My mother passed away April 13th 2022. she raised me and my sister, as a single mother. she worked 2 jobs to ptovide for us, but we took her for granted as children. When the mother of my 2 children passed away in 2016, my mother moved in with us. My mother helped raise my daughter(16 now) and my son(15 now) for almost a decade. My mother was more than just my best friend, she was my only friend. i have complex PTSD, and she was the only one that i trusted enough to talk about the war with… she went with me to the VA, when i had to. she gave me strength, she always seemed to understand things that other people either couldnt or didnt want to understand… my dog died about a month before my mother did… 2022 has taken a lot from me and my 2 children… they saw her as a mother, as much as me… i go from feeling numb to feeling deep sadness and loss… i don‘t want to give up, but i always needed her support. she died from cancer, after being on immunotherapy for 2 years… she suffered from many side effects, for most of her treatment. she became so thin near the end that it was painful to see her like that… i was with her until the end, and it may sound strange but i held her for some time after she died and just sobbed onto her… i talk to her still thst she is dead for months, but i still wake up thinking that she is alive… i beli my mother is in heaven, but selfishly i just want my mom back… i miss my only friend… i miss the only selfless person that i ever met… i feel so empty, and i did not think that id feel so lost… she gave me direction when i didnt know what to do… i hope this posts, it does give comfort to know that i am not a

Thank you, Radar. I really don't know what he thinks of it, but I do wonder that, too. If he's talked to DH about it, I know my husband did not mention to him that Sue came on to him, as well. Perhaps, after they got back together, they were hoping that we would call and arrange to do something together again. When we didn't, because (1) I was very angry still at Sue for trying to have an affair or whatever with my husband and (2) because we were both very upset and, yes, angry at how Sue helped destroy our mutual friends' marriage they most likely thought that it was because of the latter reason. Thankfully, though, it hasn't ruined DH and Jim's longtime golf games together. But, from what I've been told, the talk during golf and after in the clubhouse is pretty much just about everything golf related.

Your method may very well work for you if you have naturally-high humidity. If your humidity plummets, then all bets are off, unless you cover them with an air-tight plastic covering or clear to transluscent container. I just keep a clear plastic storage container partially under a tree for the summer. It is filled with a couple inches of 1/2 perlite and 1/2 potting soil. As I find things to root, in they go into the container. It's protected from bugs and critters, maintains really high humidity and stays warm. I've had success rooting citrus, bougainvillea, holly, and many other things that can be tricky or take a long time. I do use hormone too. But mainly the optimal rooting environment has light, is warm, protected from bugs and critters, fairly free of fungus, and very humid.

Agree with laceyvail and Babs about removing what’s there. If she wants a more formal, uniform planting look, she could do dwarf shrubs, depending on how deep those beds are. If she wants color/more cottage-y style, a mix of perennials, small ornamental grasses, annuals — in varying heights and textures. I think another paved walk to the sidewalk, if budget allows, would look nice and give some definition to the yard. I’d make it a bit wider than the other walkway, and slightly flared where it meets the public sidewalk. A lamp post would be very charming on the driveway side. The ledge under the left window is cute, and if it’s sturdy enough, I’d put some small, pretty pots (or one rectangular pot) on it with flowers. A narrow trellis with a non-aggressive vine would look good on the vertical white thing by the door. Or replace that detail with a post or column. ETA after seeing her location: I googled ‘California cottage’ and saw some ideas. This one has the similar ledges under the windows. :) Also, with being in S Calif, google ‘xeriscape plantings’ for ideas of things that survive drought and heat well. And ask for advice at local nurseries, of course. For painting ideas, you might want to post on the Home Decorating board ... or download a paint app (most of the major paint companies offer virtual painting) and play around with it. HD board — http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/decor