YOUR FIG IS VIOLETTE DE Bordeaux,no mistery here. A very old cultivar,known for making super tasty figs when ripening under sunny conditions,and ,not necessary best while ripening under rainy conditions

Italian cooks often used escarole and various chicories as cooked greens in recipes. I've seen Lydia Bastianich make an escarole and lemon soup, with a chicken stock base and rice, which sounded pretty good -- it might be on her website, do a google search for 'Lydia's Italy'. Mary Anne Esposito did an escarole and cheese filling for ravioli on 'Ciao Italia' -- try googling that as well, or go to one of the cooking sites like recipezaar.com and see what pops up. However, radicchio will store for at least a couple moths, and, if conditions are right, for the winter, if you bury it below the frost line in a pit lined with straw, similar to the way cabbbage can be stored. The key seems to be keeping the pit dry, so that the straw remains light and fluffy and the heads don't rot. If you try this, pull it and leave the roots on. I'd do this very late, just before it's going to freeze up and ruin the raddichio. Worked for me when I tried it a few years ago -- did a pit with cabbages, some root veggies, radicchios, chinese cabbage, etc. Dennis

I have a history of agreeing with rhome, so I will tell you that I loved the marble -- even with the edge treatment. That made it kind of a funky fit that didn't need refinishing in my book. The polished aspect is easy -- take some lemon juice to wash it down first, rinse and dry, then fine sand paper (maybe a couple of grades in succession) and buff it down. And I don't worry about staining. I've had mine next to my cooktop and sink for years -- with chili, chocolate, tomatoes -- just about anything I'm likely to encounter spilled on them and a number left overnight. It's as seal it and forget it as my granite as far as stains go, really. I like the soapstone, but I don't love it -- especially as a second variety in the same room. I would wait until you get the other SS in to commit to table top. Either way, I'd hang onto the marble for now. Either stone can be changed or used in another spot. I'd be wanting to find a use for both of them regardless of which one stayed on the table top. Whatever you do, they are great finds. Enjoy your great fortune and the stones.

Hey Jen, Happy Birthday to you! As for 'stuff' do I hear ya!! When I moved to Tx 7 years ago, I thought I got rid of all that 'good', but useless, unused stuff, but over the last 4 months, have had a donation pick up by a local charity, and i'm not done! Most were household things which I could probably have sold, but it wasn't worth the effort to me. There were a few bags of clothes, shoes, purses, etc., but most of my 'hoard' were things household related. I've already started a 'pile' for this month, and hopefully it's the last. Now, as for getting control of this 'issue', i've become somewhat of a hermit, only going shopping when it's out of necessity, like groceries, an upcoming vacation, birthday/occasion gift. As my best friend said to me about a year ago, "every time I go out of the house, I spend at least $100!' That was my wake up call! When I do go out, I always keep that in mind, and I gotta tell you, my spending has decreased by quite a bit. There are times I just have to get OUT, but I have the self control to simply look and appreciate w/o coming home with a single bag, and it feels good! I do have to say I always bought quite a bit for my grands, and it appeased my shopping 'habit', but i've even reigned that in, keeping what I may have bought for Christmas or the next birthday.. As for the house. I've been doing a lot of switching things around from room to room, and it doesn't cost a dime. ;)