1. "Whatever is worth growing at all is worth growing well. True. Growing well and growing perfectly are not synonymous. We aim for excellence, not perfection. I've removed many a rose that makes me look bad. 2. Study soil and exposure, and cultivate no more space than can be maintained in perfect order. Trans.: Don't bite off more than you can chew. See #1 on perfection. 3. Plant thickly; it is easier and more profitable to raise flowers than weeds. They didn't mulch. They applied manure in winter. The advice, brought up to date, is good. Open soil is an invitation to weeds. 4. Avoid stiffness and exact balancing; garden vases and garden flowers need not necessarily be used in pairs. True. 5. A flower is essentially feminine and demands attention as the price of its smiles. Nah. You can plant fussy plants or easy plants. Fussy plants are worth the trouble to some gardeners. Personally, I think it gets old. 6. Let there be harmony and beauty of colour. Magenta in any form is a discord that should never jar. Some like harmony, others like contrast. I like harmony, tho I don't have any issues with magenta in our bright sun. It's a problem for 5 minutes. 7. In studying colour objects, do not overlook white as a foil; white is the lens of the garden's eye. I suppose this works for some. White paint is a black hole for the gardener's time. I prefer natural wood. 8. Think twice and then still think before placing a tree, shrub, or plant in position. Think thrice before removing a specimen tree. Absolutely true. Know your plants. Trees add lots of value to homes unless they are 50 feet tall and within 20 feet of the house, in which case they are a big liability. Anyone priced tree removal of a 40 foot tree next to a house. 9. Grow an abundance of flowers for cutting; the bees and butterflies are not entitled to all the spoils. A matter of personal preference. I don't keep house plants, either. Keep on good terms with your neighbour; you may wish a large garden favour of him, some day. Always good advice. Love a flower in advance and plant something every year. Not a problem. Perennials by definition do no live very long. If they are long-lived, they are called shrubs. Show me a well-ordered garden and I will show you a genial home." A well-maintained garden is inviting. True enough.

Wow. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Bishop8 - it's a fire hazard to have towels too close to a baseboard heater. I believe the distance must be 8" between the top of the heater and the bottom of the towels, which should be fine, except for people and kids who fling the towel over the bar so that it slides down almost to the floor. Billl - yes, that's exactly what I want to do, heat the floor surface not so much the air. You said infrared heater. I think of those when I think of the old-fashioned bathroom ceiling heaters you still see occasionally in motels. Are you saying they make infrared baseboard or wall heaters? Do you know any brands you could point me to? Davidro - as I mentioned in my OP, I am not going to pull up floor tile, because I would never be able to re-do the marble floor tile to match the existing marble tub surround and shower walls. Also, this bathroom is an interior ensuite to the master bedroom - i.e. they share the floor structure, and there are no outside walls in the bathroom. But the bedroom floor feels fine, because it is not marble. It is the marble that is the issue, not the floor structure underneath the marble. Birdgardner - I thought of the attic too, which is actually little more than a crawl space above the bathroom. I checked up there again, and it is quite well-insulated. As I mentioned in my OP, you can feel the marble through slippers, and I should have mentioned they are the thick slippers which are normally warm! I am thinking of chucking the whole idea of a heater (and the cost) and getting a thick rug. Maybe I'll post a new thread on this Forum to ask for suggestions for bathroom rugs. Only problems with a rug is that it won't cover the entire standing area, and I am not a fan of rugs in bathrooms because they are dust/hair/powder/sprays traps. I guess there is no ideal solution, but I must weigh the pros and cons of all the solutions provided here. Thanks so much!

Dear all, Here's a copy of email I sent to the three Kids: Dear SS, SD1 and SD2, SS, your father tried phoning this evening, left a message, and turned in for bed before 9pm. He did have an opportunity to speak with SD2 on the phone a bit earlier, and he went to visit with SD1 at (her work) for a couple of hours today. I want you to know that we would really, really enjoy having all three of you here for a few days to spend lots of time with each other and your father. I know you all would like it best if he would come to (SD's hometown) (either with or without me), but he's feeling pretty stressed, and does not want to travel at all right now. He and I had planned to have a couple of days in the motorhome this September. We had talked about it in the late summer, after it was evident that we weren't going to be busy canning our non-existent fruit this year. But now he doesn't want to go anywhere. He seems to forget about the plans we had made -- that's just how things are right now. It's been very confusing to him to have all the conversations with all three of you about how, where, dates, etc., regarding this visit and trying to explain how and why he feels like he does. What he would like best is for all of you to come here and stay in our home or cottage (which we are still keeping vacant until we hear the final plans). Right now he's most comfortable at home, and he can't think of being anywhere else. I think the best thing to do for everyone would be to just try and make this visit as easy as possible, as comfortable as possible for everyone, and just plan on having nice relaxing days "chewing the fat", reminiscing, and hanging out together. Going sightseeing, going on adventures, experiencing new things ... are out of his comfort level. He's unsure on his feet, is afraid of feeling confused, and can't describe how he feels at times. I know that I have many projects I can work on and things I can do on my own, which would afford all of you time to be there to talk, listen, and nap with your father as you see fit! Who knows, you might all enjoy relaxing in one of his two favorite rooms and close your eyes like he does! Maybe there will be a day where your father feels less weak, confused, agitated or stressed and he will feel like riding with me over to SS's town, SD2's town, or SD1's Island -- but that day is sure not now. Since I'm the only one here who can tell you what it's like to no longer have your parents alive, I'll let you know this: It's final. It's nothing you can wish or pray to change. There are no more opportunities to enjoy their presence. There are no more opportunities to say what you wanted to or should have said. And if I had to live with regrets for not doing what I knew I needed to do ... well, it would be unbearable. Please understand that I'm not trying to "guilt" any of you into anything ... I'm just trying to share what I've learned because I've recently experienced losing both of my dear parents. They weren't perfect; my father especially wasn't always easy; and I wasn't always the best daughter. However, next to your father, their wellbeing and happiness were my top priorities. Above all else, you must know that my love, time, energy, and money went to care for them and your father, as it does now for your father alone. I know that I tried to put myself in their shoes and do everything I possibly could for them, just as I would hope that my daughter and granddaughter will do for me someday. So, please do what you can to visit with him sooner rather than later. As we all know, "later" doesn't always arrive. And if you all can't make it here together (with or without your spouses) please know, again, that you are always welcome to come visit on your own. Love, Kathy ...................................... This is the email I received back from SD2: Dad and Kathy, I spoke very briefly to (brother - SS) this morning. He should find out within a couple of days when he has to go to (foreign country for work). I would prefer October 17 as I think it would be better for my work. Our freshmen are arriving tomorrow and school begins September 22. Its always crazy this time of year and I can feel the tension around my office increasing each hour. So IÂm hoping that (brother - SS) will know in two days (by Thursday) if he is available Oct. 17. If he doesnÂt know by then, maybe IÂll need to get bite the bullet and be brave and let (my boss) know IÂm taking Friday, Sept. 26 off (donÂt ask, tell her!!) and weÂll come that weekend. I want to know by Thursday so that I can book at least a one week in advance flight. IÂm leaning towards flying out on Thursday night but that will get me in to Seattle between 10-11 pm then I will need to drive to (your home). If I leave on Friday, half the day is over before I get there. I will be leaving Sunday evening whether we come Sept. 22 or October 17 to get back to work on Monday. IÂm sorry for all the confusion and seemingly indecisiveness. But itÂs just that all of our lives, like everyone elseÂs, is complicated with all 3 of our work schedules. I havenÂt spoken to (SD1) yet but hopefully sheÂs flexible. Love, SD2 ................................................. Here's the email I sent back to all three of them Dear SD2, SD1, and SS, Thank you both for trying to arrange things. SD2 and SS, I am willing to pick you up and take you back to Seattle airport. Your father might be willing to "go for a ride" since he usually reclines his seat and sleeps whenever we travel beyond (our home town) anyway. I'm accustomed to driving to and from the airport, and night driving isn't a concern for me. It's not my favorite thing, of course, but it's not too difficult as long as there's not rain. However, if both of you, SS and SD2, are able to arrange flight times close to each other and you'd like to rent a car that's fine too. I don't know the need for another vehicle while you're all here, but that's up to you, of course. Your father's still in bed, and I'm bringing coffee in to him and we'll sit and enjoy that. I'll let him know of the (still possible) dates. I know he'll feel relieved and happy to know that you'll all three be here. And SD2, the lawyer I worked with for so long (and who is still a good friend and I admire so much) had a lovely sign in his office. About "easier to ask forgiveness than permission". I think you'll find this true with your boss! Of course, we got most of our clients through that same adage ... trying to sort out their "forgiveness" because they hadn't asked "permission", but I don't think (your boss) will sue you about this! ha ha I'll put the cream in his coffee, and go visit with your father right now. Thank you both (and SD1, too) for trying to arrange this visit with your father. Love, Kathy .................................................. NOW, friends on the Stepfamily forum: I thank you for all your ideas, suggestions, comments, and opinions. My husband made his decision and spoke with all the kids about it. They discussed it amongst themselves. I sent emails and they sent emails. Everything is settled and, as you can see, all communications are friendly, proper, and loving. I am certain we will have a nice visit with them ... whether they arrive in a week or so, or later in October after we return from our one flight of the year ... to a grandson's wedding in Santa Barbara. PLEASE LET THIS TOPIC DIE OF NATURAL CAUSES, NOW. I hate to see so many of you going on and on about this. This is NOT what I needed from any of you. I don't think continuing this conversation is beneficial to anyone. I believe we all know where everyone stands now. However, if any of you would like to learn more about Dementia and/or Alzheimer's Disease, I suggest you do some research. I've read a number of comments that led me to believe some of you just don't understand the disease and its symptoms and behaviors. Now, to all, Goodnight! I'm joining my husband in the library where we will watch (undoubtedly) something on The History Channel, because that's one of his favorites! Kathy in Washington P.S. I'll tell you a perk of being married to a man who fought in World War II: learning my history from him! I know more about that war than I ever learned in school. And I have such a great appreciation for what truly was The Greatest Generation! Please ask questions of anyone you know who fought then -- they'd most likely be happy to share their experiences with you.

The aircraft, whether new or aged (I prefer not to use the word "decrepit") must have detailed, rigorous testing rather frequently. Ditto the pilots. If either doesn't pass - they don't fly! As Monica said - you're in greater danger per passenger-mile on the road to the airport than on the aircraft ... not to mention travelling by bus/train - certainly by car - across half a dozen states! It's mainly that travel by car is a routine activity, but travel by air is not. But who ever suggested that we humans operate most of our lives in a rational fashion?! Also, I hope that the young one who refuses to fly will get some treatment to alleviate the fears enough to allow him/her to agree to use that means of travel ... to not tolerate it will have negative consequences in later life. And the longer treatment is delayed, the more difficult it becomes, as we get more set in our ways (imagine how tough it becomes as one approaches post-retirement!). Plane crashes are more "glamorous" - "spectacular" ... ... than dying in bed. But a much higher proportion of the total population dies in bed ... which doesn't get pictured on TV. But which one of us refuses to lie on a bed? Enjoy whichever adventure of living is part of your life today - this is still God's world, and it's great (if you live in N. America - not so great if you live in Myanmar/Burma, parts of the Middle East including Iraq, Africa, India/Pakistan or Afghanistan). Being close to 80, I think - I'm sure - that I'd much prefer flying on an aircraft at whatever level of decrepitude to dealing with the examination to be offered by the Admissions Council to the Great Beyond that I expect to be my lot, as a heedless North American/European, after the portion of my life that's been lived on earth is completed. ole joyful