Can I please tell you, as the Queen of Poison Ivy, you actually were on the right track? You're probably starting to feel a little better now, but for future reference: Poison Ivy is an oil. Through radical, total body, steroid-resistant poison ivy, I learned that if I even DREAM I've come in contact with it, it's smoke, chopped bits from the lawn mower, or strong thoughts about it? Wash with a degreasing soap. Lever 2000 is my usual soap. Lava, Dawn dishwashing liquid and some of the Amway degreasers are good. There is a huge difference between a degreaser and a soap. If you know you've just had a spot, put the soap on it with as little water as possible, wait a few minutes and wash it off. I tend to do the whole body thing in the shower, though. I also have found an absolutely fantastic product, the name of which escapes me. It's something like Zantec or Zantac. It's a cream that has scratchy things in it, like an exfoliant. You put it on with a tiny bit of water and rub it around for awhile. Not only does the scratchy stuff make your eyes roll back in your head it feels so good, the stuff really does neutralizes the itch. It's expensive, but absolutely worth every single cent. The Cortaid stuff is a whole bunch marketing of hoo-ha and for amateurs. ("Toxins" my little round butt. Gimme a break.) Poison ivy is OIL. Oil soaks in and rubs on to things. I've also learned if you get it on the inside of your forearms or stomach, you're likely to go systemic. If that happens, the steroids are a fast and relatively easy quick-ish fix. Know that they only give me huge insomnia and the most raging acid reflux I've ever had in my life. However, for most, they work. Screw the pills, go for the shot. You'd have to demand it, though, because I swear doctors like to see us squirm. Add this Zantac stuff to the picture and the itching is actually gone. No longer a bee-like buzz always in the back of your head. Be aware that if even in your enthusiasm, you didn't pull out that "kudzu" by the roots? Ivy will return. We can talk about prevention and removal if it does. I am a serious pro. No joke. I had to clear 3 acres of poison ivy so huge we were cutting the vines with a chain saw. I had the most beautiful "trees" in the world, weeping, with white berries. They were ivy vines growing up and around fence posts, growing so tall they were draping over. Fox grape, entertwined with ivy and bind weed were growing over the shrubs around the house like blankets, and up over the roof. I know ivy. Someday I'll tell you the story of how I rubbed it all over my body with my cell phone. Or you can do a search under my ID and Poison Ivy. Imagine having it so bad that your doctor thought you'd poured boiling water over yourself because your skin was so burned. See, I don't blister, I burn. Small blessings? Hard to see 'em when you're wildly scratching. A thimble of urishol (sp?) could give the entire city of New York poison ivy and was a major componant in mustard gas in WWI. It is also present in all plants, just like blood in humans. It's the degree to which we're allergic to it that indicates its presence, and some plants, like poison ivy and sumac, just ooze it. The underside is supposed to be silverish, but by the time I'm looking, it's too late. In I run to the Lever 2000. Hang tight. There are ways to make this stuff feel better. Christine

AM There is a recipe for Lasagan in a Hard Rolls on the RE that sounds good. If you don't want the cheese Dances suggested using meatballs. I think this would mkae a great kids meal. If your kids will eat grilled veggies you could add that too. I would omit the soup mix and add my own spices. Lasagna in hard rolls 3/4 pound of ground beef and or ground sausage or a combination of both. 1 8oz. can of tomato sauce (I use the garlic/seasoned) 1/2 of an envelope of dry onion soup mix About 1/4 t. dry oregano About 1/8 t. dry basil 1 large egg, beaten 3/4 cp cream style cottage cheese, drained 3/4 cup mozzarella or other cheese 8 hard rolls Cook the beef/sausage in a skillet and drain off the fat. Add the tomato sauce, sout mix, and seasonings, Simmer covered for about 5 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 10-15 minute longer, stirring frequently. Mix the egg with the cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Cut a thin slice off the top of each roll. Hollow out the center leaving about 1/2 inch thick shells (save and freeze the bread chunks for a dressing, bread pudding, etc.) Spoon half of the meat mixture into the bottoms of each roll. Spoon cheese mixture over meat, then spoon remaining meat mixture over cheese mixture. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup remaining cheese over the meat mixture and replace the tops of the rolls. Wrap each roll in heavy foil.Place foil packets on a baking sheet. BAKE at 400 (preheated) oven for about 25-30 minutes. You can add your own seasoning to your liking if you wish. A nice salad is all you need with this one!

I'm glad you posted this question because I was wondering about that to and had not saved it. I was able to pull up the thread on google. "Posted by fixeruppityest (My Page) on Tue, Feb 10, 09 at 6:40 I wish I could find a link but I read this on a shopping website last year, when I was buying sheets online, from Overstock. I was conflicted because some people gave the sheets lousy reviews, although they were supposedly high quality. I kept reading; found some REALLY great advice and here it is: (this is primarily for new sheets, btw) People were complaining "these 800 thread count sheets came out of the dryer wrinkly, they aren't as soft as I expected" etc. A woman then chimed in and said she worked in a high end department store, and knew all about "linens" :-) Her advice was basically as follows: You must wash your sheets in cold water, at least for the first few times, and that was really important in her opinion. Then you MUST iron them, again, at least for the first 3 or 4 washings. She said it was something to do with treating the fibers gently, in the beginning, and ironing the sheets helps polish the fibers, which in turn creates sturdy, longer lasting softer sheets. She said people basically throw their money out the window by mistreating their expensive sheets, using warm or hot water, damaging the fibers, etc. If you don't iron the fibers, they are more fragile, because newer sheets have fibers that are every which way, if you looked at them though a microscope that is. Ironing, until the sheets develop their soft patina, is crucial. That's what the "expert" said :-) OKAY, on to my own experience: I followed her advice. I found ironing my sheets to be an excruciatingly horrible chore, on my tiny little ironing board! LOL HOWEVER!!!! Her system works!!! I couldn't be happier with my sheets, they are WAY softer than when I bought them, and I no longer iron them :-)

Your Strelitzia nicolai (White Bird of Paradise) is NOT a difficult plant and is relatively easy to grow indoors...no greenhouse required. Your light condition looks good. It is actually one of my favorites of the larger tropicals. Quite tolerant of low humidity in Winter. Your pot is much bigger, so go very light on the watering, until it shows new growth. Mine is not even in front of the window but does get supplemental light from the reading lamp. Good luck and Happy New Year!