the daughter,and the daughter learns she doesnt have to listen to you. This has even happend with me and my husband and OUR daughter.Sometimes I felt he was being too hard on her (and she is both of of ours) Yet,I learned that to keep over riding him,made my daughter not really respect what he says.Even if you arent her true father,you should still be taken seriously in the situation. I think though that is pretty common for the man (most of the time) to be the harsher parent.But,if you ground her or something,bio-mom shouldnt dismiss it.That underminds you as a member of the family. However,if you dont make this clear to your wife,and your wife allows it time and again~you cant really be angry at step daughter.Be angry at wife who is allowing it. I also got mad at my husband for allowing his daughter to time and again hit my daughter who much smaller and younger then his. Husband wouldnt talk to her about it,wouldnt do anything. It got so bad I nearly divorced him over it because I didnt want my child subjected to the violence (because she turned around and started acting towards other kids the way stepdaughter was acting towards her) Finally last year we had a break through,and now husband doesnt let things slide anymore.

The switch plates are all different. Horses, Cowboys, bison, horseshoes, pine trees,etc. The outlets are all ivory but are old enough that they've kind of gone off color to a greenish tint. I may do wood, but will have to decide on the actual outlets as they are needing to be replaced. So not sure if I do black or another ivory. I saw these on a cabin site.

Another feel good dog story for you. Yesterday DH and I were in the front yard trimming a bush. The new neighbor, with her Border Collie on a leash, from 3 houses down walked up past apparently seeking some time out and exercise. I have not met these people yet, but I have often seen the dog engaged in games of fetch across the back yards. The woman and the dog came back past about 30 minutes later and the dog was carrying a large stick, about 18' long and an inch thick. I laughed and called to her saying, "it looks like someone has found a treasure to take home". She responded, "Yes, and you wouldn't believe how far he has carried it, there was no changing his mind." Yes, happy dogs and their people....a mood lifting thing.