We hate to use any insecticide but it is sometimes a necessity. We have found this to be an effective product. You might reseach control of Japanese Beetles. We are seeing beetles now that we've never had before, maybe due to a warmer than usual winter plus recent rain. This product has been effective for everything we have needed to use it to control. Link below. EP Here is a link that might be useful: garden spray

Sure looks like what I've been dealing with lately also on the same plants. Glad you enclosed a photos because the slugs have been hiding from me since I sprayed them with a half white vinegar and half water solution, after which I added diatomaceous earth to the straw mulch surrounding my plants. This year, I've taken multiple approaches, including getting slug bait from gardens alive, link enclosed. I will keep you posted. It's good to have this forum to discuss these dastardly beasts, after all the hard work we put into our gardens... Jules Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens Alive

Whatever I make, someone at the table wont like it. That does not bother me as long as I don't hear about it, no whining. That goes for DH, too. ;o) Each of my 4 kids has some food they just really can't stand. I respect that and do not make them continue to try it. If I make one of those foods, the rest of the menu is something they will eat, so it's fine. But I have one who is difficult. #2, he's 12. He either loves a food or hates it, doesn't recognize in between. If it's not a favorite, he claims to not like it and won't eat it. I've used every approach in the books, and always receive sage advice from grandmothers about encouraging a "picky" eater to try and like new foods. Not happening. He *would* let himself starve for days if I made several meals in a row that he doesn't like. I do not make something different for him, and I don't let him make something else b/c that makes more mess and uses food I had planned for another meal... and it encourages his ways. This is dinner, eat it or don't, there is something on this table you like well enough to fill your belly. But he gets... I don't know... emotional about it, takes it personally if it's not his favorites. Just the one kid, the others don't do it at all, even the younger ones. He has missed meals, gone all night without eating, because he doesn't like dinner. I used to feel guilty when he was little, he didn't know the consequence would be waking up in the night with hunger pangs. Now he's old enough to know... picky people go hungry. It does not change him. He will eat a slice of bread and a few grapes for dinner b/c he doesn't like the meat or carb that I cooked. I calmly tell him, "That is not a healthy dinner for a boy your age, it's not enough calories for your age." I want him to think about making good choices for his health, and he is starting to. I feel, though, from his responses, that if I push him, he'll eat less variety, try even less. If we order pizza, he'll eat 8 slices, I get my money's worth at a pizza buffet with that kid. LOL. But he simply will not put food into his mouth that he has any distaste for at all. We talk to him about being able to enjoy going more places, knowing he'll always find something to eat. Sometimes he pouts about it, but not often. He just doesn't eat much variety. He does not give other people grief, at friend's houses he is more likely to eat a small amount of something he doesn't like. He does not complain at Grandma's, again, more likely to sit in silent hunger and push his food around, waiting for a later meal he will like and make up for it. I have hope that when he grows up he will be more reasonable, but it clearly will have to be his choice. If we leave him alone, once in a while he will surprise us... shock us, actually! He is healthy, height and weight were both in the 50th percentile last check up, so he isn't starving. He is not allowed to make up for it with junk; he eats almost every fruit, bread, cheeses, some meats. Breakfast and lunch foods he's fine, he'll eat a monster of a sandwich. It's recipes, dinners, with various ingredients where one small ingredient will make him refuse the whole thing. Like he'll eat pizza and cheese sticks and love it, but won't touch lasagna. (which drives me nuts, same stuff, different arrangment!) It's too much for me to keep up with, so it's his problem, not mine. I put the food out there, that's my job. He puts something in his mouth, or not... that's his job. Oddly enough, he likes to cook with me, even if he doesn't end up eating the food.

I kind of think it's little silly to keep the hostess gifts going round and round. When I entertain, I prefer to take care of everything from soup to nuts, and that's how I like to be a guest, too. Taking or receiving a "little token something" like a book or dish towel, flowers or wine, seems completely unnecessary to me. It's too much like trying to be imaginative or thoughtful, as if the gesture relieves one of writing a thank you note. I believe my hosts mean don't bring anything when I ask them what I can bring. I don't know what the etiquette books say about writing notes nowadays, though. I always send a note to my hosts immediately, thanking them for a lovely time. As a guest, I never take anything unless I'm asked to, which I do happily. The only events I'm ever asked to take something to are BBQs and summertime parties, and then the hosts are specific in ther requests. Evenings with friends, or the less frequent, fancier dinners, nada. I love having people in for dinner, and we're having two couples here tomorrow night. I'm sure they won't bring us any gifts, and we'll have a wonderful time. Sherry