Hi,Sam. I love Norman's, but it's not because they offer big plants for the $$-- it's because of the variety they offer. Norman's has a huge variety, but charges a lot more for a particular plant size than some others. For big beautiful orchids at value prices, you can't beat Carter & Holmes. Their variety is not as extensive as Norman's, but they have an ongoing breeding program, and their own hybrids and selected species are really lovely. Red-lipped white phals are one of their specialties. Their Achy-Breaky Heart is supposed to be gorgeous and is immensely popular. So is its offspring, Martha Dolge. I think this is what you are looking for. They offer 4" for $16, and smaller sizes for less. They are also breeding it to get more beauties of the type. The url below is for their website, and scroll to about page 3 or 4 to find the red-lipped whites-- Achy-Breaky and crosses using it. Postage isn't that high at C & H-- maybe $12 or $16-- you can check. But you will definitely get a nice big plant ready to blooom in less than a year for $20 or less there. They also offer smaller sizes, including 3" pots, and "dug-ups", which are nicely rooted smaller plants ready for a 3" pot. 3" are app $12, and dug-ups $6. As far as I can tell, they grow their own. Their plants are healthy, vigorous and ready to grow for you. A Phal Precious Stones I got from them as a $6 dug-up in March of 07 bloomed this summer and is in bloom right now. Their plants are *winners* I bought some $16 yellows from them last fall, as well as their Newberry Parfait. The Parfait spiked and bloomed last winter (and ever since), and the yellows spiked this spring and are blooming now. You will love their plants (and value proposition). Check them out at the url below. Here is a link that might be useful: Carter & Holmes phals

just got a similar dining table from saloom. it is a much darker finish. has planked top and is distressed. i bought a 84 x 44 table with 6 ladderback chairs for a little more than restoration wants for just the table. if you go to the saloom website click on the new castle line. they have many wood fininshed that you can choose. the furniture is made in the usa and it is great quality. good luck.

Anyone found any other sources? I'm looking at a kitchen backsplash, which is a considerable amount of money when you're looking at the decorated tiles running $19-30 each (from these two sources) and the field tiles $10 each. I'd be perfectly happy to use cheap, plain white field tiles and just a few or a row of the decorated tiles - if only I could be sure they'd match! Which I sort of doubt for handmade tiles. Don't get me wrong - the handmade and hand painted tile is wonderful, and these are much better prices than ordering from The Netherlands. But is there no way to get a cheaper Delft-look backsplash? Thanks!

Qdognj, finesse, zecallrex, torn2pieces, callieandkarin, jyyanks, dssxxx, arabellamiller, brody, cfrizz, and smiles: thank you so much for all your responses. Wow, youve given me a whole lot more to think about. I thought it was overwhelming just trying to sell my house; this (BUYING a house near NYC) is the cherry of top of all this craziness/headaches!!! My husband currently telecommutes (goes into the nearby office ~3times a month), but if we move closer to NYC, he might have to go into the NYC downtown office more often. IÂm not exactly sure where his office is, so CALLIEANDKARINÂs comment is very true. CFRIZZ: Fanwood sounds really cute with all the family events, etc. ThatÂs what we currently have here; I thought we would have to give it up. Question: for those who have lived elsewhere (not that close to NYC), was it worth it to give up so much? For me, itÂs giving up my friends, my comfortable (size/amenities) home, my cul-de-sac/safe street for my young kids, my neighborhood, and my cute town, just to be near/accessible to NYC and to be near my inlaws. We could just move w/in a 1.5 hour drive (instead of 3-4hours it takes now) to be near family, but doesnÂt have that restriction of being accessible to NYC for ?daily? work. Here goes my rambling It scares me to go around NYC with 2 young children. We visited for ~4 days, staying in the financial district, while my husband was in training, and it was just my kids and I, trekking all over the city. It was POURING rain everyday except the day we left. The double stroller that normally ROCKS in malls, couldnÂt handle the uneven sidewalks. I had walked 1.5miles OUT OF MY WAY to get to a subway entrance with an elevator, to find out that the elevator only go down 1 level. I still had to beg a kind stranger to help me carry my 65-pounds of kids-lunchbox-bjorn-coats-rainslicker-filled Âstroller (the stroller only weighs 14pounds) down to the next level to actually catch the train (same for the return trip  the Red line was down or something). Because it was pouring rain, EVERYBODY decided to go to the NY ChildrenÂs Museum. It was packed!!! Since you canÂt eat in there (I couldnÂt even give my 2 year old some Cheerios; I had to nurse my 6month old hiding in a corner  since technically, sheÂs eating), I had to wait in line to retrieve the stroller, dress the kids/myself, and load everyone/everything back up to go out to some restaurant for lunch to escape from the rain, even though IÂve packed a lunch. Then I had to unload everyone/everything into the restaurant, leaving the stroller outside since it was too wide. I rudely had to change my 2yr oldÂs pee-diaper in the booth, since I couldnÂt fit into the bathroom with both kids, the backpack, and the bjorn, etc. Since my kids have about 6minutes of attention span, I didnÂt get to eat my lunch as I was trying to feed them asap and leave before they make a scene. So again, dress/load everyone/everything to trek back to the subway entrance that is only wide enough for 2 people, so when someone finally agreed to help me lug my stroller/kids/stuff downstairs, we blocked the entire stairwell so that pissed off MANY people. I can go on and on about my ordeals. How does one person go about NYC with 2 young children? DonÂt get me started about cabs: now, IÂd need to carry along car seats. Again  unloading everything to fold up the stroller, opening stroller and filling it all up: thereÂs no way any cab driver would want to wait 10minutes for me to get in/out of his cab. Stop. Done ranting. Stop. Back to house search. There is hope that my husband can go to the local office in White Plains ?area/town/city?. So now weÂre looking about 20minutes from ?downtown White Plains. What great schools do I look for? Again, thank you very much.