Happened to a now "across the miles" friend of mine just about this time last year. A routine trip to the doctor found her on the spot hospitalized for a quintuple bypass... do not pass go, do not collect. To make a long saga short - her two bedroom apartment in the independent living section of a senior complex was a true warren of furniture, boxes, stuff, chock-a- block, floor to ceiling. I knew how much stuff there was initially because she moved before I did and 5 of us friends worked every day for a month to help pack up all this cr@p. And I'd been back on trips on a couple of occasions only to see that the problem had grown exponentially. Before completing her rehab, social workers, occupational therapists, the fire marshall, and complex authorities went in and cleaned it all out putting everything in rental storage units. The place was definitely a hazard - to her and the entire building - and she wasn't given time limits to correct the situation. With the noteriety of the Hoarders programs, and doing a lot of reading, I might have a small glimmer of insight into what started her down this path. There but for the grace of God... That was an up close and personal life lesson for me - I feel pretty confident I will not leave a mess when I go.

Thank you every one for your encouragement, enthusiasm and assurance. I feel really lucky!! I really feel it was meant to be. I'm not getting this because it's a marble, as I knew nothing about marble nor I cared to learn, although I'm getting educated quickly through GW. I'm getting this because it's just so beautiful and it will be a perfect honed white counter top with green accent, which is pretty much the vision of my dream kitchen. I am even thinking of having a buffet built in the dining room just so that I can put the marble on top. Or have the breakfast bar made with the marble as well-but maybe not if staining is a big issue. 2 active kids (8 and 11), so I'll just keep wood as planned there. loves2cook4six- Thank you for your concern. But I was already ready for scratches as I was going to get a Corian before I saw this anyway. I need to learn more about stains, but I feel ok with it. wallycat- yes, indeed, especially since this was the only major decision I had to make at this point. All I have to do now is to wait for things to happen!! Well, I still have to decide how to do the backplash, which was to be my focal point, but now I'm not so sure. macybaby- no, I'm sorry, but I'm on West Coast. shannonplus2- at the stone yard, the sales person called it "white marble with green crystals" LOL. As for green being "serpentine", maybe so, but mine is basically a white marble with green spots, so I think it's different. But if this turns out to be less porous, that'll be icing on the cake!! And here is the picture of my backsplash. Mine will have polised and matte tiles.

I leave some leaves in the pond for them for the winter. My fish hide in them also. My pond is much bigger (about 6000 gal) and I always have some frogs die each year. I cover part of my pond, and run a small pump under the cover. this year I added an air pump under the cover and some roof deicing cable. I have not found a dead frog yet! I read somewhere that frogs optimum winter temp is (if I remember correctly) 35-37* and I have been trying to think of a way to get some heat into the water without it costing a fortune. I wove the cable thru a piece of dog crate so it wouldn't touch itself anywhere. It was warm to the touch out of the water. Then I put it in the water kind of upright so the top was at the surface. I used a 60 ft cable and I think it cost about $10 a month to run. There was no ice under the cover and outside it stayed thin near the cover. So maybe it did keep the water a touch warmer and help the frogs! Sherry /frugalgardener 5/MI

Yes, they do, Mama Pinky. I left some info for you for your neighbor with the baby possum.....what to feed it. Don't know if you saw it. They get crippled very easily if not fed a good diet. On that other thread where we talked about the raccoon in your yard. She is a lot tamer... every day. I wish she would think I was her Mama. Would make it easier for all concerned. It is hard to find enough time to spend with her. I have considered getting another one from my partner. I have even considered sending her there. I probably won't do that though, because I still think she has a better chance (life) here. I don't want to put her in a cage. Right now she is in a crate but I will be letting her out to stay with me in the house, whenever I can.