My Hoya DS-70, an Exotic Angel plant, came into bloom last month and has produce several umbels. I am absolutely gaga over the color of these flowers. To me, flowers smell exactly like melted butter. Grown outdoors this past summer as hanging plant on covered deck; received direct late afternoon and evening sun. Misted daily, sometimes with VF11. Given diluted fertilizer (8-14-9) and VF11 occasionally. Brought indoors in late September and placed in a southern window; found peduncles in mid-December. Ron

I had a great time on Saturday. I loved meeting everyone. Thank you all for your generosity. My husband wanted to stop and watch a movie as soon as we left the park. Ugh! I looked and smelled ferocious, but we stopped and watched Captain Phillips. Awesome movie. We took our time driving back and stopped and had dinner. All in all, we had a great day. Thanks again everyone! I worked in the yard all day yesterday. My body is paying for it today at work! Thank goodness I'm not busy. Can't wait until the next plant swap. See you then! Darlene

YES! I know of one from Norwex that I use that you just use water and you reuse it over and over and over. It has two separate heads one is made with microfiber to mop the floor and the other one washes the floor with just water, it's so easy to use and SAVES TIME AND MONEY. This product does clean because of the way that the microfiber is made. Hope you have good luck as I also can't stand smells, etc. USE OF A TRADITIONAL MOP: Âæ The traditional way to use a mop is with a bucket and sometimes a dirty mop. Âæ Bacteria start to spread in a pool of warm water. Âæ A bacterium eats protein in chemicals and it then multiplies. Âæ You are using very harsh chemicals that have been linked to a vast array of illness. Âæ Chemicals usually dry in 3 ¡V 5 minutes but are only effective unless they stay wet for at least 10 minutes. Âæ Bacteria spread on the floor will take free rides on dust particles and will continuously be in the air. Âæ Handles are often too short and may cause back problems. Âæ Buckets of heavy water can also lead to back problems. USE OF A NORWEX MOP: Âæ No buckets. Âæ Tap water and/or spray bottle, wet the mop pad and go. Âæ Mop lifts 99% of bacteria. Âæ Floors dry within 20 seconds. Âæ Telescopic handles that adjust to any height, comfortable for all heights. Âæ No toxic chemicals. Âæ 2 different sizes. Âæ Saves time.

Despite the apparent warm-ness of the last, say, 5-10 winters, they have statistically been less than a degree warmer month by month than the corresponding reference period. Note that the reference period of 1961-1990 included both the coldest winter in who knows how many decades as well as several notably cold winters in the first half of the 80s. 2007, for example, was overall a little over a degree warmer than the average, made up of a summer right around average temperatures, autumn a degree warmer than average, and both winter and spring over 2C warmer than the average. 2006 was almost the opposite. The overall average was just slightly warmer than 2007, but with winter and spring only slightly warmer than average, while summer and autumn were over 2C warmer than the average. The numbers don't sound big, but if you remember summer 2006 then you'll know that 2C is quite a difference. So to answer your question, no winter this century has been cooler than the average for that 1961-1990 period, they have been up to 2C warmer than the average. There is some variation across the UK but that general description holds more or less anywhere. Snow flurries here, nothing sticking down in the valley where I am but supposedly blizzard conditions in the hills. Heavier snow showers and some accumulation is forecast right here during the first half of the night.