Hi Plumie, Winter lows in my area are in the low forties, with some nights getting down to the high thirties. If your winter lows are in this range, you should be ok. In Santa Barbara (which is pretty far north of you) I once saw a huge plumeria hedge up against the side of a house. This seems to have been a very special microclimate, as I donÂt know of another plumeria in Santa Barbara that is planted in the ground. The hedge was dormant at the time, so I donÂt know what variety it is. I guess this is a very lucky amateur who didnÂt know better, who has managed to produce a spectacular plant that runs all along the side of the house. Perhaps your property has a protected area that will stay at least in the high thirties at night. Plumeria in Southern California are more likely to drown than freeze during the winter.

No leaves = no water. Leaves need some water since they are working factories that use water but in cooler weather and less sunlight they do not use much. So light watering until the leaves fall. Or you can clip off the leaves about a quarter inch from the branch and pop off the stems after a few days which speeds up the dormant period. Many people do this in areas with strong winds to prevent branch breaking and harden up branches for winter. I would also recommend that before removing leaves, give a dose of sulfate of potash or Protec to get potassium into the plant which protects against cold. Bill

We are in the middle of building a house and just ordered the Wayne Dalton 8300 model, but it is not in yet. We needed a 100mph wind rating and wanted good insulation (the r value is improved when they spray polyurethane not put in polystyrene). We are in CA, but I think in Florida some have told me that you may need to have a wind rating. The 9000 series the door salesman tells me is thinner and the ones that Lowe's sells. Also the 8300 gives you an R value of 11 and 25 gauge steel on both sides of the insulation. We wanted the 8500 which gives you a R-15, but they don't sell to the west coast. I am only a homeowner, but have researched a lot. For 2 doors installation, Lift Master 1/2 HP openers and remotes price is under $3500. (also includes windows and qualifies for the tax credit so off about $750)... Good luck!!

I think it will not ultimately depend on anything you do or say, Meg. I think it will depend on the seller. IOW: how badly does he want/need to sell the rug? What else must he do to it? Will you have it repaired or does it go back to him and must he deal with that? If he's had it for a long time -- regardless of whether it's been out on approval or not -- then his cost may be lower or he needs to get his $$ out of it. You have no way of knowing. T2G makes a good point about the pad, which would be nice, but I don't even think that's the point. I don't know if this will help you but a dealer I spoke with this week, who has 30 years of experience says she won't ever guarantee age, except in certain circumstances where there is documentation or when you can absolutely see the age due to the size of the knots. Some of the value on this stuff is scarcity, some is size, some is auction prices set for whatever type of rug it is (you haven't said), some is age, some style/origin, color, condition etc. Just this week I saw rugs go for huge prices at an auction even if the condition wasn't so hot. Then there is the issue of old rugs and specialists. I didn't want a new rug and set about finding a dealer who was well known, highly respected and who was a specialist in old rugs. I studied up on my own -- it was hardly a blind item. I know, in retrospect, I didn't overpay because I've watched the auction prices for rugs from the same area, similar size, age and condition. Ultimately, that's the best way to judge. This stuff is expensive whether it's new or old and you want to be sure you're paying a fair price. I would try to decide how much you want it and what you will do if he refuses to lower the price. Will you send it back? Will you be sorry? Or will you go for it? I still don't feel there's any harm in calling to ask if he could do better on it. But I don't see why he should -- you have it on your floor. And lastly, if your local people whom you seem to trust are so good, I must ask why they couldn't get you a rug of this quality for the $1000 less than the price of this one? I'm not trying to disparage anyone but dealers work in market segments. Anyone who isn't working in that segment can say they like something or not, or comment on condition but it's unlikely any other opinion will be very informed. I have a completely seperate dealer, actually a few, I'd go to for Tibetan rugs. If I took a Tibetan to my dealer for an opinion I know he would tell me what he said when I asked him about the value of a Chinese rug I eventually sold: I don't deal in that and don't know. If this is proving so difficult for you, would your DH speak to the guy?