Whole allspice. ;) But yes they can discolor the food so I only use the time called for in the recipe - 10 minutes sounds about right. Much longer would be too spicy for my tastes. Dave

Actually I looked at your house and the comps and I think yours shows pretty well compared to most of them. Some are clearly estates with no updates, most have things that some buyers don't like, like multiple wallpapers, most have carpeting instead of hardwood in the LR. Your blue carpet is a negative, but there are similar negatives in almost all the other comps, I think. But--there are about 70 listings in your area and a little over a dozen that are almost identical on paper, including price. It appears that there may be a lot to choose from in your target market. I agree with the other comments: Reduce the number of Kitchen photos to maybe two good ones. The LR photos are very unflattering and make it look crowded. Take some things out at least for the photos. Show the bathrooms even if they are old. Not showing them makes people suspect the worst. Get them to take some of the pictures without the fishbowl effect. I don't know that your agent can pester other agents into providing feedback. My Realtor who has been in the business for 30 years and is a top seller in good markets and bad (I am in Philadelphia area, too), said the business has changed a lot in the past ten years. She feels that in this area a lot of people became real estate agents in the booming period when houses were selling themselves, and they didn't have to do much, including being polite to sellers or other agents--or do much "work" to sell a house. So while it used to be standard to leave a business card at the house, follow up with feedback and other niceties (and this was more work before everything was online), she feels that a lot of people who got into the business when it was easy, don't really like it now that its harder. For agents who may be reading this and thinking, that real estate is Always hard work, I agree, in most areas it is. But here, especially when prices are up, you can make a livable income selling a few houses a year. I had one agent repeatedly not show up for appointments. Once he showed up about 5 hours after he was scheduled. I asked the Realtor if this agent could be Not allowed to make appointments, and she said in a fast market, maybe you could do that, but in a slow market you are hostage to the unprofessional agent and the potential buyer, no matter what a pain they are.

They're probably just fine, GrowOrganic.com is a reputable company and probably packages their trees very well. Open the box and check the roots as soon as they arrive to make sure they are still moist, then keep them moist not soggy until you are ready to plant. If they are somewhat dry when you receive them you could soak them for an hour in a bucket of water or spritz them with a spray bottle. I've kept bare root trees in the garage for several weeks healed into moist potting soil or even still in the box with damp peat around the roots and they turned out just fine. However, if they start pushing out leaves you'll want to get them planted right away but only if there is no danger of a hard freeze. Otherwise you might plant them in pots and bring them in the garage or shed at night.

Hi I have a similar question! I went to a friends house and they were throwing a large Dracaena into the garbage. They had uprooted and left it outside in the front yard (and it was a hot day.) I immediately put it in a vase of water and took it home. Let it soak for 24 hours and replanted it today in a mix of cactus and potting soil, and watered. The stem is green underneath all the way to the soul, however the roots did seem dried out (I also think they probably were not gentle when they unpotted it.) Since the leaves have started turning brown and wilting. I pulled some dead ones off. Looks worse than when I found it. Not sure how long it was outside as the person who did it was not there. Could have been a day, pr a few days but since leaves had not totally wilted I am hoping it was for under a few days. As you can see the top looks like it is going to fall off. Just wanted to know if it has a chance? If there is anything I can do? Watering? And also if deck is best or inside for recovery (it is hot but not in direct sun out there.) Thanks! Any tips are appreciated!