Nope -- not thornless or nearly so. But it is a stunning rose, and worth putting up with the thorns. You are really limiting yourself by trying to stick to "thornless or nearly so." Very, very few roses are actually thornless, but you will see many moderately thorny roses described that way by marketing folk trying to sell them. I usually don't believe it when I see that in marketing materials or on HMF (which gets that info from marketing materials). It's a similar routine with fragrance -- many less than fragrant roses are described as highly fragrant by folk trying to sell them. We call that "catalog fragrance" which means fragrance only a catalog copy writer could detect.

Yay! Some responses! (First...THANKS A MILLION! for getting some of the pictures right on the page for me! Yay! I just think it's easier to understand questions when the real thing is right before you) FYI if it helps with suggestions: The adjoining sunroom has ceiling and walls in wood...which is why I am thinking a tile or ceramic will be a little better (to offset all that wood). Do you agree? Or doesn't it really matter? My granite is mainly black (and gray and brown and there's a cream and a bluish gray too)... If I go all the way to my foyer door with the new flooring, do you think I'll be shell-shocked because it's not carpet like I'm used to? And, if I do that I know I'll want a better quality looking material. I just can't imagine a vinyl in that scenario...can you? Anyone know of a nice "ashy" tone grey slate-like tile? I have looked at DuraCeramic Urban Slate but wasn't sure if there was too much going on with it (or if there was too much of a light blue in the gray and also too much tan)...(or am I getting too picky and trying to match exactly with granite?) I'm also concerned about grout lines (being busy). Whatdya think? Thanks again for your help : )

"I don't think I'm a prude it just makes me sad that little girls are vamping (pun intended!) it up while still in single-digit age in years. Sad" My mouth fell open the other day in Babies R Us. They make a silver shimmering pant (thinking disco days) for infant girls. They have skull & crossbones wear (thinking biker baby)... WTH??? Do parents really buy that stuff??? Do they think it's cute???? I just don't get it but I thought it was bad enough when I saw mini skirts for 3 year olds. Sorry, I haven't read the twilight books and my daughter never got into crushes or wanting to wear make up... she's 20 now & still doesn't wear make up unless she is going out with her friends... then, it's just a touch. My niece is obsessed with twilight... but she's 23, married with 2 kids. I don't get how she has time to read a book... lol I think love/romance type books shouldn't be given to kids until they are in puberty... I think make up should not be allowed until they have a reason to wear it.. ie, school dance... maybe in high school, as long as it's not trampy looking. That has been my measurement of too much, if you look trampy, it's too much. Wanting to look/act older has it's consequences when it draws the attention of older boys and these young girls don't know how to handle it... they can get into situations they are not ready for. When SD10 was in 3rd grade, the principal called me & DH in because SD was trying to arrange sex with a 2nd grade boy... this was after she had sat on a 7th grade boys lap & was trying to hug & kiss him earlier in the year. Her mother has placed a high value on being hott & sexy... having a man, dressing cool... and the price is that her daughter is putting herself in a dangerous place and not really aware of what it really means. For that reason, I think that with every child, the answer as to what age this or that is appropriate, depend on the child and how the child thinks or acts. What was not a big deal with my daughter is a different ballgame than with my SD.

Thank you, thank you all. This has indeed been an interesting journey. DH retired 3 years ago and he resisted the idea for a long time. But one day last year I mentioned that one of the larger homes that backed up to the woods had just come on the market and he surprised me by agreeing to see it. Then he floored me by making an offer. Most of the homes in this community sell quickly, usually by word of mouth which is how I found this one. My friends who live there told me the day it went on the market. Joanie - You asked how we chose this community. That was probably the easiest part of this process. We used to drive past the entrance when we took the dog to the vet and every now and then DH and I would drive through. This community is 13 years old, has 235 individual homes and 30 townhouses reserved for lower income seniors. There is a clubhouse, outdoor pool, tennis and bocce courts and a very active group of residents. As with so many other real estate decisions location was key. We have many over 55 communities in this part of South Jersey and I know of 5 more that are being built. Most of the newer ones have larger units and more options but they're not necessarily better construction and most of them are in towns with high taxes. Toll Brothers is building one on a golf course in my town. These are all townhouses and the taxes for a 2100 sq ft home are over $15,000. Our development has 8 different models ranging from 1500 sq ft to 2150 sq ft - we choose the larger one in hopes that some day we might have grandchildren who'd like to visit. We have a 2 car garage, a kitchen, family room, living room/dining room, master bedroom and guest room on the first floor. The second floor has another guest room and a loft. The lots are small and the houses are close together which is why we wanted one in the rear with a private patio and backs up to woods. The monthly HOA fee is $135 which covers yard care, snow removal and recreational facilities. Once DH realized that this move made sense he threw himself into planning the remodel. He comments that if we're giving up this home that we love then he wants to make the next one 'ours' too. So while they all seem to look alike on the outside we're completely remaking the interior. I've heard him talking to our friends about our move and he now says that he should have done this earlier. Giving up our big home, yard and pool will free us from many of those home ownership worries plus there is the financial savings - our taxes will be halved, utility costs will be significantly lower and we plan on spending more time at our vacation home in NE PA. DH is near 70 and I'm a few years behind and he has health limitations that prevent him from strenuous activity. We won't have to switch doctors or hospitals, all 3 adult kids now own their own homes and live within 30 minutes. I'll actually be closer to Wegman's and the Wellness Center where I try to do pool exercises 4 or 5 times a week. I can easily drive or take the Hi-Speed Line into Philly or take NJ Transit to NYC. I'm the social butterfly in the family while DH is reserved, quiet and definitely not a joiner. They have regular card games in the clubhouse but DH wouldn't dream of just walking in. I'm hoping he'll met someone who will ask if he plays pinochle - that would make him a happy camper. My girlfriend and I have already signed up for the September bus trip to NYC. Thanks again everyone for your encouraging words. Maire