Sounds like they might be imported cabbage worms. (Imported from England, thank you very much.) Other control methods I've heard about in addition to the more effective ones stated above: Spread corn meal around the plants (the caterpillars are supposed to eat it, swell their stomachs, and die) Catch the moths with a butterfly net Get kittens who love to catch the moths and eat them :) Before eating the leaves, soak in salt water (so the caterpillars will die and fall off and you won't have to eat them.) DEFINITELY more of a problem with weak plants. I had kale growing two different places, one with much better soil. The caterpillars barely noticed the healthier plants, and they had apparently gotten under my row covers over the less healthy plants, and the result was an absolutely comical stripping job (I could laugh because I had the healthy kale in the other bed :) ) I've had kale plants produce for years without bolting or flowering, so you may well find a nice spring crop of collards growing from the old stems. Also, when it gets cold is when those nasty things finally die, and you get pest free leaves again! Next year try waiting before you cut the plants and see if the leaves clear up.

Lynn, I do plan to use them with some flowered placemats DD gave me. I don't have time to plan for the occasion at this point in my life but will set some kind of a table. The set is by Waverly and called Sweet Violet. PM, I wish I had some of your spring nosegays. I will see what I have for artificial flowers and try to come up with something different. Wanda, I'm so glad your inspired and I'm sure we will all be excited to see your beautiful setting. Thanks for all your comments and I will start thinking about my next table.LOL Punk

Here's the latest. I love the Dior Gray and Pigeon Gray. Thanks anntique for that photo of the room. I was leaning towards the darker of the two, the Dior Gray, but I'm worried it might be too dark (I want to use it on the walls that are now lighter gray in the photos) and put the pigeon gray on the fireplace wall. But after seeing that photo, I wonder if I should go with pigeon all over and dior on the fireplace wall, and then in the foyer. Too many decisions and not enough daylight time at home to decide. I'm worried that the darker walls will make the room(s) look too long and narrow. But I love the way the floor lamp next to the green chair shines with the Dior gray behind it. As you can tell, I'm not afraid of dark colors, but I don't want to turn the place into a cave either. I did investigate getting a sample of the pewter mug at 1/2 strength, but there are no samples in Pitts. Paint, so I would have to fork over $22 for a sample. I think that the 2 colors I'm working with are really nice. I just don't know how to use them. Regarding the fireplace, it's real. Although it is only gas and even though it has a blower, it has a label that does say "for decorative purposes only"....no wonder why it makes the room colder. We have actually turned out the pilot light on it and don't even use it. We might replace the insert with something that is more efficient. As we are approaching the empty nest stage, it would be nice to be able to just warm up that room after work and not the entire house. I have the mirror there because the fireplace is extremely hideous and I just can't look at the yellow brass one more second. I think we are going to paint it with high heat paint so it just "goes away", but we'll see, maybe it WILL just go away and be replaced! I posted yesterday in a separate thread about the fireplace wall--If I do the lighter color see that Julianna Moore link above, does anybody thnk I should then paint the fireplace a darker gray to contrast? Maybe the white would look good. I appreciate all the help you guys are giving me on this. Thanks

Maryl, is it a desk top? The motherboard can be replaced, though it may need a few other things replaced too in order to be compatible, like the processor and memory. However, they should be able to find a motherboard to match the processor socket; then possibly the memory will match too. it would save you a bundle. A decent inexpensive motherboard can easliy be under 100., often around 80.00. Your hard drive with all your stuff will be able to be used. If you had windows 10, no trouble to reinstall and keep your stuff. As to motherboards, if there is any choice, you want Gigabyte brand. Asus would be second, then MSI. Based on experience and about every web site that rates them this is true. Don't let them talk you out of it. Knowing all this will tell them you know something! Let me know if they give you conflicting info. For example, if they want to replace the processor too, ask and let me know what socket the processor is. If they claim the processor is bad, ask them how they know. They virtually NEVER go bad.