Rod, sounds like your dealer was working a little scam on you. His price reduction to $599 is what I paid for mine at Home Depot, its their every day price. Thats one of the problems with locally owned small dealers. They drop their price to what the big guys charge every day and make you think they are doing you a favor, or its a limited time special deal...so buy now. David, your yard is about the size of mine. The HRX may be overkill, but its just made a little better and hopefully will last a little longer. As I said, with Honda your not going to go wrong regardless if you buy the bottom or top of the line, IMO. Thats a choice you need to make based on what you want vs. what you have to spend. I'm thinking my HRX mower will last longer than I will remain in my current house and who knows what kind of yard the next house will have. Could be small, could be much bigger. To answer your question on switching between mulching and bagging on the HRX line, it can't be more simple. Your right, to switch between mulching and bagging on the HRR line you have to remove the bag and insert the "mulching plug". The HRX line has the versamow system. There is a lever that has 10 setting from 100% bag, to 100% mulch with 8 levels in between where you can partially bag. I found this most useful in my lawn by getting rid of some leaf accumulation I had. Chop them up into smaller pieces for a little mulch and bag the excess in one pass. I don't do this but if you had a compost pile and wanted to mulch as well it would be great. I'm not sure if I have the patience for composting.

Until it got truly cold last week, my spring bulbs were peeking out in my yard. Poor confused babies. Now they're covered in snow. It's not the first time, so I know they'll be okay. I just set out the first of my containers today. I'd be worried if I saw sprouts already too, but I guess there is no arguing with Mother Nature. I hope they get through okay.

Hi susan, I am a newbee, and will be attending Brinnon. I have some Hens and Chicks, and a suculent that is red and black. I think it would work very well on your wreath. I will bring them. Katie

Thank you all so much for all the advice and reassurance(s)! I'm going to call both the BSH showroom tomorrow as well as Gaggenau. (Although my experience with Gaggenau has been less than satisfying: before I received the ovens I called them asking for the 30" double wall oven specs [for the cabinetmaker] and they sent me the specs for a Thermador double wall oven. When I called / e-mailed back, they were genuinely bemused: "what's the problem?" is a direct quote. Ahem.) You know, I haven't run the self-clean cycle because the interiors (neither) are dirty. (We're vegan, so no meat spattering or whatever.) Good thought. When the first repairman came (to clean the few pieces of styrofoam fluff from in between the two panes of glass) he checked everything to make sure no other shipment damage had occurred. There was a problem with the vents (on the bottom of the two ovens), but he replaced the gasket (I think it's called), tested it and said it was okay. But honestly, what do I know? I'm not an oven specialist .... Good question, homepro: I have not baked in the bottom oven because that's where we have the trays (not racks). I've pretty much solely used it for proofing (I bake our bread). I'm making pot pie tomorrow so I'll try baking that in the bottom oven. Of course, for me it's cookies which give the truest indicator of the uneven baking (in the top oven). Even with my moving the sheets midway through baking (from bottom to top rack, turning them around, etc.), I still find the cookies unevenly baked / colored. It's harder to tell (I mean it's harder for me to tell) with my other baked goods. I'm not sure where our (independent) oven thermometer is ... excellent suggestion! I do use the Gagg "info" feature (which tells me the oven temperature at present), but if the sensors are off, then so are all bets. I didn't think the altitude could be a factor but, you know, grasping for straws to explain why I'm having problems when everyone else has written how their Gaggs are baking nirvana. And mindstorm, you are v kind. I assumed you meant something with the ovens, but I have thin skin. (I know! I have no business in this medium.) I'm usually able to keep it in check when online (where it is way too easy to misconstrue others words), but I was at a weak moment when reading your penultimate post. Thank you for making the time to respond instead of rolling your eyes and saying "get over yourself!" I am really encouraged about tomorrow (Monday), calling and hopefully getting somewhere in ensuring an even bake. I know it sounds slightly churlish, but after spending so much money on these ovens (and I think they are v. expensive) it's ticked me off and disappointed me that the top oven bakes unevenly. I do still think it's ridiculous that they don't have the smooth-gliding racks and that for two ovens they only provide two racks, but I'll tell you I am still gaga for Gaggenau's side-opening feature! Thank you everyone for all the information and encouragement that I can have even baking! I appreciate it so much. I'll post back to let you know what I find out. Fingers crossed. Thank you.