While it is upsetting to know that I may have roses dying in a short while, I have learned a good lesson. However, some of the unidentified roses which were purchased at Walmart are doing very well in my garden. Maybe l have gotten lucky. When I have my own place I will seek out the nurseries you have recommended. This is my mothers yard, and so I do hope the roses I planted will last. I just wanted to fill in her yard quickly since I am staying with her for a while and have the time to do so (new graduate that is job-hunting!). Here is what I gathered. I hope this is helpful. Portrait, Hybrid Tea Rose - AARS but grown in Canada Chuckles, Sub-zero Rose - Own root, product of USA Hansa, Hybrid Rugosa - Product of USA, potted in Canada (part of Pan American Nursery, Canada) Zéphirine Drouhin, Climbing Rose - Humber Nurseries. Tag is missing. Climbing America, Climbing Rose - AARS, product of USA John Davis, Climbing Rose - Product of the USA, potted in Canada (part of Pan American Nursery, Canada) Pink Supreme, Flower Carpet - Pan American Nursery (Canada) Appleblossom, Flower Carpet - Pan American Nursery (Canada) The following are of unknown origin and type, but all purchased at Walmart in the GTA. Mini Kordana Roses, Various Unidentified, Red Climbing Rose (Blaze, Don Juan?) Unidentified, Yellow Climbing Rose (Golden Showers?) Unidentified, White Climbing Rose, sometimes soft pink (Iceberg?) My red rose, the one I believe is Blaze or possibly Don Juan is doing very well, it is pretty much to the top of my fence now, and this is its second year. My white (iceberg?) rose has been around for 3-4 years now and is doing well, although it is a bit slow to grow. The yellow was planted the same time as the red, but I have moved its location, so I think I may have hindered its growth, though it looks like it is about to bloom a good amount very shortly. All roses, identified or not, look healthy. I hope everything will be alright. Most of the roses seem to be products of the USA but have been potted or grown in Canada. Maybe they'll last? They came in large black squarish pots or long green ones with lids..

That is a gross over-simplification of the "lid on/lid off" concept. If my "condo" is the "ideal" environment for worms 364 day of the year, but through some "act of nature" - say lightening strikes a transformer on a power pole and the power goes off for 12 hours - and my bin(s) are stressed and the worms decide they can't live in the "ideal" condo and decide to leave, they all die. Period. It has nothing to do with my :"skills" as a wormer or my ability to "provide" for them. EXCEPT that with a lid, whatever stressor is applied - be it my ineptitude or something completely out of my control - a lid allows me the time to address the problem and avoid catastrophe. In my opinion, THAT perspective is the more "considerate" of the worms. I live in an environment that is closer to 'the edge' than most. One must always have 'back up plans', and contingency plans. Rarely do "things" remain "ideal" for long. I appreciate that when one lives in a more benign environment, it's easy to not concern oneself with contingencies for the surprises that "nature" might bring. 1) All of us don't live in that environment, and 2) the more "skilled" wormer considers catastrophic possibilities and is prepared for them. Maybe when I become the perfect wormer I can have worm bins without lids. I find it interesting that when I started this endeavor, I didn't have lids on my bins, and all the "experts" advised that I use them, "just in case". Paul

I just wanted to say things have been going a lot better, me and dad sat down had a talk about some of the things I've been holding in for awhile. It feels like a weight has been lifted alil. I am more in control of situations, I speak up before I sit an stew on it, I think part of it was I was holding in, in fear dad was going to hate me/ be mad at me, but I am home all day with kids, so why should i hold a grudge to a child? I should not, I've been looking up lots of chore charts, behavior charts and dinner menu charts since my SS is alwAys telling me what he wants to eat, well he can plan the meals lol, what helps is me opening up and dad really getting behind me :). We still have situations where we don't agree but at least we talk about it. I still have situations where his son does some annoying habits but I walk away, or I tell him, "I'm not mad, I don't hate you, but right now I'm cooking dinner/cleaning, and in 10-30 minutes you can have my full attention, if you want to help me and not be in the way I'd appreciate it." I tried to explain to him about his talking/ and standing in my way is like him trying to watch tv or play his favorite game and me blocking the tv and talking to him, annoying right? Lol. I just have to find ways to say things with out hurting his feelings he does not realize its rude. My own son has been kind of an issue lately. He is realizing saying "you hate me" gets him what he want with my ex! It's hard hearing "you hate me mommy". At 7:30am cause he wants candy and I say NO. Well anyway. Things are looking up and I'm glad I opened up!

That story may or may not be true but this one of mine really is! On our Lunar New Year, we normally pass on to younger ones red envelopes that are filled with money. This is to wish for a year of prosperity and blessings. We also give one to our parents. In my family, this tradition changed a bit. We mix in lottery tickets or scratches with the money for fun. A couple of years ago, close to the date of our Lunar New Year, I stopped by a gas station to fill up and at the same time, to get some lottery scratches. As I was paying for it, a teenage girl came in and asked the cashier to set her pump for $1 gas. With a surprised face, the cashier took the dollar at the same time asked: "only $1?". The girl explained that her sister just got her 1st paycheck and they were on the way to cash it. All they needed was enough gas to the bank and will have more cash for gas later. I looked at their car and there were about 4-5 young girls together. This gas station was in the middle of nowhere. I thought to myself that with $1 gas, a bit less than 1/2 gallon, may not have been able to take them far enough and with a car full of young girls, they may ran into danger. While the girl was heading to the pump, I gave the cashier an extra $5 and asked him to add it to the girls' pump. As I got into the car, the teenage girl caught up with me and thank me. I told her to take care and be careful then I headed home. I don't buy lottery often but when I do, I buy one for myself. So, after dinner that same day, I scratched one for me and guess how much I won?... Yep, $5! When I'm lucky, I usually get only $1. This was the only time that I won more than $1. In reality, what goes around DOES come around!