Me too Tammy, I can't wait! Ok folks I just wanted to post an update for some of you to calm some fears about postage. I KNOW it is something to worry about sometimes when you are unsure so I just mailed off a package and I wanted to give you an idea of how much you can send for 10-12 lbs. My box size was: Lenght: 19.5 in Height: 10 in Width: 9.5 according to my post office and I told the SO their scale was off some it weighed: 9 lbs 14 ozs (USPS) according to UPS it weighed 10 lbs 15 oz so billable weight was 11 lbs weighed: 11 lbs (UPS) Contents: 50 Wild Daffodil Bulbs assort sizes from LARGE to small 5 Thalia dealbata ave size 4 inch long roots 6 Canna avg. size roots were 4 inches long 2 Smaller Canna tubers 4 Med clumps of Litrope 6 Yellow Flag Isis 10 Ditch Daylilies NONE of my foliage was cut back, these were plants not starts. I think this is a pretty good amount and my box was STUFFED PLUS, I had everything wrapped in newspaper and then inside zip lock bags inside grocery bags, and so was wet because it is waterplants so I wanted them to stay moister then the land plants. ANYWAY, I hope this gives you and idea how how much you can send of course with USPS it depends on where you live for the size box you send to where it is going. This was sent from NC to MD, but I am sure with UPS the rates are pretty much the same no matter where you ship to and from. I checked the rates that time and they were pretty reasonable I thought. OK, I got a message from SHANTA in CANADA she wishes to join us and she sent me her list, BUT I emailed her back asking her is she is SURE SURE she wants to join and when I her from her again that she is sure sure I will post her list for her because as most of you know if she does join us she can not post for herself because she is in Canada. :) Fran

You did it!!! You did it!!! Oh, Caroline, I am so happy for you. And tremendously impressed too, not only by the physical difficulty of the trip, but by your dedication to a good cause. What an amazing thing you did. I can hardly wait to see your photos. Welcome back! Now you can sit back and watch the Giro d'Italia starting on Saturday. (Universal Sports, on TV & online) You'll have new appreciation for the pros putting in over a hundred miles a day in mountainous terrain LOL! Wow, you are one tough cookie...

First off has anybody checked the units to see why they generate so much noise? Even the bottom of the line units back then didn't go much higher than 80-82 dbs. Compressor blanket might help some but don't think it's the solution. I don't think you'll get the degree of satisfaction your looking for with green glue or quietrock solution. Additionally, if there's a window in the vicinity it will continue to transmit the same level of sound through it as before. If indeed the units are checked out and found to be operating more or less as normally expected, based on the age of the units and your inability to move them somewhere else the only real solution is to purchase new quiet units.

I'm more the "play the piano and sew and paint and screw things on the wall and dig in the dirt and tile and glue wood back together and do simple plumbing fixes" old-house owner than the "play with electrical wiring and climb ladders" old house owner. I found this book to be very helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Renovating-Old-Houses-Bringing-Vintage/dp/1561585351/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231628314&sr=8-1 It has no pictures of pretty things, unlike most "old house" books. it talks in great detail about different aspects of the house and what to watch out for and how to fix things. The electrical section is particularly helpful, with full-color photos of good and bad things. It is not advised to blow insulation over K&T (it is against code and a fire hazard, even with fiberglass). Our K&T was fed from modern wire (in an illegal "flying splice"), and ran across the attic. My dad installed electrical boxes, corrected the flying splice, and ran modern wire from the flying splice to where the K&T left the attic. This circuit, as far as I am aware, is the antique light fixtures on the first floor and the porch light only (we shut down the breakers and did a thorough check of lights and outlets and things). Fortunately my home was not renovated a lot, so I have whatever K&T remains and modern wiring. Since I know the circuit of the K&T, if it still exists in the ceilings between the antique fixtures, we can replace it when we do ceiling work. I have no advice for you except get someone to help you who has done it before. And today my efforts are focused on a plumbing issue. Dratted PO (I think about 40 years ago) built a toilet closet through the door of the port-cochere, which is a fine place to put one, except they just built it on the porch, no insulation or wind barrier! (heat tape, though...) And have discovered that the PO did a craptastic job of installing the toilet, and there was an open pipe in the waste system (venting to outside, yuck!) and my plumber friend just came by and said "it's not going to be a quick fix." Fortunately we have another bathroom upstairs and I already ordered the new anaglypta and so hubby can't discontinue my painting project for lack of funds... :) Here is a link that might be useful: Renovating Old Houses