Good points from both of you. For my tropicals (BOP, GBOP, Tavellers Palm and Bananas) the system I've been using is that I amend the clay with a mixture of "Amend" from HD and Sand. I think the mixture I settled on was 50/25/25 Clay/Amend/Sand and that seemed to have worked really well for those plants in the ground. However for extra drainage I was thinking about 25/25/25/25 Clay/Amend/Sand/Perlite or just replacing the sand with perlite in the original 50/25/25. Or maybe 25/25/25/25 Clay/Amend/Cactus Soil Mix/Perlite. Lots of options there and they probably all work similarly though as you pointed out the more I amend with organics the more settling would become an issue. Where is the place in Paramount you get Perlite that cheap from? That is a steal compared to HD (I pay around $4/cube ft) and Paramount is along my drive home. As far as the hole pooling with water, that had occured to me too. I dig the holes pretty big and deep and since I live in California I mostly have full control over the water but we do have the occassional deluge/flood warning here so there's no telling what would happen if we got a ton of water and it all decided to go right into my fast draining hole. Also, aside from that I guess is the remaining question about whether it would be safe to dig out the tree at all. The same gardener also planted my original Bird of Paradise directly in the clay without amending and that actually grew quite well. The tubers had penetrated several feet into the ground and the plant took a bit of shock when I transplanted it due to not being able to get all the roots out unharmed. I also know that in general most plants are putting out roots their first season in the ground so maybe that is the main reason why there isn't much growth. Laurence

My experience flies in the face of everything considered 'right' about growing avocado trees. For one thing, I never bother doing the toothpick thing--I just drop them in a bowl of water and wait. Once they crack and there's growth showing, off they go to a pot filled with potting soil--in full sun. Or not. Sometimes I just stick them in the ground. Do they grow? Why, yes, they do! It's hard to tell from this picture, but the avocado tree is about five feet tall; I have pics of it when it was a wee seedling back in 2009--in a pot in full sun. :) Do note that I'm in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles. We have no winter to speak of. My entire backyard is in full sun all day--full, HOT sun. We've been right at 100 for the last few days, and we broke numerous records this 'winter' with 90+ degree days.

I have already had a Brother se270 so I have the PED Basic so I can download designs onto a card already. Since I have the PED Basic, and many extra presser feet and other items for the Brother, I would like to stick with the Brother brand. I would like to be able to use the Disney designs. I did not realize that the 2001 would not even be able to read the Disney cards if I bought them. I thought it just did not come with the designs pre-loaded onto them. I guess I am leaning towards the newer machine. I doubt that I will replace it very soon so I would like it to have more features rather than fewer. The biggest things I want are the ability to combine designs on screen (with a grid because that helps) and the larger embroidery area (my se270 only does 4x4 designs). I wish I had researched things better before I bought the se270 but who knew I would end up really enjoying the embroidery aspect of the machine. I was really just trying to update my 30 year old sewing machine with my last purchase! LOL! Thanks for the advice. DH says he will do our taxes this weekend so I know how much I can spend on this purchase!!!!

I agree with all of you: they're definitely Hollywood Regency. And I should recharacterize my own style, which is probably better said to be "*in* transition" rather than transitional. (: I do like clean-lined pieces, and our DR set is very Mission; the adjacent LR combines Mission and Art Deco; and our bedroom, where these chairs would go, is your basic Recovering Graduate Student/Random Wedding Present room. So funky/eclectic would fit in just fine there. And there's just something about these chairs... The room is a long rectangle. The half without windows is for the bed (not a bed per se, but rather mattresses on a metal frame) and the dressers, which are mismatched yard sale finds. On the other side of the room, I'd like to create a sitting/reading area next to the windows, with a gorgeous view of the mountains (by far the nicest thing about the room!). We got a red and tan handloomed Peruvian folk-art rug for our wedding, and that's what we'll use to set off the seating area. Also on that side of the room, framing one window, are some slender dark walnut modern-styled bookcases. And then the part I'd like to replace: a heinously ugly loveseat that a friend gave us, also on that side of the room. I'd much rather find some reading chairs and an ottoman than a loveseat anyway; the room's not that big, and the loveseat makes it a pain to open and close the curtains and shades. I agree these chairs don't look too comfortable, so they're probably not my ideal reading chairs. But they'd be good for draping the bathrobe or pulling into the LR for extra seating. I love the idea of velvet, and maybe even the box-pleated skirt -- hadn't thought of that, cool idea, thank you! I agree that they're great in a pattern, but I don't want lots of patterns clashing in my bedroom, I don't think. What would you think of a tan velvet on the back and the bottom of the seat, and then the top, round seat cushion in something like this: Here is a link that might be useful: I'd use this pillow cover to reupholster the seat...