I think I planted mine in NJ/Zone 7 in 2010 or so, from a four footer and now it's at least 20 feet tall. This time of day, the sun hits it at a certain angle and the leaves look yellow-green (even though it is the all green species, not a GoldRush, etc.). What's to say. It's impressive still being able to plant trees at a mature age and being able to look forward to a Sequoia a few years down the line!! I just limbed up mine a bit too. Should do NO HARM, btw. But I would encourage you to water as we are about to start a heat wave here in the East and much of the country. They are okay in heat and drought but NOT AS MUCH so as Bald Cypresses. (Which is btw, another terrific tree!) I have about a half dozen each of Bald Cypress and Dawn Reds to be planted out back in the Autumn. Cheers!

I am WAY behind on this conversation but it's relevant to me now so I'm hoping maybe some of you can comment on how this has worked out for you. We purchased the Electrolux ICON microwave a couple years ago for our kitchen remodel. We had planned for it to go under counter. Installation day came and the installer saw the 36" above ground spec and even though could not come up with any reason as to why did not feel comfortable installing. So, we ended up getting a Sharp microwave drawer instead which was fine but I had really wanted the "2nd oven" since we were taking out wall ovens and replacing with a single stand alone range. Anyway, we were unable to return the ICON which was a pretty painful mistake at $1600+ !! I've tried to sell it on OfferUp, NextDoor but no luck. Now we are in a different house and undertaking another complete kitchen remodel. We made plans to install another microwave drawer in the island but we've discussed the situation of the Electrolux to see if there's any way we can use it instead. It's still in the box on the pallet it arrived on. Our kitchen designer and installers could not figure it out either and the designer even called Electrolux and the person he spoke to couldn't figure it out and said they didn't see any problem with it but that it wouldn't be covered under warranty if we installed it there. I'm not thinking this is a big deal because we're already out of the warranty period anyway. I just called Electrolux myself to see if I got the same answer. She didn't say anything about the warranty but said that it was an ergonomic or burn issue. Personally, I don't see how bending down to get something out of the microwave at this height is any different to getting something out of a regular oven (which is actually even lower and deeper!). Any new comments?

I cried reading everyone's responses. There is nothing like loosing your mother. I lost my mother on Feb 20th of this year and it was sudden but not unexpected as we knew were living on borrowed time, she suffered from COPD and congestive heart failure. We should have lost her in 2004 but she stayed with us till she had no reserve left, that is what the doc's call it when your lungs no longer have the capacity to store more oxygen. There is one thing I have learned that I would like to pass on and that is not to play the "what if" game with yourself. We can do that all day if we want but the end result is guilt because we create a scenario as we "Think" things may have turned out or may have been and no one knows or has a crystal ball to look back in time and say "yep had I done this or that things would have been better" Our mother's as stated in an earlier post really do not want their children to see them die. They are always thinking of us and I am sure they are thinking "I need to spare them this pain" and I have to say this. I was lucky enough to be with my mom when she took her last breath but that is an image I will never get out of my head. My mother's body once full of life, all of a sudden she was gone, it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through, to watch someone die in front of you is not something I ever want to see again, and yet, I am grateful I was able to be with her when she did pass. it sounds twisted I know, but it was just so truly sad to see her there one minute and then gone the next. Even though I spent 12 hours a day with her for 7 days before she died, I find myself thinking "I should have said or done more" but truly what else could I have said, or done. I sat next to her and held her hand, washed her face, stroked her head and face, massaged her arms and held her hand, kissed her face, made her laugh, shared moments with her, comforted her and gave her ice chips to suck on. I even bought her her favorite flower, a red rose. She smelled it, I brushed it against her cheek, she loved it. And all I did, I would catch myself and say, "if only I did more or said more" but I did not need to, and I remind myself of that all the time because that "What if" thought always pops into my head. Mother's know how much we love them, they see it in our eyes and we see how much they love us in their eyes. The sweetest thing my mother gave me was the look. She and I while I was drawing pictures of she and I when I was a little girl holding her hand, she looked at me and for 6 seconds we just stared at each other and I saw the most amazing amount of love she had for me, and we did not say a word but we smiled and cried and she said "I love you" and I know I will never experience anyone looking at me the way she did. Playing the "what if" game will just make you go nuts, I am sure our mother's knew how much we loved them, they could feel us even when we were not with them, and I am positive they did not want us to see them die, God controls everything for his own purpose and reasoning. And no matter what we may have felt we did wrong, or did not do enough of before our mother's passed, I for sure can say this, as they are in the presence of the Lord, all earthly things are passed and they are not thinking about what we did or did not do and they are for sure not judging us. There is one big party in heaven, a celebration for each child who comes home to be with the Lord, as the Lord knows our hearts, I am sure our mother's knew our hearts and knew we loved them. We are only human, not perfect, and we did the best we could and our mother's loved and love us no matter what. If you think they died alone I can honestly say that I truly believe when someone dies they are never alone, an angle is there to take them to heaven and my mom kept looking around the room before she passed as she said she heard strange sounds and wanted to know where they were coming from and she was so peaceful. I believe she heard the trumpet sounds being made for her entry into heaven. The bible says when we die, those who know the Lord are in his presence and all worries and pain and sadness are no longer. I hope this provides some comfort, just don't beat yourselves up about what you could have done or said. Our mother's know how much we loved them and all we wanted to say and do. God bless

I'm back! Well I went and painted about 5 different swatches- and just didn't love 4 them... Too dark and too green or mustardy were the main issues for most. There WAS one I really liked though - BM Revere Pewter. But I was so similar to the BM Grant Beige that I have up there (same intensity, but a little greyer/tauper) - that I can't justify repriming and repainting. (not to mention paying the $$ for BM) if it's not going to be much different looking. SO I Have decided to just stay with the Grant Beige and see how I feel once the floors and trim go down next week. I have never been more indecisive in my life than I have been during this renovation- but thank goodness I have you guys to help keep my head up!