I didn't cover my plants for the first time since 2000. I was building cages and using pine straw every winter. I decided to throw them all to the wolves this year due to my laziness! Most survived without much damage(lowest temp was 17F). One thing I did note, while cleaning them up, was the leaves that emerged in response to the late March warmth that had their tips killed in early April, were choking the next set of leaves. I had to slice them open and pull them apart to ensure the second set of leaves could open and expand. Anyone else who doesn't cut their plants back needs to be sure and check for this.

I hope you repotted it in real dirt and not store bought potting (potty) soil. (1)If you have it sitting in a drip pan to catch water that drains through, remove it. IT will liik like the leaves are drooping becasue of lack of water. That is deceptive. Tropical hibiscus are notorious about getting root rot if they have wet feet, even in hot summer weather. (2)Water only when needed. (3)If they are inside a dark room, they will drop all the leaves. Hibiscus like lots of light. (4) They like heat. I suggest you go to your local Big Box home store or discount store and buy a two headed halogen shop light on a stand less than $30. It will provide heat and light. Water thoroughly about once a week while inside. Fertilize with 1/2 strength blue stuff about once every 6 weeks. OR let it go dormant by watering only enough to keep it alive. Next spring you can fertilize and put it outside.

When we go to mom and her dh's, we stay at their home because they have room for everyone. My dh and I share the cleaning/kid duty with no problems from anyone. I do basic cleaning while visiting but generally don't do deep cleaning. I would do what ever mom asked though. I feel I will be needed more as they grow older and I'm kind of looking forward to helping out. Now,,dh, he often does some heavy duty thing with mom's dh to help them get a complex job done. He enjoys that because it gives him something important to do and of course his help makes things better for his in laws. When my family visits, they stay in our finished basement so they can have some privacy. They can sleep in, read, watch tv, until they decide to come up and visit. It works for us. I've only had one "argument" with my FIL and mom's dh. Both times I left very quickly with out a word. I think everyone knows I don't put up with stupid crap more than one day. That's just the way I work. Life is to short to live with chaos.

Plllog, I had that very notion going on Kitchens lol! Divotdiva, that's a big reason I'm getting the Bosch. I was at my SIL's and said something about running the DW, and she said "it's running now." I was standing right in the kitchen and couldn't hear it. g5spark, that's a good question. The place I'm getting it from is a huge appliance dealer so hopefully they are prepared for common modifications. I just looked and I think it just be hard-wired. Nothing is plugged in to the outlet under the sink, the disposal is hard-wired, and I can't see the DW wiring, must be under or behind.