Diane, did you take that job offer? If so - where? You know I'll be there, asking you a gazillion questions. LOL. Every day is a happy day for me. No, not really, but I do try and find SOMETHING that'll make me happy, and there's always at least one thing. My Lilacs are blooming, too. The scent is heavenly. My wisterias (2 of them coming together over a huge pergula) is in full bloom, and standing underneath them, taking in the scent, listening to the hundreds of bumblebees going to town, hearing their endless "hum" - THAT is happiness :) Grabbing some awesome "Genesis" tickets sure was awesome, too, especially seeing my husband's face when I told him I got some.

Oh I know-wow can it eat! This morning when I came downstairs I walked over and looked at him-there is little frass all over and the little leaf was gone! There is something I always wanted to do so I touched him and that litle osmeterium came out-that is so funny looking! I won't do it anymore but, I just had to see it for myself. Lasy year I made little containers-I cut the lids and put netting on them with glue. It is alot easier to bring one of them with you when you go looking for cats and eggs.It's small enough so I could fit it in my purse or backpack too. I have the egg in there all by itself. Aggie

Hi, I read your post with interest as we are in the process of taking on our 20 month old Grandson. His Father (our son) and Mother are both on drugs. Our Son is currently in jail and is back to being a normal person who you can have a conversation with. He doesn't know we are taking on his son as he has no contact with him and becomes very angry about the situation. He would dearly love to see him but before being in jail his girlfriend (the Mother) and he had a very volatile relationship and the 3 children were taken by child protection services. The older two (different fathers) were placed with their maternal grandparents, who thought it would be short term. Unfortunately their daughter is still on drugs and only maintains spasmodic contact, which is getting less. Our grandson was placed in foster care, he was 3 weeks old at the time. He is with a lovely family who have two teenagers and two other foster children aged 6 and 4 and our grandson 20mths. We didn't take on our grandson at 3 weeks, hoping the parents would come good. That is obviously not going to happen for the mother and my son would have to jump through hoops to prove he has drug taking and anger issues under control. My questions are "how important is it for my grandson to be with family? Should he be allowed to stay where he is happy and loved? (my fear here is he will become part of the "foster" system and be parcelled around). If we don't take him will he grow up thinking the family didn't want him? We will have him before he turns 2, are we being selfish to take on a toddler at our age ?(54) We just want what is best for him. The overall question I suppose is "how important is family ?"

I certainly understand your feelings. It is tough when friends move away. But at least she will be back for part of the year. But Massachusetts isn't the other side of the world. Certainly you could take a quick trip for a weekend or so, right? That would help make up the time in between. That's what my friends and I do.