Oh, yeah, Dalette - you've found a passion that will challenge you, that will fill your days with a lot of joy and just a bit of sorrow (we all lose a few...), but it's a hobby that will keep you busy once you get into it. Plants (Hoyas & succulents) have been a lifelong hobby for me because I don't have children - I imagine trying to do BOTH would be challenge a lot of people couldn't handle! Which probably explains why the cactus/succulent club I belong to is mostly us older folks! Denise in Omaha

French Lace Cookies The cookies are easy to make but a bit attention demanding, read the instructions before you get started so you are familiar with the process. Heat over to 350 degrees and move rack to top of oven. Line 2 large cookie sheets with aluminum foil and have a flat tray covered with wax paper prepared to cool the cookies (a cooling rack will not work as well for these, I use another large cookie sheet) One batch makes approximately 3 dozen cookies. Mix - 1 stick (1/4 pound) unsalted butter at room temp 1 slightly generous cup of finely ground nuts (walnuts, blanched almonds, hazlenuts, or pecans - each gives a slightly different taste to the cookies - for the plant swap I used my home grown walnuts with a small amount of pecans) 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1 level tablespoon flour Chocolate chips (though you can use any flavor such as white chocolate, butterscotch or anything that appeals to you, though you can also leave the cookies plain) In a heavy pan, preferably a cast iron one, combine all the ingredients (I usually add the flour to the nuts in my food processor as I grind them up) except the chocolate chips over a medium low heat. Stir constantly until the mix becomes a thick paste, like cooked farina or oatmeal. Don't let the mix boil, just get thick. Turn the heat off. Using two teaspoons make rounded little balls of the mix and drop them onto the aluminum foil and flatten each ball slightly. Only bake one pan at a time, and only make 6 to 8 cookies at a time, spacing the cookies far apart, as they will spread. The first time you do this you might want to make a test batch with just 2 cookies to see how far they spread and how fast they cook. The cookies take about 6 or 7 minutes to cook. The biggest problem with these cookies is they burn very easily, so you can't have your attention distracted or do anything else whilst you make these. Once the first batch is in the oven get the second batch ready. After a couple of minutes baking, turn the cookie sheet in the oven so they cook evenly. If they are cooking too quickly (browning too much at the edges before the centers cook) turn the oven down to 325. Check the cookies every couple of minutes. Reverse the cookie sheet as you feel necessary. You want them to be lightly browned with bubbles over the entire surface of the cookie, don't let them get too brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and drop 3 chocolate chips on each cookie. Let the cookies sit in the pan and the chips melt. Start the next batch cooking. After a couple of minutes spread the chocolate gently over the top of the cookie using the back of a spoon. (don't forget to rotate the batch in the oven.) Move the cooked batch of cookies on their sheet of the foil onto a flat surface to cool completely and when they are cooled (this only takes a few minutes they cool quickly) carefully peel them off the aluminum foil and place them on the wax paper lined cookie sheet or tray. The cookies are very fragile so be careful. Place the tray with the cookies in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate. When you have a single layer of cookies finished and the chocolate has hardened, cover them with a layer of wax paper. Start the second layer on top of the first and continue to bake, spread chocolate and cool. Use a paper towel to smooth out the used aluminum foil and put it back on the cookie sheet to reuse. I usually have a third piece of aluminum foil in use so I have one batch in the over, one batch with chips melting/cooling and one batch being made into balls ready to go in the oven. I know these instructions sound complicated and too detailed, but hopefully they will save you the burnt cookie learning curve :o) -Rosalinda

For those of you in Florida - see if you can find a concentrated cleaner called "WEB" - (made in Lake Worth, FL by Southland Products Co 561-582-4814 according to the bottle) - sold in Winn-Dixie and at ACE Hardware - combines strong detergent with acid so it removes the soap scum AND hard water stains - just did my shower doors - came out looking new !! - be sure to follow directions for diluting - and rinse well with water -- would suggest a stiff brush or plastic dish scrubber rather than Brillo pad - (aluminum doesn't like steel wool)- works super on tile too - -happy cleaning - Dave

Oh that's true! Your fall is not my fall. Well with mine, when I do cuttings, I usually expect some semblance of roots in a month's time, hence the 1/2 strength fertilizer business. Then about 2 months in, I begin regular full strength on indoor plants because they only get watered once a month and fertilized once a month (for a total two watering sessions). I would fertilize in September and October, then for me, I will usually just water through the winter (Nov to Jan) very intermittently....like maybe once a month if it's indoors. I know some people still lightly fertilize in the winter, too, with indoor plants. I'll leave that part to you. I do not, but fertilizing is considered a real chore for me, haha. Come Feb, I mean spring...so that, too, will differ for you. But how cold is it for you in October? We are basically in Indian summer....so it's pretty hot still with spikes too 100 easily. Just as a general rule of thumb, if it's growing--fertilize. If it's not, stop. And during your coldest months, hold back on everything. What month that is for you will differ from mine though! What temps your house is and the light will also make a difference. Because yours are cuttings and just starting to grow, I think if I were you, I'd opt for lightly fertilizing through this winter, 1/4 dosage or so just to give them sustenance. But that's up to you. :)