Green, you mean you made a grapefruit margarita? lol. Im more partial to Jim Beam and coke-a-cola myself, but I too have solo parties from time to time, I don't think it's sad, I have a great time! If were still venting garden frustrations: Between Tuesday and Sunday we had several inches of quarter sized hail every day, drowning rain and even tornadoes (which for Denver is NOT common). My in-ground tomatoes are now suffering from waterlogged feet, a lot of the onions have been cut back to nubs, and the lettuce looks like it was sent through the paper shredder. Everything is looking like they are a bunch of prize fighters fresh out of the ring. This comes two weeks after we had almost a foot of snow on the ground. Now were pushing right through the 80's and into the 90's. I will be lucky if I get anything out of this garden besides the scallions (courtesy of the hail) and radishes I already picked. As a nice little bonus yesterday I found cutworm damage in the corn. But wait! There's more! If you call within the next 10 minutes, your National Guard Unit will schedule a 2 week Annual Training from June 7-21 and all you can do is HOPE that the people you leave in charge of taking care of the garden do a good job so you don't come home to death and destruction. Did I mention I was fond of Jim Beam?

Michael, Thank you for your reply. I fertilized once in the spring last year and again once this spring about 8 weeks ago so don't feel that is the problem. I also deadheaded after first heavy bloom cycle but they just keep putting up more blooms (and getting taller with the process). I think they must just like the spot! However, they're growing too big for the bed (in front of a porch railing). This is the only little spot I have that gets enough sun for roses. Will prune again but not quite as short as I suggested and will see how they do. Thanks once again for taking the time to offer your helpful advice. Mary

It's the morning after, and I am thankful for all you good people who took the time to post and get me through a bad moment. I learned from your posts, and I laughed with your posts. Most importantly, I found out that even on a cooking forum, not everyone makes the perfect, flaky, homemade pie crust. Thank you for telling me that I am not alone. I am through with pies and pie crusts. This year will have been the 20th year of trying, and it was the worst yet. It is time to move on. I am a market gardener, and I grow wonderful organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and rhubarb. When I bake with the fruit, I do a crisp, a cobbler, or a tart. DS has a love of pumpkin pie, and I think my efforts are emotionally entwined with being the "good mother", but I am going to find a good bakery next year. You are all right- there is more than one way to skin a cat (that is a horrible saying isn't it?) I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. You all helped make mine a good one. :)

* keep finding problems behind walls; just found a drain leak in kitchen that is hard to get to for repairing. * DH is upset - he will have to fix it * original tile was not installed correctly 30 yrs ago so caused sheetrock issues that now need to be addressed * DH is upset - he will have to fix it * this house was built by a supposedly 'better' builder but now we see the cheap way they did things * DH is upset about that, too. * Did I mention DH is upset? this new kitchen was MY idea and now HE has to fix stuff that we didn't anticipate * I wish I'd never opened this can of worms. * even our poor cat is confused. She can never find her bowl of food...at least we haven't moved her bed. * and as I said before, there's dust everywhere but I am getting a handle on that part. How do you guys handle all of this? This was supposed to be a simple reface the cabinets, put in granite counter, new backsplash, floor. Lighting later...