Thanks, Carolyn and nerak, that makes sense now. Unfortunately, some of what nerak said doesn't make sense. Since it's been 36 hours and none of the experts have come along to point this out, I will try. Daconil used as a soil drench to prevent Late Blight is just a waste of time and money (see Carolyn's earlier posts on this thread). There are two reasons what that is the case. First reason: There are two possible types of pathogens which can cause Late Blight. One might exist in Florida, but so far as the scientists know, can't exist anywhere else. If nerak's profile is up-to-date, she doesn't live in Florida (no zone 6 in Florida), so her tomatoes are in no danger from that pathogen. Although the Florida-only Late Blight pathogen is able to overwinter in the soil, the only Late Blight pathogen known to occur in the other 49 states doesn't overwinter except in living tissue of plants susceptible to Late Blight (in colder regions, only in-ground potato tubers). You can read about this in Cornell's Late Blight FAQ: http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/lbfaq.pdf Second reason: Daconil doesn't kill the Late Blight pathogen! It offers partial prevention of infection by the pathogen. The pathogen can only infect a tomato plant in certain locations on the leaves; Daconil attaches to the plant at those locations, preventing the pathogen from attaching there. So drenching the soil with Daconil in Florida wouldn't even help against the type of Late Blight pathogen that can overwinter in the soil. Yes, nerak drenched the soil with Daconil and didn't get Late Blight. But she'd have had the same result if she'd drenched the soil with olive oil, water, or Coca-cola. Or not drenched the soil with anything. === Likewise, Nerak's brother's additional preventives had nothing to do with his plants not contracting Late Blight the following year. Spraying the ground with copper had no effect, since the Late Blight pathogen would not survive the winter anyway. Ditto for turning over the soil (to bury the pathogen?). And ditto for using "weed prevention cloth." === If any experts happen along, I beg that they will correct anything I may have gotten wrong.

This may be my answer to dark spots (aka, age spots) on the backs of my hands. I've tried so many creams over the years I could have bought a couple of laser machines with the $$ I spent. I've heard of Hand Spa but cannot find a salon that has one. I think that may be laser, but I'm not sure.

bumping down

OklaMoni - I suspect that you won't like cheaper products after using EL (depending on the EL that you use) and of course your skin type. I can't use EL except, surprisingly, for the Verite cleanser that I can just use to wash my face. I wish I could use any of the products mentioned - I can't. I have very thin, fair, naturally extremely dry skin, and am allergic to just about everything - especially botanicals (and antihistamine) and of course can't use any form of acid/retinol/C - or fillers. Skin is right colour for laser, but skin is too thin. So I have always used the most hydrating toner I could find along with a hydrating serum/cream, followed by a night cream during the day (this was post the period when SPF started being added to day creams - can't use a combo product). Finding a sunscreen that doesn't cause a rash is the devil - and I need one that is moisturizing and doesn't eat my makeup. I am 63 and agree with those who posted that they can see aging basically all of a sudden. It happens - and often in 5 year bumps. My face is thin - always has been, even when I weighed 200 lbs. during my teen years. At 63 it is still thin which does not help. I am not overweight now but my weight is all on the bottom. I have a long waist and short legs - so always wear long skirts (and at 5'7" hard to find) - of course I use to be taller. Cost is definitely becoming a problem - not developing a burning rash from a product is of course a primary concern - but absorption of a product is key. Products that I have tried that cost less and resulted in a rash also did not absorb. My foundation contains oil - has to - and since I am yellow based with a ph of 3.5 everything changes on me - so not easy either. I guess it is a good thing that I have only one lipstick, blush etc. since I have only been able to find one shade in everything that I use - and they have now been d/c. I hate reformulation - everything these days is about actives and botanicals - deadly for my skin. So I need high end products - but fortunately I am at the low end of the high end due to my botanicals/actives issues. I will try just about anything provided there is a chance it will work - I will not rule out say one botanical or 2 if they are at the bottom of the list - but when the listing starts off with Linden Blossom, Lily, Lavender, Rose etc. - forget it. Forget anything "natural". I can't even make a cheap masque using honey and egg due to the honey. I can't use yogourt on my face because of the lactic acid - this will guarantee a rosacea attack. Soy is also a major problem. And forget perfume/fragrance. I can't even use Clinique - there is something in the products - I know it was Aloe Vera at one time - maybe still is. I have been trying to find cheaper products that work especially with the high cost of living and my husband's retirement looming. I worked for a company that did not provide a pension. Then there is hair. My natural hair colour is auburn. I greyed in my 20s - and it is ugly iron grey that does not look nice with a yellow-toned skin. How I wish I had that gorgeous silver or white hair with a pink-toned complexion. But I don't. I tried on wigs in other colours - horrible. Natural auburn (nothing with a purple tone) is perfect for me but now that I can't get the colour shade at the drugstore - not to mention the full grey that I would now have - it would be tough doing it myself as I did until 15 years ago because I would have that awful line of demarcation - and I do need to pull the colour through. Red fades, no doubt about it. I always wear a hat. I have extremely thick, very dry, naturally wavy hair that grows like a weed. Last time I went for my colour the growth was twice that of the normal person. And living in Toronto going to the hairdresser is not cheap. I need to have my hair cut by someone who knows how to cut curly hair and I need to have layers so that it will curl properly. I do not suit it really short - and I would look (I know because I wore it short until I was 30) like a brillo pad. There are people that I know (my husband is one) who can use anything. And yet, I could look worse - well I am about to. I have been on HRT for 6 years - so am about to be taken off it. There were no health reasons for me not to take it so I did - my reason being my very dry skin.