I grow Galaxy, no problems at all with it, in fact it's one of my better growing streakers, has kept the streaking beautifully. You do have to keep an eye on all the streaked ones though just in case they start to revert to something unstreaked in which case you remove that part of the hosta. I don't do anything special with the more pricey ones, they all go into the ground, don't really have a vole problem though. I do know of a couple of places where Galaxy is cheaper than that. If you would like the source you can e-mail me from my page.

Oil delivery yesterday was about 3 o'clock. About 9 p.m. I thought that it felt cold in here. It was - about 60. Furnace had quit. I tried the restart button - it ran for about a minute, then quit. Tried it several times - same result. When they installed the new tank, they put the feed line up under the joists (there'd been a copper line under the concrete, before). I thought that likely there was an air lock in the line, and opened a couple of places, sucking some air out using a plastic hose. Tried the "Reset" - still no dice. Called the landlord this morning, he was with father in hosp. - his father died this morning. When he called in the afternoon, I said that with three electric heaters, both the dog and I could get along O.K. (as it's to be mild for a few days), so he planned to come tomorrow morning. Late this afternoon he and a friend came - didn't want me to be suffering discomfort. Opened the lines, got some dirty looking fuel out by sucking, but not supply from tank, so got air compressor and pushed air into tank through filler tube ... that pushed fuel up under joists, down to filter, got the crap out of the line. Reassembled the lines, bled the pump, pushed the "Reset" button ... and the fire started. So I guess the crap hadn't plugged either the filter or the nozzle. So - daughter's female canine and I are both comfy again. I ran out of the canine's pain meds on Monday, went to three vets looking for refill. Had to have consultation, couldn't write prescrip. without seeing dog (about $66.) plus about $75. for small bottle prescrip. - think that last one lasted about 5 weeks. No guarantee doc. would prescribe, unless saw need - but then they sugg. the vet in Toronto fax them info. about the dog's need for that med. Second vet not open Wed. Thursday visited 3rd vet (the one Uncle used) in a different direction - consult'n. necy., $55. Revisited the vet closed Wed, older vet, didn't request consult'n., pumped me a small bottle of med from a bigger one, changed me $60. for about 1/3 - 1/2 more than daughter got, for I think son said about $60., at her vet in TO. So the dog is happy on that front, again, as well. When it's mild weather, she loves to explore around here, nose to the ground, for an extended period. She loves to climb on my knee, too - a dachsie, "limo dog", stretched out over your lap, sometimes with nose over keyboard, or sitting in the crook of one arm, tends to interfere with one's keyboarding and mouse work. Hope you're all having a lovely weekend. ole joyful

Thank you all! You make me feel much better about spending so much on something "frivolous." She is home now, but it is dark and dreary so I won't try to take any pictures. Definitely an original painted on a piece of hardboard (not canvas) and framed in gold-painted wood, not metal as described (I actually like the wood frame better). It is very well done. In person, it seems less whimsical and more "mid-century" than I expected from the pic (but then again, I was assessing it in horrible lighting -- standing in the rain in a mall parking lot looking at the painting in the back of her van). I will post some pics and closeups once I get it hung. It is signed S. Cerra '59 on the front and on the back under the paper (which ripped while I was loading it in the car) there is a piece of masking tape that says "Sebastian Cerra 1960". I tried a brief googling and came up with nothing....maybe one of the expert sleuthers here can give it a shot! The seller said she bought it along with 3 other paintings out of a very high-end estate sale and doesn't know anything about it other than that the house it came out of was filled with extremely nice art and furniture. (Sadly, I think her new home will be a serious downgrade, LOL!)

Licensed contractor who's work I know from previous projects. Cabinets are running about 1,000 a linear foot for 3/4" plywood construction in red birch. We have samples on everything and no, the work isn't sub-par, cheap, or poorly constructed. It is a local cabinet maker. Our neighbor and friend is a master electrician and has done the rest of our home and will be doing the kitchen. My husband's other buddy is doing the taping - he is a union taper and has bartered with my husband. My aunt's husband is a finish carpenter and will be replacing and restoring the original millwork at family rates. It is a small kitchen in an old bungalow. Stove, fridge and hood are Cafe` they cost just under $8,000 and I am keeping a newer dishwasher, just getting a new door to match the other appliances. The span on the beam is only 6ft. We are taking the mudroom and pantry and adding it to the kitchen. I have a large laundry off the kitchen and we are taking space from that for the pantry and additional kitchen storage. We have preserved as much of the original house as possible through every renovation. This is the last room to be done after owning the home for 10 years. We did a gut on the upstairs two years ago and added larger closets and an additional bathroom. The millwork was custom so it matched the rest of the house. All the floors, doors and windows on the first floor are original. The windows are 3 over 1 with wavy glass. We had them all weatherproofed and restrung by someone recommended by our local historical society. We don't want a modern kitchen we want a functional one that suits the house. Now that I know I am on target for cost, trashy comments aside, I thank you for the input.