Irina,isn't 'Beachcomber' gorgeous? It was one of my first named violets. Mine is only about 9 inches across so I guess I could only grow 10 mnis in its place. Funny, after getting some minis on the trip, I have had those exact same thoughts a number of times. One does really use up a lot of space with larger standards. Rick-I really don't know what the trip cost. Part of it was spent in Canada, and they use monopoly money there, so I'll have to wait for the credit card bill. The primary intent was not a violet run. My niece and I try to take a trip every year. She comes from Seattle to Maine, or we meet somewhere. We had talked about Niagara a couple of years ago, and when she suggested it this year, I jumped at the opportunity. As far as prices, Fay is 4.00 per plant. VB is 4-5.00, I think minis and semis were 4 and standards were 5.00. LLG was 5.00 per plant, with a few being 6.00. The only thing I really kept track of was a total of 279.00 spent on violets. Sure, if I had mail ordered them and paid shipping, it would have been cheaper, but again there was a trip somewhere anyway. The nice thing about seeing the plant in real life is knowing exactly what the bloom looks like, and then deciding which plant you want. I tried to pick either the best flower, or the most symmetrical. Next year maybe we'll head south to Bluebird Greenhouse country. Or at least pass it on the way to somewhere. If I were to make a trip just for violets, it's definitely not cost effective by the time I figure my gas, and I'm too damned old to sleep in the van, and too lazy to drive all night. So it becomes not about saving money, but the experience of it all. I gather Rick that you are a long distance truck driver. I can see that a trip to the greenhouse might be kind of difficult with the trailer. It's not the getting in, it's the getting out, isn't it? But if you figure out a way, it's fun to do. Barbara

I love all these photographs, I can look at them nonstop all day long. I live out in Western MA and have a few feeding stations up, one that contains BOSS and Safflower seeds, a thistle sock and a double suet feeder. Lately my feeders are packed with different song birds, chickadees, titmice, pine siskins, finches, white breasted nuthatches, dark eyed juncos, male and female cardinals, although I believe there's only one male cardinal that I keep seeing and along with the two females. I also get occasional house sparrows but lately, they seem to be staying away. I have a bluebird house up in hopes of luring a pair to my yard to raise a family but I'm not keeping my hopes up. Yesterday I was home for the day and sitting in my living room and out my bay window in the front across the street, were two Pileated Woodpeckers, the first I've ever seen. They were working on this one tree for about 2-3 hours, one on each side of the tree and they managed to do a fantastic job carving out a couple of cavities, I was very impressed at how hard they worked. Only wish my camera had a better lense. I've had red bellied, downie and hairy woodpeckers at my suet feeders but never was lucky enough to witness a pileated so close and two for that matter, it was very exciting. Please keep the pictures coming, I so enjoy looking at them and love to hear that there are bluebirds not to far from where I live. Fingers are crossed that they come to visit my yard in the spring. Linda

Here is our itinerary... I have never wanted to do a tour-based, prescribed sort of trip, but I am kind of happy about not having to think too much! Just show up! Seems like we'll have some down time later in each day, though. GUAYAQUIL __ _ June 2014 (1 Night) DAY 1: GUAYAQUIL: Upon arrival, private transfer to Oro Verde Hotel. DAY 2: GUAYAQUIL: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the airport. BALTRA __ _ DAY 2: BALTRA: Upon arrival, connection flight to Isabela Island. ISABELA ISLAND __ _ (4 Nights) DAY 2: ISABELA ISLAND: Upon arrival, private transfer to Iguana Crossing Hotel. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in town. After lunch we will walk to the Flamingo Lagoon. DAY 3: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. The Tunnels of Cape Rosa Prepare yourself for one of the best days of this trip! After sailing for 45 minutes from Puerto Villamil, we will reach Cape Rosa on the western side of the island. This is one of the most beautiful and amazing places nature has bestowed upon humankind. Here we can walk over the connected lava tunnels surrounded by the crystal sea waters. From the surface, you will be able to see dozens of sea turtles, penguins and rays. You can also snorkel or simply swim along this rich marine fauna. As we sail to and from Isabela, we might be able to see manta rays of different sizes - a truly unique experience. And if it is their mating season, we will watch them floating upside-down on the surface, waiting to have their pictures taken. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. In the afternoon you can enjoy the beach by your own. DAY 4: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. Sierra Negra Volcano Today our guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world - Sierra Negra. Its crater is approximately 7 kilometers wide. We will take a 4h trekking tour to enjoy this wonderful and unique scenery. Lunch in a local farm called Campo Duro (or the Housers) where we will also watch Isabela Giant Tortoises. DAY 5: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. Seven paths - Wall of Tears - Tintoreras This day we will visit the “Wall of Tears”. This historical place was built by the prisoners of the Ecuador’s first jail. On our way back we will stop at the Orchilla viewpoint. From the top you can see the entire coastal wetland system including Poza de los Diablos, Puerto Villamil, the beaches, the volcanoes and the islets to the south-east of Isabela. Love Beach, has a rocky sea Access and Tunel del Estero, a path with adequate lava plates ending in a staircase inside a lava tunnel. Above the tunnel you can see the intertidal landscape that offers a tapestry of Galapagos Sesuvium between "El Tunel del Estero" and Love Beach. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Back to Puerto Villamil town, we will visit Tintoreras Islets. Herds of white tip sharks can often be seen here, resting around the lava canals. You can also observe hundreds of marine iguanas, as "Las Tintoreras" are one of their main breeding sites. On the nearby sandy beaches, sea lions play and relax in the sun. Afterwards we will have an opportunity to snorkel. Return to the hotel and lodging. DAY 6: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the Baltra airport. BALTRA __ _ DAY 6: BALTRA: Upon arrival, connection flight to Guayaquil. GUAYAQUIL __ _ (1 Night) DAY 6: GUAYAQUIL: Upon arrival, private transfer to Oro Verde Hotel. DAY 7: GUAYAQUIL: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the airport.

This is a great thread. We're not remodeling but building a new house, and man, can I relate to a lot of these. ...you know every lighting fixture, faucet, sink, appliance by memory because you have endlessly researched each one. you freak out your own GC because you can discuss minute details about your house/kitchen from memory down to the 1/8". you have more e-mails from your GC/subs than you do from your friends. you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat about some critical detail and then go downstairs to e-mail your GC about it right at the moment before you forget.