I'm going to try this again, having lost it yesterday. :( 1.) Michelle has beautiful gardens full of carefully considered combinations that please me greatly. Your front entry project looks sensational and I can't wait to see the door and the storm door you select. I'm sure it will be terrific. I'll bet you really miss the Little Miss when you wander through the Secret Garden. 2.) I see the Grim Reaper has paid to calls to people I like so much and I'm sure the spectre of departure hangs heavy in those homes. Brenda, I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I don't know how you feel, but I know how much I love my brother and how special memories shared between only we two are. And so it must be with you. I think hurling yourself out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft will be a perfect way to blow off some energy. You know, I STILL laugh when I think of your description of middle aged flesh flapping in the wind as you plummet toward Earth. Lol. V., the world would be a better place if all people who undertake the responsibility of one of those base creatures carried it through to the bitter end. It's comforting to know our ranks are not as thin as so many news stories imply. I'm sorry Sunrise's condition was not attributable to too many berries. I'll beat Wrecks, "just because". 3.) The Green Man makes a sensational Best Man, Woody! Wow, I really like him... really plucks at the appreciation for all things formal that lies just below my "devil may care" surface. What a thoughtful gift. I went to a wedding on Friday, too. Don't get sick at this time of year, it's too early and too nice outdoors. 4.) Weather calamities have layed waste to Deanne's beloved containers but the recovery was swift and diligent... great save! I had to chuckle at the mental image of you buzzing around fretting and grooming the victims. Good to know all is well once more. :) I suspect also that there is some serious baby withdrawal happenin' on the Farm (though I have no idea why! ;) ). I smiled at the chubby leg and foot nicely adorned with the bracelet. First thought to cross my mind was, "did we all enter this world with such perfect skin?". What lies ahead for your family is the conclusion of the awful "first year", 'bug. Good friends know how to help, sometimes just listening and reassuring is all that's required. Praise be good friends, huh? (and dogs to beat). I know I will spent some time in reflection on Sep't. 8th., as will every other Idyller... solidarity, baby! Actually, I think I'll put some wine in my IUVI glass and toast Reed's perfect life and all the love that was lavished on him in too short a time. Woody and Julie will like this one. We have dear friend who has two dogs, aka The Wrecking Crew. She is now a very regular visitor to the Compound and whenever she comes we do some obedience work. And yesterday we worked them pretty hard. We did "down/stays" and then we worked on "polite greetings" in lieu of the full frontal assault that usually occurs. It took a solid 30-40 minutes to get both of her dogs introduced in a quiet, controlled manner, lol. Poor Rex was beside himself; whining/yipping, and fussing. But he was much more controlled than her dogs were. When they'd done what we required we turned them loose to run, rassle, and go into the "pool". Later, while we were preparing dinner and eating we worked on "down/stays", patiently correcting the Commando Creep by putting the Crew back in their original d/s sites. Wrecks has that one nailed... he lies down and chills out while we're eating and working in the kitchen. We have volunteered to take the Wrecking Crew for the entirety of Labor Day weekend and let me assure you there will be some very serious obedience work (and beatings) over those 4 days! Hehehe... bbbwwwaaa! Charming story of TCS, Julie. Time and beatings is all it takes. :) I have to quit blabbing and get to my latest JulieJob, hoeing out the screen room under the deck, and some screen washing.

Yup! When I put in my first Nepeta "Blue Wonder" a few years back, the neighborhood feral cat population soon reduced it to matted foliage and balls of fur (they really DO roll in it! ). . . The solution, suggested by a farmer in Vermont: place several jagged rocks (size of your fist or larger) at the base of the plant - no more cats rolling around! A second solution I stumbled on accidentally: use Nepeta as an underplanting for roses, the sharper their thorns the better - those plants have never been touched. And so any feline fanciers out there won't think me a complete ogre: last year I planted a little division of one my nepetas out by the compost pile - they had found and flattened it within days! But it's not in the garden, so everyone's happy. . .

Cliff, I find them very easy. I mix regular potting soil with some sand ( 50/50 ) and plant them . I keep them " tight" in a pot. Some of the rest of you may do things differently. Plants arn`t an exact science. The reason I always have so much to share is that I keep them just inside the rim of the pot. That way when they bloom in Jan / Feb the flower spikes grow straight up. I know there are other kinds..but I think this is one looks nice. Keep it out of the sun. One of the near by independent orchid growers have ( had ??) them growing in 4 inch clay pots price between 35-45 dollars depending how full they were. I thought that price was outlandish seeing how easy they are to grow ! D`Ann

Indeed weissman, that's all. However, some choose to take it otherwise. Dealers are trusted for selling and marketing. Caveat emptor. There is a huge range of opinion in the industry as well as a huge range of advice on this forum in many areas. For me, that's its strength. Some of us know and trust more than than one dealer and have access to more than one opinion. Dealers have different opinions. Not everyone agrees on brands, except mostly about Wolf and SZ. And, of course, they tend to like and believe in what they can sell. DUH. That said, everyone hopes to find a great, affordable range that really does it for those who want high output open burners.If the Culinarian turns out to be all it's said to be that's terrific. However, that doesn't negate the value of sealed burner ranges or make them inferior as is often stated here. It depends on the design and personal preference. Let's not forget that Surgit Kalsi, who now makes Capital ranges, made DCS ranges -- famous for excellent sealer burners -- which were very highly regarded throughout the entire industry. I believe several people on this forum still have DCS ranges and adore them. It depends on what someone wants and hopefully there will be independent thought and close examination -- as amcook did. We're not smurfs. Some of us like to see it before we believe it. That's not hatoraid. It's common sense.