You and your wife are on my mind when I listen to those weather reports. Being on a forum like this really expands one's horizons and makes even national weather pertinent. I remember hunting in the snow on Thanksgiving day back in Missouri......but one expects that in late November. And in many years past we always had a snow at least once before my birthday, and that is in early November. But the weather isn't like it used to be. Not necessarily milder lately, just different. We have had three cool summers in succession. Last year tomatoes didn't even show up at Farmer's market until almost the season's end. This year, I smartened up and planted a variety what sets fruit in the forty degree range, picked them green and let them ripen inside for a month. Cold, cold evenings all summer. Not enough rain to deep soak anything and my spring is still suffering. Cold soggy springs and falls. Living here as long as I have, I've prepared for years for stretches of no power. We get along too, with our pitcher pump, the gas grates, oil lamps and the stocked pantry. It's just part of life, and we don't be too uncomfortable, but quilting or reading by coal oil lamps stinks. LOL. I have been toying with having a set of gas lights installed in at least the kitchen and thought my husband would guffaw at the idea, but surprisingly he didn't. We have generators, but they only get fired up for the g'house crops when absolutely necessary. I think once we dragged one down to the house to let the freezer get cold after three days of no power so we wouldn't lose food. I hate to hear that constant roar and it's just not worth it to me to live like that. Hope you get some moderation to the weather. Not this bad, this early. Keep an eye on El Nino this year. If it builds we are in for a mild winter, but if it's a weak one the nasties will drop to your area for the duration of winter and spill over eastward.

Gratz on your first bloom. :D Overhere I got to be patient as well, since we normally get bloom season somewhere in mid May and this year it is 2 weeks late at least. But I also spotted a bud on my tiny Cecile Brunner climber (I still can't get used to the thought that this collection of tiny twigs will get higher than a meter), which probably will open in a couple of days, depending if the weather will get finally warmer. Some bud-dage I also saw on Mme Isaac Pereire and Sympathy. For the later it is actually early, usually she was a slacker, but I guess walking around it with a shovel and discussing which other rose would be good for that spot helped to bring a point across to her. x)

But if there's no cardboard, how is the cat going to get it to roll in such a cool way? pulls it off and puts it back (probably not intentionally, but cute) also, it's received some poor reviews. Can't get the tubeless roll onto the spindle, doesn't roll right, too thin... and I'll tell you, this should've already been considered a marketing fail since it's been around for 4 years, yet few know about it.

I use a lot of Paula's Choice products. I recently read one of their articles that says layering products is okay and you don't have to wait between applying products, but I don't recall if they specifically addressed your pH question. They have lots of good articles and info on their site, even if you don't use their products, that may answer some of your questions.