Glad to hear it's all coming together for you momof3. I do wonder if all the problems began after GM's "departure" but consistent lying and not not showing up to the job site and leaving our backyard in shambles have left us no choices and now we are moving on and getting things done our way. Never said it was your fault Jimbar...Just expressing what we are going through, with the same people who you worked with...with very different results..consider yourself very lucky. We have learned from several contractors that our PB is well known for taking on way too much, he's short staffed and has several cases against him for lack of finishing the job, he subs everything out despite his website claiming "no subs"...so, we wait on subs to finish other jobs to get to us and are lied to consistently - he blames everyone else and keeps blaming GM (he was in sales he's not a builder) it shows MW's inexperience and immaturity as a business man - he screws people, plain and simple. These delays will cost him in the end, as you can see from this forum (and there are others where I have read about CB) his reputation is exactly what we are going through so I am happy for those few who can claim a a good experience, there aren't many of you jimbar. ..thanks for your time and input.

Zone 9B is definitely warm enough for peas to survive outdoors. They can take a little frost. What they have problems with is being waterlogged and wind damage, because the plants are brittle. This is where they need protection. Slugs also, but your plants are almost too tall for slugs. Height is an issue, but your mother will know whether they are a 6ft tall pea or a 2ft pea. If they are short, then just like floral suggested, stick some shrubby prunings in, rather than single smooth sticks. Shrubby prunings with lots of little twigs also give protection from wind and the pea's tendrils can find something to cling on to. Hardening them off is a good plan. Whilst I am not familiar with your climate, if you are zone 9b, then late autumn starting may not be such a bad idea. For example, the Swiss variety 'Winterkefe' is named 'winter', because these are traditionally sown during October and overwintered outside with a cover to prevent damage from heavy snows. Presumably in zone 9b you don't get layers of snow. These peas might stand a reasonable chance in free-draining soil and with some wind protection. I wish you good luck with them..

MtnRd asked why Dobermans have such a bad reputation. They were originally bred and introduced in Germany in 1890, specifically for protection. Around the time of WW2, they were used as police dogs and dogs working with soldiers. The movies picked up on those beautiful, quick, smart, intimidating dogs as the perfect "scary" dog for their movies. But, over the years, especially in the U.S. and and Canada, they have evolved into a great family dog, that is also great for protecting you, if need be. As I mentioned earlier, they love to cuddle and will gladly sit or lay on your lap if you let them. We don't as they're quite heavy. Ours have always loved to lie right on top of our feet or right next to them, so that they're touching us. Dobermans love being close enough to touch the people that they love. Hence, their nickname as "the Velcro Dog". Knight is my fourth Dobie, and all have been very affectionate, and also very good and welcoming to our friends. They're a very smart dog, fun-loving, athletic, and very loyal. And, as I said, good protection if/when needed. Over the years, mine have scared away three would-be burglar/intruders/? . . . and perhaps more that I don't know of when we were gone. Two of these incidents happened when I was home alone during the daytime. Although we live in a small mountain development, there are several acres between our homes. I feel safe having my Doberman here with me. He's my loyal friend, my furkid and, if ever needed again, will keep me safe from whatever.

Remove the old tile and you never have to deal with them ever again. I have always stated that removing tile will work out to be about the same cost as going over top. We always assume that once a tile starts to "let go" in one place it WILL HAPPEN elsewhere. And that means you run the risk of a very expensive install going sideways in 10 years or so. That's very upsetting. To go over top of tile, they have to rough them up (grinder). Then they have to prime them (sometimes twice) and then they have to cover them in cement or "float" the floor with thick mortar. Then the new tile gets put down. Once everything is all paid for, you might save a few Francs....but you will be living with someone else's mistakes from 1979! Heck, I bet you will have an installer that is YOUNGER than the tile floor you are dealing with! The Swiss, Germans and Austrians are masters of the building trades (ahem...they are Germanic/Swiss trades people and not from more Eastern countries???). They don't like doing things "half a$$ed". It isn't their style. I know several German tile setters and several German Stone Masons...not a one of them would voluntarily go over top of old tile. They would all insist that the old ones come out and the new ones go in - properly.