Yatzi sounds interesting. Red habaneros are Twice as hot as the orange ones....very wicked! Sent you an email.

The leaves are still on but the stalks look pretty dry and everything is pretty brittle. I did water it pretty good when I got home because I wanted to act fast. I should have asked first so I will just wait and see. Any idea on the light. Im concerned because its cloudy and not a lot of light comes in by the kitchen window so would the flourescent light help? And for how long each day should I leave the light on?

Lhylcn- sealing should ideally be done both by the fabricator in his shop, and again in your kitchen once installed. Most sealer manufacturers I've spoken to say there's no exact number or times it should be done, but it usually takes several applications until every part of the marble is sufficiently sealed. This is tested by letting water sit on the surface of the marble and making sure it beads up well rather than soaking right in. Honing is just a process that makes the marble "dull" rather than shiny. It's a personal preference. My Vermont Danby marble is very honed, very little sheen. Red- two things that have etched my marble instantly are tomatoes and lemon juice. I'd think ketchup would etch, too, being tomato-based. Etching, though, seems not to bother most marble owners, myself included. You can only see it in certain lights, and it's a part of the patina of the living stone. As far as staining, my counters are sealed with Porous Plus 511, and could easily handle ketchup sitting on them for awhile with no stains. I've had coffee droplets that splashed from the Keurig sit overnight and just wipe up the next morning. I have no stains at all. The counter have only been in for about 2 months or a little less, but I've cooked a lot in these months, have had house guests and hosted Easter at the house, no stains! That said, the Vermont Danby marbles are known for being less porous--and therefore a bit more stain-resistant--than many other marbles.

Bookworm: I wonder how long it takes the owner of that bathtub on the home page to fill the tub? It's gi-normous! Thanks for the fun look at the quartzites. I liked that they had "Madre Perla", "New Madre Perla" and just "Perla". WOW!