I did not have as many momarchs as last year. Last year was my first full summer to have milkweeds. By the end of October I had so many cats that they could not be counted. They ate everything and I had several plants. They disappeared after they ate it all. This year I planted more dreading when they all came, worrying if they would run out again. I still have alot of big healthy plants. This summer my cats usually disappear unless I bring them into my garage. I have lots of wasps, lizards, birds, and frogs. One Saturday I caught wasps killing my cats 5 times. I squirted them with the water hose. I did not count how many I brought into my garage or to school with me. ( I am a first grade teacher.) I know it was less than fifty. I have these last nine to emerge. One is getting dark today so I am sure it will come out tomorrow.

Another Technivorm fan here. We'd been using (and enjoying the coffee from) the Cusinart 12-cup coffee maker we'd gotten when we'd reno'd the kitchen almost 4 years ago. Early last month, DH and I were in the kitchen, and we heard a sizzling or crackling sound, not unlike the sound of coffee that has dripped onto the hot plate. Only thing was, coffee had long since finished brewing and neither of us had poured any coffee in awhile. When I walked over to the coffee maker to take a look, I noticed the display (clock) was out and thought it best to unplug the coffee maker. As I did so, I saw a thin wisp of smoke curling up from the bottom of the machine--eek! Despite the coffee maker being long out of warranty, BB&B took it back (we no longer had the receipt and we absolutely did not want another of the same model, so they issued us a store credit that we'll surely use on something). We were also leery about buying another similar type of coffee maker (e.g. Made in you-know-where). Having read rave reviews about the Technivorm (when we did the kitchen and more recently when W-S started carrying/advertising it), we decided to check it out despite the high price tag. What won us over (besides the glowing reviews) were the facts that it is a very simple machine to set-up (to brew) and take apart (for cleaning after use) and a biggie; Technivorm coffee makers are made by hand, in the Netherlands (not you-know-where). We were drawn to the thought of good, hot coffee to start our days, and just as drawn to the thought of purchasing an appliance that was made well. We thought we'd miss having a timer (we set our coffee maker up the night before--a no-no for coffee afficianado's), but the Technivorm brews so quickly, it's literally ready in minutes. There's no automatic shut-off (brewing mechanism/heater shuts-off at the end of brewing, but the hot plate stays on until it is manually shut off). The lack of an automatic shut-off gave us pause, but we decided the benefits outweighed that one "flaw." Still makes me a little nervous that one of us will forget to flip the switch to off after pouring a last up of coffee, but we're very conscious of being careful about that. All in all, we're enjoying it (ours has the glass carafe, BTW), and feel that it was money well-spent.

Hi there, I am in the market for a rangecooker and i have been checking out all the Aga La Cornues too. I noticed the following: The La Cornufe has the same ovens and interior as the Aga Legacy and the British range called Falcon. The door hinges are identical on the La Cornufe and the Falcon. On espares website they say that the replacement elements for the Lacornufe are the same ones that go into the Rangemaster (revamped a little for the US market and called the Aga Legacy there) and the Falcon. THe cooktop on the Falcon and the LaCornufe and the Mercury rangecookers are all identical (except that the Falcon doesnt have the brass burners). Mercury is yet another AGA Group brand. It seems to me, having CLOSELY examined each of these cookers in the 43-48 inch category, that they are in fact all the same. The interior is the same. The LaCornufe appears to have pullout sides and top to the ovens that mean that they are easier to clean but the downside seems to be that the racks dont fit right - they are a little to tight and scrape badly along the sides when you pull them out. Ive seen a couple of these now and they are all the same. The lowest entry level is the Aga LEgacy. Then a little higher up is the Falcon. Then the Mercury and then the La Cornufe. Now that might tempt you to go for the LaCornufe but NOOOOOOOOO. THe price appears to be based on the name. THe btw on the burners on the La Cornufe is LOWER than the cheaper Mercury. AND the Mercury has a seperate grill and it has those lovely whizzy slidy pull out racks. THe LaCornufe doesnt have a dedicated grill and as I say the racks dont fit. Falcons a re lovely and reasonably priced but they dont do them in the US so there is no point telling you about them. I have put in an offer on a LaCornufe here and I regret it - (See my thread in the appliances section on same). Having suffered buyers remorse over my LCfe offer(not having actually bought it) I realised that the Mercury was by far the best bang for buck in the AGA ranges. They will tell you that the LaCornufe is made by Lacornue guys but its not. its made in the aga factory. They will tell you its dearer because its heavier but if yoiu look at the weight specs its not. Even the Mercury ovens are bigger. Hope this helps. Dippy

I'm sure it's disappointing but at least there's good reasons. Still frustrating though. Kind of the epitome of anticipointment! Nonetheless, these days working is such a good thing it's something to celebrate it seems. Definitely keep the gear. You'll use it. Try the stuff out for yourself. That way you can get used to using it too. There's lots of things you can do. You've received many good ideas. I was thinking an "open" weekend or day for a get-together as an alternative. Celebrating your new home, people being employed, the sun rising or just friends & relatives. One thing I'll mention though, on new appliances, often you need to burn them off a bit. My electric roasters needed it and it needed to be done outside. There was a definite smell of the coating on the components burning off. You do it one time but it can take hours. If someone took a new one and tried it for a celebration, in a closed house, with lots of family and friends around... could be quite smelly and embarrasing! Check the instructions. Not all need it, but some do. Here's hoping that all works out for plan "b"!