It is confusing. The correlation of water with light is good general cultural practice (less light = less energy = less growth = less water). But that is during the growing period, and NOT to be confused with watering practice during a cattleya's rest period. It just happens that at our latitude (longitude?) winter coincides with low light. But for most catts in native habitat, winter (the rest period) is dry and BRIGHT. I tell you this because, with your MH light, your setup will mimic native conditions in this respect more closely than a windowsill or greenhouse grower in temperate North America. Many but not all catts are hard-wired for an annual rest period - mostly the spring bloomers. Just observe the plant. I've got two resting cattleyas right now, and an actively growing one in exactly the same conditions (MH+HPS). So the plants know what they're doing. I try to observe the behavior and support whatever it is. I don't completely withhold water from the resting catts; I'm more careful with them, though, and certainly no fertilizer. Even though they're getting water on a regular basis, they're still resting away. Some ARE very touchy about water during rest, though. C. dowiana particularly. HTH, John

Best picture: Fame (blossoms stay on the bush for weeks and even if faded they add color to the garden) Best actor in a leading role: Mellow Yellow (planted front and center, always blooming, "look at me" kind of bush) Best actress in a leading role: Julia Child (love those bright yellow blooms, bushy bush) Best actress in a supporting role: Betty Boop (blooms and blooms, never has any issues with mildew, no need to deadhead) Best actor in a supporting role: Christopher Marlowe (just a small bush, blooms regularly, trouble free) Best visual effects: Gourmet Popcorn (a mini which really does look like popcorn) Best foreign language: Yves Piaget (love the blooms on this bush, but sadly, a tree is shading it and it suffers mildew but blooms on) Best visual effects: Dark Lady (love the blooms, but another mildew magnet) Lifetime achievement: Snowfire (has been in place well over 30 years in a difficult, hot location. It carries on year after year.)

4 oz martinis! Four-tune cookies. lol Your party sounds fun, I love a good theme! Rolled meatloaf, filled with 4 different ingredients. It's really good. Rolled Meat Loaf 1 pound ground beef 1/2 pound ground pork 1/2 pound ground veal.... (I used 1 lb.pork, don't eat veal.) 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs 4 drops hot sauce 1 T. worcestershire sauce 1 onion, chopped finely 1/2 tsp. oregano salt and pepper 1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped 6 thin slices of ham To prepare the meatloaf, mix together the first 11 ingredients, until just mixed, don't overwork. Spread the mixture out on a sheet of wax paper, in a rectangle of any size but it needs to be 1/2" thick. Layer on the spinach, spread evenly, then the chopped egg, then the cheese and finish with the ham slices. Roll up the meat loaf with the aid of the wax paper, jelly-roll style, starting at the short end, and seal the edges, and fix where it rips open, which it will! Place in a baking pan, 9x13 or so.... Bake at 350º for 1 1/2 hours. Make sure you removed the wax paper!

Hi, maggiebkit, I don't comment on too many layouts, but you are planning essentially the same layout that I have, so I feel qualified to offer advice. I did a budget facelift/remodel, did not move plumbing, so kept the sink in the same spot in relation to stove and fridge. I'll throw you a curve, and suggest that you keep the fridge where it is--close to dining areas, and consider switching the sink and cooktop. You can split the window and put the stove between two smaller windows (if the exterior appearance is not adversely affected.) Advantages that I see are: You will prep between sink and cooktop, and have a view while working. You will have views from both windows while cooking. Cooktop is closer to oven, convenient for venting both, and preparing recipes which utilize both. Dishes and cleanup are closer to dining areas, and DW is no longer in entry path. Disadvantage is no window over sink, if that's not an exterior wall--maybe a deal breaker for you. As bmore suggests, I'd make the island shorter, so that anyone who comes from the entry and makes a beeline for the fridge (starving teenager), doesn't have to travel around the bottom and back. As for skipping a prep sink, I don't have one in the kitchen proper, but I have a small 'auxiliary' sink a couple of steps away, in another room. I love the flexibility of having a second sink as a drop zone for anything that needs to be soaked, or as a back-up sink if I'm using the large sink for canning, etc. If you can squeeze a second sink into the floor plan and the budget, I'd recommend it! Finally, if you keep the current layout, it's not too far to walk in a small kitchen--mine is ap 13.5x13.5, so very similar to yours. The fridge is four steps from the sink, and I don't find it too inconvenient. I would like to see your microwave closer to the fridge, but in the real world of small kitchens, sometimes we have to make adjustments. Good luck with your remodel! Here is a link that might be useful: google search - stove between windows