Some very common problems with seed starting are: Not enough light/Light too far away (this causes 'leggy', tall and skinny seedlings): Use florescent lighting (4ft shop lights with T12 tubes are good) no more then 2 inches away from the plants. Over watering: When seedlings first emerge keep the soil moist but after the seedlings start the first set of leaves let the soil get almost completely dry before watering. Besides the common problems above temperature after germination should be around 65-75 degrees. I use plastic cells and pot up to 4 inch plastic pots. I plant in Pro-Mix which comes highly recommended. I feed with Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizer. As far as starting too late, I'd say you started the tomatoes at the right time but the cukes and squash you started too early. Start cukes and squash 3 weeks before your last frost date or seed directly in the garden. Lastly, read through this forum and the vegetable gardening forum as far back as you can manage. Many people have gone through the same trials as you and there experience is wicked helpful! Jon

Yes parent it was a crazy morning! And Mattie I don't understand why all the phones in our area quit working the night before either?? It always seems to happen to bm that phones just don't work! LOL And it puts me in a bad position. I could have told bm that she can not come get the kids early and either she waits 30 minutes or doesn't get them. Sure it was a pain to rush, but it was not impossible. And if I didn't let the kids go with her then the kids would see me as the bad guy! BM just thinks the world revolves around her. Yesterday the grandparents came into town. BM inserted herself into the plans saying we needed to drop the kids off to her because her parents could not be here at 10 like planned because they were driving from a few hours away that morning. She said it would be easier on her parents if we dropped the kids off to her on our way out that day (because we had plans around 10:30). We were going that way anyways so we agreed and texted the grandparents to let them know bm changed the plans. Sat night when bm drops the kids off LATE after the christening party she says that they are all going to the beach at 9am Sunday. DH says well we were dropping them off by you at 10 because you said 10 was too early for your parents to pick them up? BM says plans changed, I need them at 9. So dh says well either you pick them up from us at 9 or we drop them off at 10 as planned. BM says she will call us in the morning to let us know which would be better. We say fine. At 8am dh calls grandparents on their cell and arranges plans with them because bm had not called us. This is the nonsense we deal with. We stopped the unexpected show ups by refusing to let her take the kids if she does not make plans in advance. We stopped the late pick-ups by having plans for about 25 min after she was to pick up the kids....this way if she showed up late or even called to say she would be late we could say "well we have plans so you will not be able to take the kids today". We don't allow her to take the kids to school functions, sports, activities, etc because she is not responsible enough to get them there on time, if at all. We have the kids cell phones set to not take calls after bedtime so she can not disturb their sleep with late night calls or texts. Now how do we stop plan changes?? I don't want to be completely inflexible because I am flexible with my sons father and it works so well. I almost would feel guilty if we were to tell bm that plans were set in stone. But her constant changes are annoying, especially when she does not see the kids all that often! With my ex we can change plans or run late and its not a problem because we have common courtesy. We call right away when we know there will be a change and we are flexible in switching visitation. He does not just show up at my house or make a million plan changes.

I think there is a fine line between living the life you have vs. living the life you want. If you are financially stable, then you can afford to live the life you have. If you are struggling, then you aspire to live the life you want. And, isn't that what it's all about? Trying to elevate yourself to the next level? And, if you're already there, you can then reap your rewards. I am friends with people in all socio-economic positions. Sure, the people who have money may tend to live with excess. But I don't hold that against them. In fact, life is short, enjoy yourself. If that means collecting art, animal heads and a museum-like surroundings, so be it. On the other hand, if you grow your own vegetables, compost and go jogging then plop your feet on the coffee table, that's great, too. I once had a client who was wealthy beyond belief. She had priceless art work, traveled the world and had a hutch in her dining room that cost more than my car. But she lost her son to cancer at 16. Did that money help her? No. So if she wants to surround herself with *stuff* then so be it. I also have friends who are designers. I would be so disappointed if I went to their homes and they didn't design to impress. I pick up a lot of decorating tips from them -- for free! Then again, if somebody dropped by my house unexpectedly on a work day, I'd be mortified. With 2 home businesses, this house always look like it exploded and we haven't gotten around to putting everything back. But then, I would apologize for the paint cans, paper, cabinet doors, drill, whatever else was on the island, dining room table or floors and explain what project I was working on and then try to say something witty like "did you know Lillian Vernon started her company from her dining room"? I try to get it all cleaned up by the time my kids get off the bus, so I can get their snacks ready and clear off the island where we do homework together. We definately live the life we have!! However, if Augie Busch the third was my neighbor, I wouldn't care what anybody thought of my decorating. And, my husband would be in heaven!

We have used the same contractor for many large and small jobs in two houses. We secretly call him "Eldin" - we're going on seven seasons now. He does fastidious but slow work. Took him a week to tile a shower with 4x4s on the diagonal - every one got tap,tap,tapped until it was perfect. His work is excellent or we'd never put up with him. :D He's coming back in a month or two to do another bathroom. We will never learn. lol