I've had Pretty Jessica for a good 20 years. No disease in all that time. However, she does not bloom very much. Never has. Her flowers are lovely when she produces them, but that is usually one light flush in the spring, with maybe a few scattered flowers the rest of the year. Not a single one thus far this year. I suspect she craves a lot more groceries than she receives from this stingy gardener. I did recently plant a fairly garden tolerant ceanothus near her (a groundcover one named Diamond Heights), which may eventually give her a little extra nitrogen (it's a nitrogen fixer), but we shall see. Melissa

Well I gave Vaska the benefit of the doubt and tried again. I washed a 3/4 full machine load of whites with 1.5 capfuls of Vaska and 1.5 capfuls of the matching oxygen bleach (6% hydrogen peroxide according to the MSDS). Included in the load was a white kitchen towel with various food/cooking stains - I couldn't identify them if I tried. After the load was finished and dried, the kitchen towel still had obvious stains on it, albeit faded. I compared a pair of white socks washed in this Vaska load to a matching pair washed last week in Persil Universal Megaperls. Guess what? The Vaska socks looked grey compared to the ones washed with Persil. If I had nothing else to compare to, I'd think the socks washed in Vaska were bright white. Let me tell you, there are many shades of white! I had another load of whites waiting, so I re-washed the kitchen towel using the dose recommended on the package of Persil Universal Megaperls for normal soiling - 155 ml = 110 ml for soft water + 45 ml for 6-7 kg machine capacity (I have 8 kg). This comes out to 10 tablespoons or 5 ounces. Those of you who use only 1-3 TBS have probably already popped a vein in your forehead and fallen off your chairs. DON'T JUDGE! :) Remember that I have a whole house water softener that functions well. During the wash there were no suds to be seen - just some very tiny bubbles on the water falling down the inside door glass. I added a third rinse, but the water was still nice and clean by the second rinse. Clothes came out clean and soft. Most importantly, the white kitchen towel lost its remaining stains and looks white again. I think it's great that some people are having good experiences with this product. However, my experience has been mediocre. Vaska is great at removing soil-based stains, but then again so is water. Throw something even remotely challenging at Vaska, especially oily food and cooking stains, and it becomes quickly apparent that Vaska is out of its league. To those who love Vaska, good for you. However, as many of you have only recently started using this product I would not be surprised if, as with Charlie's Soap and any new craze, you may ultimately find yourself changing your mind and returning to your original product.

I just posted the lyrics to this old song called "The Scotsman" on your previous post yesterday. It is the same as what you posted above. It is a very old song. Click on the link below to see the post which will lead you to the link to the song. Clare Here is a link that might be useful: Ok, #1: Scotchman blowing his pipes

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing & decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors & reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman & says 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?' "Reading a book," she replies (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')" You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her. "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading." "Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up." "For reading a book," she replies. "You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again. "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading." "Yes, but you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up." "Yes, but if you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman. "But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden. "That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment." "Have a nice day ma'am," and he left. MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.