Mariou, What region of the country are in? Most California rosarians do not have to deal with the rampant black spot typical in my zone 6b garden. Their biggest problem is mildew. If you garden in the Mid-Atlantic, for example, you will have to contend with the worst fungal pressures in the country. Roses that are completely clean - no spray - in places like Petaluma CA will defoliate elsewhere. I do not have Julia Child but I have grown Happy Child for years. It is pretty little rose, approximately 2.5 feet tall with an loose, open growth habit. Good repeat bloom and truly lovely flowers. Fragrance is moderate to strong, and Tea-like. The foliage is rather unusual looking, resembling spinach leaves. In my region black spot can be a problem but is resistant to other fungal diseases. To prevent defoliation you would have to spray it with a fungicide every two weeks to control the black spot. About my only real complaint is the vigor. Without disbudding during years one and two, an own root plant will limp along never maturing. It is also a wee bit more sensitive to the cold than your typical English Rose. I lost one during a particularly cold winter, which I quickly replaced in the spring. You would too if you ever saw the blossoms. The yellow color is extremely pure without any secondary tones. Very few roses combine fragrance with such clear, canary yellow color. You can purchase an own root plant of HAPPY CHILD online from Heirloom Roses. Good luck, Patrick

Hard to say on the price without knowing all of the details. Make sure all the details are fully understood by both parties, especially with a full frame install. Does the price include new trim on the interior? If so is it going to match, is their a custom stain involved? Are they going to patch any holes in the wall? On the exterior are they going to Cap the windows, install new wood and paint or maybe a pvc trim. Is the profiles going to match existing? Is the house stucco, brick, vinyl or wood? Are they going to cut back the siding, How are they going to flash the openings? Are there windows on the 3rd floor, is lead based paint present, if so are RRP procedures included in the price? And the list goes on and on. It's about the details especially so with full framed windows.

--" He can keep his happy butt at home if he doesn't want to be bothered."-- Same thing I thought when I read that, Amber. "WE" don't have to do anything. Did he really think just because Dad has the kids this weekend that YOU would be skipping the event where your daughter performs? I really don't see what his 'big deal' is. I will assume as you're an involved mother that makes sure your child has the opportunity to be active in assorted activities that you actually desire to be present and watch her activities and be there so she knows you are proud of her achievements. Obviously with him it's 'not your weekend so not your turn to play mother'. You were going anyway. You were not getting home until after 11pm. Except for a few minutes dash out at 7am to drop your daughter off, exactly what is he whining over? Is it the fact that you are going to event at all? If so, he seriously picked his marriage partner poorly. Moms who have custody of their children are not parttime mothers. Moms who are exciting and proud for their children do not forget about their performaces and activity events just because 'it's not their week'. Little head or not, this guy is just a whiner that you refuse to put him first and foremost and is jealous of your relationship with your children. Now that he's had the falling out with this daughter it seems no matter what, anything that involves her is going to set off his pity party. Wahwahwah. And this tirade on this particular incident is silly...why did he assume you would not be attending the performance? You're right, he's just going out of his way to find things to moan about. Now that he has, look for it to increase with each and every little thing he can find to fault and blame. The guy should have stayed single where he could have found a playmate at his disposal 24/7 at his whim instead of investing in a woman he knew had children and previous committments along with a sense of motherhood duties and desires.

From what my BF has said, and from what I have observed, A__'s mom usually wants what's best for him... But sometimes what's best for him has to be pointed out to her. His basic needs are always met and he's well cared for, but I've noticed that she sometimes confuses "What's best for him" with "What she wants"... An example: A few weeks ago, she had some plans several evenings in a row (I think one was work and two were social) and devised a bizarre and elaborate A__ care schedule where he was at three places each day (Mom's, Dad's, Papa's, Grandma's)... The reasons for the elaborate swapping scheme included things like that she wanted J__ to change her car battery in the parking lot during A__'s soccer game (so he should pick A__ up from school and take him to soccer), but J__ was on call that night, so couldn't keep A__ for the overnight (so he should sleep at Papa's) Grandma (BM's mom) pointed out that this was a lot of traveling for A__ and perhaps it would be better to change to just one change each day, so whoever picks him up from school is where he stays that night. Once someone pointed out that this was going to make for a tired and cranky A__ with little consistency to his week, she said ok and went with the revised plan... So she DOES want what's best for him, she just seems to think that "what's best for A__" = "what's easiest for her"... So J__ might have to point out that it's good that A__ and are getting pretty tight, but I think she'll be more-or-less OK with it if he does (he had to point out that it was important for A__ to spend time with Papa, and then she came around to the idea, so I'm banking on that. As BM problems go, I have it pretty easy! No drug addictions, no taking J__ to court all the time, no not feeding A__ because she had no dishes... Just some immaturity and occasional crabbiness - nothing I can't live with.