Hi everybody, Sorry I didn't get these pictures posted earlier, 'puter has been acting testy and I still don't have email working, but at least I'm back to posting! Here's some pics... Margie, I brought the Chocolate Dip, just love the foliage. They come true from seed, I started a pack of 20 seeds over the winter and 4 came up but one died from overwatering and I planted out 2. It's an outdoor plant, supposedly perennial, full sun to part shade. I don't know how it will do with reseeding, I was afraid of the name Hawkweed so I made sure to collect as much of the seed as I could! Hope you enjoy it!

I've always noticed and enjoyed looking at hostas. Unfortunately, I have to admit - like another poster above - that as a child I participated in 'popping' the flower buds. Shame on me! In my previous home/garden, we had some 'green and white' hostas that had been planted by either the previous owner or the builder/landscaper. I moved them, divided them, etc., but never added to the collection or even thought about getting different ones --- I don't think I really ever paid attention at the nurseries to just how many different varieties there were. And I certainly never knew that some would be happy in sun! I was gardening and planting, but hostas just weren't on my radar. When we moved into this house 5 years ago, I planted a little Japanese Maple and decided I wanted to fill out the bed around it right away because I know they don't like having their roots disturbed once they get established. So I was at Home Depot and saw some pots of Rainforest Sunrise. I thought - that will be a pretty contrast to the red leaves of my Bloodgood maple... so I bought them. I also saw some epimedium and decided to put some of those in that same bed. So the next spring when the hostas seemed to be taking a long time to appear, I started searching on the Internet for some info. I remembered how great Gardenweb was when we were building our house (couldn't have done it without the great info and pictures from people on the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, appliances forums!!!). And I started reading the hosta forum, then the trees, shrubs, etc.... And my eyes were opened to these amazing hostas, and now I fear I'm hooked. I greatly expanded my beds last fall and so I've been making plans for planting this spring/summer. And thanks to you all, I have a pretty good list of hostas, and some companions, that I hope to get asap. So far, in the ground I only have 3 varieties: the Rainforest Sunrise, Cathedral Windows and Rhino Hide. In pots I have: Blue Mouse Ears, Fire Island, Prairie Sky, Wheee!, and the sport I removed from RS last summer. Edit -- Also - thanks to you all, I won't be buying my hostas at Home Depot any more. The RS, so far, seem to be fine and healthy. But I'm glad I've had the opportunity to learn about HVX and the need to be careful of sources.

Thank you all so much for your input. I am not a naturally suspicious person by nature, so I really don't usually go around expecting that everyone is trying to cheat me! But it just seemed excessive... The chimney at least from the outside appears flawless-- no cracks, loose bricks, etc. I'm just not sure that a camera was used. The men did have a big bright light that they sat in the floor of the fireplace and aimed up, and they did stand on top of the roof peering down but no video was offered for me to look at. They used a printed diagram of the internal and external workings of a fireplace and then drew circles around and arrows pointing to things with a marker. It also has a pre-printed "Evaluation" that starts with "Your crown wash/courses of brick above the roof are badly deteriorated and taking on water, etc...."and goes on for several more sentences. Then he hand-wrote some notes below that, including the costs of the suggested repairs. It seemed a little weird to me that he travels with documents ALREADY PRINTED OUT that list rather detailed chimney flaws (Is the problem with my chimney that he specifically assigned to my particular situation so common that it has its own prepared sheet on it?) but again, maybe that's just me. I also just noticed a very, very small disclaimer at the bottom of that sheet that reads: "This sheet is the result of a visual evaluation done at the time of the sweeping. It is intended as a convenience to our customer, not as a certification of fire worthiness or safety. We make no warranties of the safety or function of any appliance and none is to be implied." Probably standard. Ralphk, I'm embarrassed to admit that even after Googling images of both I can't really tell the difference between a flue cap and a chimney cap! All I know is that it looks like a little hat sticking up from the top of my chimney, surrounded by metal meshing. Hopefully worth $279, though I still don't get the 'oversized' thing, it's a very standard chimney and fireplace, nothing bigger-than-usual about it. Oh lordy, I AM starting to sound like those paranoid 'everyone's-out-to-get-me' people, aren't I?! Again, I appreciate your feedback so much. I am going to try to hunt down a disinterested third party to check it out.

Have not read entire thread so forgive me if I am suggesting/asking stuff already covered. Not sure what area you are in but do you have good cell coverage? Could you do without a landline? Can you get internet thru satellite or cable? When I had small kids I would not give up landline in case of 911 emergencies. When they got to where I thought they could accurately report address I dropped landline and we all have cells as well as an emergency cell that is pay as you go. It is charged and sits in kitchen. Also a couple years ago our area allowed us to voluntarily register our cell numbers with our address. I have since made 911 calls and they asked are you calling from home and able to then connect us to our address. I know that I really like the savings! Best of luck in your new home. Again, if you have small kids the cheapest landline might be a good idea. Maybe this really isn't about what you are asking but just my thoughts.