yeah I hear the crickets too. Wish this forum was more active. Seems like there's not a whole lot of people in AZ that are both computer savy and into growing uncommon grape varieties. The two seem somewhat mutually exclusive. Anyway, I don't know whether Thomcord grapes would do well, but I say what the heck? try it. I have the following varieties: Thompson Seedless - doing fantastic with afternoon shade. - extremely vigorous. Ruby Flame - Doing ok with afternoon shade. rather slow. Red Flame - Gets afternoon sun, struggling. Fantasy Seedless - Doing good, gets some afternoon shade, but more sun than TS. Vigorous. Blueberry (grape variety) - Doing good on North side. Not very vigorous. Right now most of them are recovering from a Whitefly infestation that nearly killed one of my TS vines. My belief is that if you plant it against an east facing wall or maybe northeast facing or even north facing, you should be ok with just about any variety of grape as long as it doesn't get direct sun during the afternoon. I have several varieties that I'm interested in trying. If you can't find a spot that is not at least partially shaded, then don't plant it... definitely do not put them in full sun. I have a family member that tries to grow grapes in full sun, and they look pathetic... The ones I have on the east side of the house look beautiful, so location means a lot. I think I'll try Thomcord too. If you want to try from cuttings, I'd be interested in splitting an order. In fact I wonder if we could get a bunch of GardenWebbers near PHX to split a larger and more varied order of grapevine cuttings and reduce the cost that way. I'm very interested in trying some varieties: Muscat Blanc, Jupiter, Black Monuka, Thomcord and maybe a few others.

Grapes root very easily when they are in the mood. I've used grape sticks as garden markers and they rooted (same with fig sticks). Last winter I chopped up my grape vine prunings and used them as mulch under a fig tree - about 30 grape vines started, all from pieces 1 or 2 inches long (nodes of course). When I have wanted to start grapes from cuttings, I used dormant cuttings collected in the mid-winter prunings, and treated them exactly as I have done with figs, in containers with peatmoss and perlite, with 2 or 3 nodes in the medium, and keeping evenly moist. I tried to start one from a greenwood cutting once and failed, but I have heard that it can be done. I had some Interlaken and Canadice grape cuttings that I saved in plastic bags in a bundle, and forgot about them. They were stored in a cool moist shed on the north side of the house. Several grew roots. I see no reason why you cant try the method that you describe. There are some issues with having the right temperature for callous formation. Details from an expert are in the link below - his grape book is where I learned everything that I know about grapes. You can put extra sticks into the ground and also see if they grow. Grapes grow so prolifically, you should be able to get lots of cuttings for nothing. Backyard grapes are as addictive as figs, taste incrediblly better than store-bought, and more productive, faster, than figs (in my yard). Good luck with your new hobby. Daniel Here is a link that might be useful: Grape cutting method

I spoke with my GC about the wall. It is screwed into the floor and the cabinets are screwed into the wall. With the weight of the countertop on the lower part of the island in addition to how the wall is attached to the floor he does not think it will move. As much as I want the cleanest look possible, I have to admit this whole experienced has me spooked about the overhang coming crashing down no matter what I do (I realize that is a tad irrational, but this renovation has been a bit trying, especially as of late). Although it is not the look I wanted, I am leaning (probably not the best word to use in this case, but it is late) toward extending a wall from the knee wall on both sides of the overhang so the ends are supported and then placing a 16" x 16" stainless steel bracket with a gusset in the middle.... The soapstone place didn't call me back Friday or today (they promised they would get back to me today at the latest). I left a message for the customer service rep. I will call in the morning and see if he is available. In the meantime, the GC rigged up a support for the countertop that isn't supported from the floor b/c my floors will be sanded and finished over the next few days. I hope to have a solution by the time the floors are done so I can get this taken care of and (dare I say it) actually use the kitchen! Now I have to just hope that it stays in place over the next few days... Thanks so much for your help!

Dear all, Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I know I wrote a long post, but mkroopy, I do not expect everyone would understand my position in a short post. Thank you Sylviatexas, Readinglady and Justmetoo. You have been very understanding. In explanation to my position : 1. Before I got married, my parents had warned me that is anything were to happen (Inter-racial marriages in my country had boast issues like this before) I am not to return home crying when my marriage fail. I know my parents loved me and meant well, they only warned me of what would happen and they were absolutely right. but they are now retired, I cannot bear to burden them with my issues. If I am to find money, it will be on my own responsibility. 2. Like I mentioned above, by Muslim law, a wife can only divorce her husband for several reasons. You can refer to this : "Men have the right to divorce. If a man dislikes keeping his marriage for any reason, he divorces his wife and compensates her financially by paying her what is termed mut'a payment. This is in addition to the regular financial sustenance for her living, in case she has the custody of their children. Divorce becomes in effect once the husband utters or writes down any of the legal formulae of divorce such as: �I divorce you� or �you are divorced��etc. The husband can do these either by himself or through a messenger. In case it is the woman's desire to end the marriage, the situation becomes different. Her reasons might be that she has received ill treatment, the husband is unable to sustain her financially or he is sexually impotent. She can prove these defects in front of the judge, then the judge grants her divorce with a full access to all her financial rights. Also, if the husband was good to her but she does not want to keep on for an emotional reason, then she asks for what is termed khul'. This means to be granted divorce but without any access for financial rights, plus paying back the husband the dowry that he already paid on marrying her." I have made it clear to my husband that I don't want anything from him if he divorces me, but it seems like he is smart, he knows I won't be able to find a reason to divorce but for emotional reasons. I'm sure do hope that I'm wrong; I hope he doesn't want my money, after all his late wife did leave some for him. I am just like a pawn, I am only to suffer in a position where there is nothing I can do. 3. To Justmetoo, the solution you proposed was exactly what I did. Like I mentioned above, after my parents told me to ignore her coz eventually she will leave, I did exactly that. I ignored her. I stopped whatever I did before ie.plates to the dishes, pick up your mess, ask for permission first, spend your money wisely, you don't need another concert etc, MY HUSBAND DEEMED ME UNCARING. And again I say, I had established an understanding that I am not going to do anything anymore to make it better with her, unless she starts to do so herself. This are how things are now, she doesn't need my permission for anything, and in fact even if she does ask me, it is because she was told to by her father. And even if she did, it was, "I'm going out now, Ok Annie?" or "I'm going to borrow the bathtub, OK?" or "Can you send me to my friend's house later?" I know because her father asks her to do so, she knows I was the one who made the changes in the first place, so she behaves worst. 4. About her mother's things, you are terribly right. It was definitely my fault for clearing up the things. I just couldn't bear to live in the bedroom, which is the house under he name willed to the daughter (we are moving out sometime in 2013, AT LAST =( ) with no where to put my things. I felt really not at peace living here, everywhere I look it was just her possessions and reminders of her. Like I said, my Husband seemed very ignorant about how I felt. He had in fact mentioned I didn't know her and had no rights to hate her. She cheated on him and I didn't, I still don't understand why I get treated as if I was the one who did him wrong. I hate her terribly, It was because of what she did, that my husband is bitter and refused to clear up the mess. It was his responsibility and he dutifully neglected it and left me with the bitter consequences. I was told that the daughter was not very close to the parents. In fact, with both working adults and one spending too much time with someone else, a lot of things were left to other people to be responsible for. The maid handles a lot of things and she was given all she wanted so she wouldn't whine and cause troubles to her parents. Most definitely, I read her blog and she wrote that "my mum bullies me and don't support me" and "I didn't cry when mummy died." In fact, there wasn't an issue at all, until I came in the house. God knows what did she realize, but I doubt she appreciated her mother much until she realized someone else became the new woman in the house. The only thing I can think of now, is to live like nothing happened. Ignorance is not my forte, my blood boils to see her mess and her unthoughtful attitude about eating her share of food at home. It's makes me terribly sad that my husband says I don't care for either of them. I would have to save up my money wisely, study hard and start building a better life for myself in the future. Meanwhile, I would just have to take everything thrown at me. PS : My husband has mentioned in the past the one thing he wont tolerate is cheating and that consents a divorce. I can't do that, and even if I faked it, the bad would just be reflected on me. My husband is very smart of pretending like everything is beautiful and on cloud 9 in front of people. No one would believe of his character or assume something is wrong with our marriage.