Glysomed is the best. Local Walmart USED to carry it but quit. I just ordered 4 tubs of it online. Got it in a few days at the same cost I used to pay, free shipping. It is made in Germany and has Glycerine, Silicone and chamomile in it. It comes unscented and scented. I love the scented kind and wish I had bought one unscented to use on my poor chapped lips. The scented doesn't taste very good.

We have KM sunset cabinets in our LL walkout. They're back where the natural light doesn't reach them. I kept going back and forth between wanting a light color, and wanting a rich darker color. We chose the light counter, and it really makes a difference. Since we had already chosen the cork floor (same floor as the upstairs kitchen, so that determined the color), we matched the countertop to that. In our upstairs kitchen, we have KM cabs that are a tad darker than the sunset. This kitchen receives natural light from a triple window that has a 10' porch roof cutting off light from the SE, a triple dining room window facing NW 15' away from where I stand at the sink at the peninsula, and two 10" SunTunnels. We put a medium light green granite, Costa Smeralda which we love, here. The granite was a last minute choice because we got a VERY good price on it since the slabs were cracked and we could work around the cracks. We love it, but I think there are better color choices for the medium cherry cabinets. The over all room still seems sort of dark to me at times. We put a creamy tan marble on the 4'x4' center island (which is cream). It would have looked much better to have reversed the countertops (cream on cherry, green on cream) but it was a major cost issue. So I'd go with the cream for the situation you've described. Anne

Not mechanical damage as the edges are smooth and don't turn brown. Not cold damage either, because I get them occasionally here where there is not frost. They just develop that way as the leaves were forming on the shoots. When I get them, there are only one or two leaves on the whole shoot, and it is not just a "split" leaf, (as in cut and could fit back together like puzzle pieces) but rather a section of the leaf that is separate looking the the thumb on a mitten. (like Steve's photo) I smile when I see them because they don't happen very often. This year I have a Queen Josephine that has two "mittens" holding hands! The leaves were formed that way and are attached to each other at the thumbs. Awwwwwwww. -Babka

I just wanted to thank people again for all the good information!! We were having people over, so I finally got off my duff ... well, halfway off of it anyway. I am only about a third of the way done - but it already looks much better. Even though the goo isn't "white," which somehow I had assumed. It is sort of an off-white. (But everyone else probably knew that.) I diluted some Elmers and I used little brushes instead of the joint knives - which it turns out, we have already - because I was worried about being able to control it. I went over the edges, because I thought that would help the new stuff stick to the old - and, I figured, I'm going to sand anyway, so it seemed low risk. Then I let that glue layer (first pic) dry overnight. As for the plaster-y goo, I think I could have put a thicker layer if I'd used a joint knife, but, I don't mind doing a few coats. I will probably get around to the second coat some time around the holidays, when people come over again. Is there a limit to how thick of a layer to put? There is a ways to go still - it's hard to see in the photo. I think the toughest part was mixing the goo with a chopstick - that took a few minutes. It was actually pretty fun. I think next I will try to learn about fixing baseboards. (The one in the pic isn't even the worst one ... ) (Actually, maybe those are goners and I just need new ones.) I gather I need some type of prying implement. No matter, I'll do a search here. : ) Or maybe I will look into re-painting first. I guess I might as well. It is like that story/proverb - if I make a clean spot, then who knows where I might end up. Without the help from people here though, I'd probably have just put a plant in front of it. So, thank you.