I like to give gift cards to a restaurant someone wouldn't normally frequent~McCormick & Schmidt, Roy's, even the Cheesecake Factory. It's not only an occasion for a sumptuous dinner but a chance to dress up a little nicer than usual. Make sure it's large enough to include a house wine or a couple of drinks. Make sure she has an escort. Book a facial at an upscale spa, usually a cost of $125-$200, depending on the city as well as the type of facial. Make sure you accompany her~it's no fun going alone. A movie and dinner. It's that special time just for the two of you. A 'date' for a limo and a winery~'nuf said. This can be a gift from several people, maybe two children/spouses. For Mom/Dad, one OR the other. Make it a Sunday afternoon, it's more quiet. I'm sorry if you don't have a winery near you. ;o)

Snidely, I got a wonderful, thoughtful thank you note from a man not long ago. He is someone we don't know well, but when he was younger he was hired to drive for someone we are related to by marriage when that gentleman was beginning stages of Alzheimer's. A faithful companion and caring personal employee. He's no longer driving on the freeway himself, and twice DH has called him to see if he'd like to be picked up for an out of town event. He accepted, and followed up later with very kind handwritten note (beautiful handwriting). I found it gracious and thoughtful. Suzieque, you may not know it but you've already been generous with your neighbor. You've provided him with an opportunity to show his son its important to be a helpful part of his community. A lesson DH learned very young, and still follows today with neighbors and an elderly former neighbor. And she does try to repay him, but knowing her limited means it will frustrate him if she buys him something. Her cinnamon rolls he will happily accept. I don't think you are creating a circumstance of expectance if you occasionally treat them though, gift card for a movie or coffee bar (where they usually have Italian fruit sodas appropriate for fathers and teens both). A thank you note other times is more than enough. DH will still talk about being a boy and having his mother send him to the next farm to put in hay for the widow there. I don't know if you are familiar with the process of cutting, baling, loading into the truck then into the barn, but it's hot, dirty, prickly work. He was paid in popsicles, his mother wouldn't allow him to complain or take more ;) He laughs about it even now.

Hey Emily, likewise I was freaking out when I saw them on not one, but all four of my plant's water trays. I also always thought of springtails to be a much bigger insect, and leaps! Maybe these are the larvaes, since the weather here technically just got warmer a couple weeks ago. I hope out id is right, and they pose no threats to our plants. Bernard

Leslie, if the tree is close enough to spit out seeds/helicopters in your yard or on the road or public property, take a few and start your new tree. Put the tip of the seed into the ground and protect from critters, and even start some in a pot to increase success. My neighbor has several Silver maples, and the seed/helicopters fly very far from the tree onto my land pretty far out. I personally have gone onto "someone?" elses property along the road to collect acorns before. They had so many acres they never saw me. I don't advise it. But, I grabbed about 10 acorns. I had dug up trees from the woods before, never thinking, this is someone elses property. It was right by the road. It was stupid of me. But they were among larger trees and would've stayed small for years. That was before I got a computer and knew you could order trees. Leslie, I would ask for some seeds and get it over with, unless they were getting blown all over your yard anyway. Good Luck.