Oh I know that there is so much more to master gardener than the title. It was just that Dh and my mom were wondering what I would do with the classes. I am looking so forward to learning about plants, diseases, and insects. I answer a lot of questions about gardening already and would like to have more info to help people. Another thing is that I am planning to do some of my volunteering with local 4-H groups, I was involved with 4-H growing up and am looking forward to helping out such a great organization. Memo, Thanks for all the complements. I do have lots of garden spaces but luckily I have lots of tough plants that don't need a lot of work. I am going to move the strawberries to the back yard to give them some more sun. I don't know how much canning I will get to do, at 4 months I am already showing so much and so big that I have to lean over my belly in the kitchen. Stacie

No aphids on my honeysuckle yet, just my mums. Last year I had LOTS of ladybugs and had aphids on a few things around the yard but they seemed to be disappearing without any help from me, then late in the season, I started seeing more aphids and less ladybugs. I don't remember seeing aphids on my honeysuckle though. There were probably some at least. They were worst on my swamp milkweed and it hasn't come back this year. I haven't seen any ladybugs yet this year so I may be in trouble. I hope it's just too early. It doesn't seem to be necessary to get rid of ALL the aphids. Most plants can handle quite a few without suffering much. My swamp milkweed was coated with them though and I was just ignoring it because I assumed the ladybugs would eventually come along and feast. It was hot and dry at the same time and that was hard on it too. Lesson learned. : (

bnicebkind, I am sure you are suspect about my advice. However, I have an exact replica of OP's MIL. MIL is the most overbearing, rude, miserable, critical (and those are the nice descriptions) individual I know. I found that once I stopped taking her comments to heart and let it go in one ear and out the other (rather than engaging her and allowing her to make me feel insecure), I was able to straighten my back, listen to her comments, consider the source, respond politely and wait for her to leave. My MIL is a person who's thoughts never process in her brain, they come straight out of her mouth without thought that one or another comment may be offensive, hurtful, critical, etc. If you don't allow someone to hurt you, you take the power away from them. Fake it at first if you have to, and eventually you will actually feel it. I spent years crying to my husband when I would have to be in her presence and she belittled me. DH gave me good advice. Call her on it. When she says something that you don't like, tell her. I do now. I never raise my voice, I never get worked up, I just tell her straight up what I don't like. I do not let her ruffle my feathers. It works better to disagree with her in the moment and then there aren't residual feelings of hurt or insecurity. It actually works like a charm. The incidents are fewer and further between. I also realized that I did not want my husband to fight my battles and I certainly did not want my husband to insist his mother like me. If she doesn't like me, I no longer care. When I started realizing that my life was none of her business, I did have the backbone to tell her so when she asked an improper financial question or a question I felt was too personal. Everyone has to go with their own comfort zone. I hated that she got to me regularly. I was feeling insecure, which I hated since that is not me. MIL knew she was pushing my buttons and worse, I was letting her. I have now diffused her and she no longer has that power to aggravate, hurt or insult me. I posted about just taking a seat in another room rather than ruin the whole family dynamic. That is what I do. I don't want to be the cause of everyone not being able to celebrate a holiday together. If MIL has pi$$ed me off recently, I just say hello when I walk in and go on my way to a different room. Of course, we will have to sit at the same table for dinner, but there are usually other family members and actually, they all know how she is. It isn't just me she unleashes this behavior on. She is rude to everyone at times, including strangers in public. We joke in the family that she has Turrets. Who would be hurt if I refused to go to family functions that she was attending. My DD wouldn't see her cousins, I love my SIL and the other family members. Actually, I'd be spiting myself. When I came into DH family, the dynamic was different, I was younger. I soon had a baby with many health problems which were not expected. MIL found a place to be critical and be overbearing in the advice department. I finally just told her that I was following what my DD's doctors wanted me to do and that when she completed her medical degree I would take her advice. Now, I don't feel insecure at all, I ignore her, come back at her, listen and let it go in one ear and out the other, or whatever it takes so as not to give her the satisfaction of upsetting, insulting me. I think as I grew older I also got alot wiser and realized that in the whole scheme of things, MIL was a blip on the radar. Example - new floor laid recently in kitchen, laundry and my office. MIL comes over unannounced/uninvited. Comments how nice the floor looks but the color really isn't right, such and such color would have been much better. Response: This is the color I chose because DH and I like it. End of subject, diffused her. Do I hate that she is the way she is, yes indeed. Will I allow her to abuse me the way she did for years, never again, nor will I have my husband fight my battles for me. Example: I attend a family (DH relatives) shower. Arrive with MIL & SIL. We sit down to eat at a very long table full of women. MIL stands up and introduces SIL to several women SIL did not know. I knew a few, but not many. She did not even acknowledge that I was seated in the room. When she was finished her introductions, I stood up and introduced myself as my DH's wife. It got the point across that I am worthy, whether she thinks so or not. I think she also looked badly to the relatives whom I did know who were watching her intentionally ignore me. I am sorry if my examples seem pollyanna, but they have worked for me. I don't feel badly, insecure, hurt or any other adjective that I formerly felt when MIL would descend on my home or when I had to interact with her. I also have never asked my husband to choose to one of us. That would be wrong in my opinion. As much as dislike her, she is his mother, the only mother he will ever have. I wouldn't want to have to choose my husband or my mother, why would I ask DH to do so? The way I deal with this situation is not for everyone. You need to have alot of self-esteem and a bullet proof vest over your heart. It starts with mostly false bravado, which eventually becomes actual bravery.

Good background check and credit history. Talk to previous landlords. No children doesn't always make for better tenants. If the house is in a good school district your family may become long term tenants with pride in their home. Try to get inside or next to their vehicle. It will hint at messiness and whether they smoke. You may not discriminate on the basis of kids or no kids in a single family home unless it is in a senior living community. California does not require that they have renter's insurance. You could strongly suggest they carry it. It is not expensive and most people will get it once they understand the landlord is never responsible for their personal property losses. Do get a good umbrella policy (liability insurance) to cover personal injury situations. You need to have that. If someone gets hurt on the property the lawyers go after the deepest pockets. You as the landlord are the deep pocket. Schedule regular maintenance checks without being intrusive. Three times a year is not excessive. Give notice you are coming. Respect that it is your house but their home. Put everything in the contract. Nothing verbal. Be sure to fill out all disclosure statements California law requires. Leave copies of appliances manuals. be sure they know how everything works. Do a walk-through before they move in. Take pictures and make notes of wear and tear. Expect to replace carpet and paint frequently. Your house is their home. Wear and tear is normal. Destruction is not. Never allow them to do their own repairs. Exception would be if he/she is a plumber and wants to fix the leak or a professional painter. Even then you must pre-approve everything. Every single time. Do not count on a property manager or realtor to give a damn. They don't care. It's your property not theirs. Invest in a copy of the California Landlord's Law Book. Also get the Tenant's version. Best $50 or $60 you'll ever spend.