Hi Carol, glad you're back, ok, and congrats on the new computer. I've got one with those big screens, they are really fantastic, but I'm so used to getting around fast on my pc, I mainly still use that. The new one is a lot different, I've learned to do a lot of things already, but it's like learning Windows again from the ground up and frustrating to have to look up how to do the simplest little thing. My daughter loves to watch youtube videos on it with her little boy. The sound drives me nutz, and I found how to turn it up or down in the system controls. Got fed up with that, looked it up, and see there are two keys where the function keys are on my pc for adjusting the volume up or down. Very slick. Simple things like that I get stuck for awhile. I think I WS'ed my crazy daisies in about February 2 years ago, planted the whole jug hos. Am almost positive I didn't spring sow them. Think they bloomed the first year, too. Mine have all different variations. Can send you some more seeds in the fall if I mark a choicer bloom or several. I notice my New England Purple Dome Asters have seeds up the wazoo. I don't know if it's too late to collect them but think I will but won't have time to mess with trades until I get caught up on other things. I'll make sure they are dried out well and seal them up for later.

Oh, Paula, bless your heart, honey! I guess it rained 15 inches in the last few days. And wound up going down to 40 last night, and I drug out my sweat shirt for this morning. What you show is the way it used to be in my Back40 after a rain. So I hauled in some dirt and spread the landscaping fabric, and then covered it with lots of bags of cypress mulch. One side effect of this is that the slugs are not comfortable on that coarse mulch, I suppose. Because out there I find no slugs. Around the edges, against the fence, I've found a few. And that is where I place the bait now. Hope to see you back in business soon, Paula. We miss your pictures and your experiences with the hosta. Everything is soaked here. But very few soft spots where there is no mulch. I love mondo grass and liriope because their root systems are so supportive over soft ground.

Hello, hello, Betty! Welcome to RMG! WeÂre glad you found us! There are lots of people around here who can help you with just about any kind of questions you can come up with. And if you happen to ask something nobody knows the answer toÂwellÂweÂre good at guessing and making suggestions too! ;-) When you try to post the pictures, if youÂre having a problem, let us know what picture hosting site youÂre using, and somebody will be able to tell you how to find the link you need to post them. If you donÂt have a hosting site yet, I use Picasa and I love it! (And thanks to the folks here at RMG, I even know how to use it!) Again, welcome! And bring on the pictures and questions! Skybird

I have a daughter who is a single parent. She is finding it to be a real struggle. Maybe your DIL has got the message that being a single custodial parent is not a good option for either your granddaughter or herself. Your posting suggests that your DIL is involved as a visiting parent and that her relationship with yourself is reasonably civil given circumstances. Considering what I hear about couples who have split up, I would be thankful for small mercies. As to what to tell your granddaughter. I would tell her that her mommy loves her very much but that mommy cannot provide a good home and that you can. I think that it would be helpful to see if you can get/keep a good relationship as possible with your DIL. After all you are likely to be involved with her for a long time to come. You might have to work hard at being non-judgmental. If your son objects, tell him that it is for the sake of granddaughter. Ian