I like hearing about the garden but I love the byplay between you and your daughter. Moments like that, when you just get each other are so wonderful. The memory of times like that can get me through almost anything.

I'm leaving Wednesday for Italy, Melissa. My only sadness is missing my Spring bloom here during my trip. I'm sure Ninfa will be worth it.

Oursteelers, that's so true. Sounds like you have your own very happy relationship. Sheila, have a good trip, and bring back a report! I've never seen Ninfa, just pictures.

Melissa, I love the way your husband has been at your side in the garden all these years, and now you've acquired another dedicated, hard working man. You must be able to cast some kind of magic spell. Perhaps you could give me long-distance lessons!

Ingrid, I suspect that logistics are your problem: having somone who can get to your place; and finding the right person in your circle of acquaintances, or, as I've written before, looking, for example, at the local college or university. My helper is the husband of my friend, who was my helper first; then, when she got a near-full-time job while he was unemployed, he took over. So I knew him, a little directly, more by reputation from what his wife said of him. They're both great people.

Branching out a bit: the way you write about your husband makes me think you know a good man when you see him. I tend to like the male half of the human race, but even generally good guys can run over an overly acquiescent female. I think as a woman, it pays to be demanding, and to speak up loud and clear. I expected a lot from my husband--and was willing to reciprocate--and so I got a good partner. This runs in my family: my mother and her two sisters were intelligent, independent, opinionated woman who married late, and they all had happy marriages with excellent husbands.

Also I think that good guys-the REALLY good ones-don't really much care for "overly aquiescent females".Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that part of the testosterone-thingie naturally pushes a human to seek dominence-it can't be helped, it's a hormonal-based behaviour-, but a truly good man doesn't want to dominate his woman,he wants an "equals" relationship, so it makes him secretly really like it when she "stands up to him"...just a theory...