Jeanie, I agree 100%. And what I keep telling others and myself. I'm starting some seeds earlier than normal but will also start some at the normal time. Also have invested in some larger pots I can pot up to if I need to hold the early ones longer. But if they get froze after they have been in the ground for a while I will have those started later to replace them. If I don't need the later starts I will either sell or give them away. And I'm not starting my whole amount either. I always tell someone gardening is a gamble but never put all of your eggs in one basket especially if starting this early. I posted on another thread about my visit with my friends and favorite greenhouse owners this past week. He said they've been receiving requests to start seeds for people for a few weeks now. They want the plants ready to transplant no later than April 1st. That is way to early for this area even with protection. I have set out April 10th and with protection the plants have survived and did well. They warn those who order plants so early but they grow for the public and if that is when they want them then they start them. One order was for 100 habeneros for a small market grower who wants the first peppers and tomatoes at his market. The quest for the earliest fruit will never end. My lean to greenhouse along with my cold frames allows me to start plants earlier and to protect them if needed. I plan to build another frame also. Any of us who have been around a few gardening seasons know full well that pushing the envelope carries certain risks. And in the end many times the results aren't any greater. I won't push peppers or ora at all. I'm going to push a few tomatoes hoping to get set before the heat arrives.Jay

jemdandy, I recall my grandmother making kraut and pickles in crocks--unfortunately none of mine were inherited from her. She would take a lid from a smaller crock, so that it fit inside the pickle crock, then weigh it down with a clean stone or brick, wrapped in cloth, to keep the cabbage or cukes below the level of the brine. Thanks, triciae, I was hoping that I had a treasure! :[ If you left a link, it didn't make the jump, but I'd love to see more pics. I googled 'sharp eared crocks' hoping to find info on the potter, and found this informative site. Scroll down for American stoneware. I think I might have a cream pot: "The stoneware cream pot ... appears throughout the eastern seaboard down through the Carolinas and west to Indiana. This vessel, illustrated here, has a high shoulder and wide mouth, where the shoulder slopes in slightly to a flat, shaped rim. There are two semi-cicular(sic) lug handles on the shoulder. The interior of this vessel was glazed with Albany slip, which was more common in the North. They were made in sizes from one to five gallons. They were often used to separate milk from cream and to store cream. Many of the vessels had an incised line at the level of the handles."

Horrible Bosses

Thank you all. Such a wide range of pricing. The GC is not a friend or family member. I will try to do the reveal and costs tomorrow. FY - total cost not including appliances/fixtures/sinks/lighting (which came to about $20K) was $60K. I also tipped the workers what probably amounted to around 2% of the job. As someone above said and I agree, the package pricing IMO was a mistake for my personality, but in the end I think it worked out. Papillons and shedding. Kinda, sorta. But not that much. We have had lots of dogs and on a scale of 1-10 I would say around 3.5. My husband takes me to the airport a lot and the tan one sheds sitting on me, the little black one doesn't so much. So, if I am wearing a black suit, I put a blanket over me. When we sweep, there is dog hair and when we vacuum there is dog hair. That said - they sleep in our bed and dog hair isn't on the bedding. There aren't doghair dust bunnies floating by in the breeze when a door opens. Sometime there is a collection in a corner if we haven't swept in a week. I am allergic to a lot of stuff, some dogs included. I am not affected by them. They should be brushed a few times a week but it isn't horrible if we go a week or two and don't. They get a bath every other month or so. I have clippers and scissors and do a "sani cut" That is all. You would want to do that or take them to a groomer every few months. If you cut any of their ear hair you will go straight to Hell.