Vicki I am so sorry for your loss of your fish. I posted a month or so ago about all of my beautiful Koi I had for 13 years that I lost to something in the dead of winter. I was so very sad, so I know how terrible you feel. I wanted to fill my pond in, but everyone was so kind and told me get some new fish. I did..they will never replace the fish I had, but I do enjoy watching the new ones. So morn your fish and when you are ready..really go and get a couple of new ones, they will bring back joy to you. So very very sorry you are going through this.

We moved from the area we grew up in awhile back. Its so sad when we go back home. As we start into our town, there are four car dealerships, that have been open for the past 40 years closed. The industrial park is just about empty, we know so many folks that are in their forties and fifties that have lost their jobs. At first the ones that lost their jobs were blue collar, and now lots of white collar jobs are being lost. Its so sad watching families relying on unemployment. We have a judge in this town that only handles the bankruptcy of homes, and said he is busy 10 hours a day, and he is seeing folks lose low cost home and the million dollar homes. We have started helping a family that is unemployed. No one wants hand outs, They are making needed repairs to our home that is still there to give them income. They would not just accept cash, so this helps both of us. Hope folks will start looking out for their "brother in need". As I look around at all the closed business, it runs through my mind, where are the people that were once working. On our last trip, we noticed that three family furniture stores that had been around for many years had closed. Know that many long and hard hours had gone into each of these businesses and it hurts to have to close those doors. I have compassion for each of you that have lost your jobs and the ones that know that it will be a matter of time. Between my husband and myself we worked over 82 years combined, and so thankful there was a job to get up and go to for all those years. Sad thing, where my husband worked is closed now and in China, and the firm I worked for has cut back to a 3 people from 100 a few years ago. Very sad situation for people that want to work.

We are going through some of this with DS and DIL who married last year. DIL, seemingly overnight, decided she did not like us before they became engaged. There were some tribulations over the wedding plans and I felt she was rude and disrespectful on more than one occasion. My son would always come over alone, unless it was a holiday or special occasion. Then there is the issue of holidays.....they revolve around her parents and their schedule. I did expect this but not quite to such an extent. The year before last we were told that they could only stop by for about an hour or two xmas eve day in the afternoon for appetizers. Well, I had not planned on doing afternoon appetizers but I did anyway.....and then everyone was too full for dinner. I was not happy having spent the day preparing food. (They spent xmas eve and all of xmas day with her folks). So, this year I took a different tack. I say...this is what we are doing and when and we'd love it if you can join us. If it fits into their schedule, great. If it doesn't, that's ok too. I've just let it go. All last year, when we would see DIL I was cordial but kept my distance after having tried on several occasions to forge a better relationship with her and getting nowhere. Well, she is slowly becoming more pleasant with us. Don't know where her new attitude came from! She just had a surprise bday party for DS and I helped with alot of the stuff and she thanked me profusely...so I am hoping we are turning a corner....but not holding my breath. But, to answer OP, let it go. You may feel disappointed from time to time but it's not going to make for a happy family by making them feel guilty when they don't want to or can't participate. As others have suggested, ask them to get together another day or weekend....it's still several weeks away. Maybe they just want to start some of their own traditions. You need to be cordial and polite to D's IL.....but you don't need to be close.

This is the time to work on your soil. Add compost, manure and good mulch. Keep the roots in good shape. Roses always do better with rain than hose water. You should see what the drought is doing to my roses in CA. The year it rained and rained was my best year ever. But roses want sun and warmth too. If you have been using chemical fertilizers instead of natural ones then you might want to give your soil some TLC while the roses take a break.