Frank, That's a great link, thanks. I've got a number of native hazels on my place because I wanted to use them as a barrier along the road in front. I planted some as many as 6 years ago, and they are still only a foot high or so, thanks to deer browsing. On the other hand, one bush I planted near my barn and kept the deer off is now over six feet tall, and it is only four years old. Those you found sound like they would be great for visual and wind breaks, and could also yield usable nuts. The nuts on the natives are small enough to be kinda frustrating to eat. I'm hoping my Fingerlakes will make a filled nut this year so I can see if it is worthwhile propagating. It is apparently usually grown in tree form, but it seems like it would make a dense thicket if you didn't keep the suckers cut. Chuck

FINALLY...and congrats! The "empty nest syndrome" will probably last a few days, so go buy an extra box of tissue! Donna

That's one of the complexities of genealogy I've discovered - sites appear and disappear, links take you to interesting possibilities and then you can't find your way back again. I've bookmarked many web addresses that have folded. It can be frustrating, especially since I'm still a novice at this and I'm sure I've missed valuable leads. Traditionally in Ireland Maire would be pronounced Moy-ra, however since the Anglicized version is Mary you now hear both pronunciations. The Irish used the name Muire to refer to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and used Maire as the common name for girls. My father wanted the Irish spelling and pronunciation but my Mom wanted the English version - so I'm Mary (but Dad always addressed my cards Maire). This post was edited by maire_cate on Sun, Jun 30, 13 at 21:10

@catmom- where do you buy the Miele tabs? I was using those but source dried up. Found the Method tabs equal to the Miele and I can get them easily locally. @applenut - Will look for the Jet Dry DW cleaner. Haven't spotted it (or haven't looked for it). Also do the front-loader cycle to purge excess soap. Our water is crazy hard and so we have a softener. No matter how little detergent I use in the front loader there is inevitably residual soap flushed out by the maintenance cycle. Well worth it. I don't use chlorine bleach anymore as we're on a septic. I do same disinfecting thing you do but with 90% alcohol which I can buy in bulk inexpensively. I also do the alcohol wipe down catmom does in the kitchen and on the doors etc. Fingers crossed, it has kept us healthy. Family is coming so I'll do it before and after they leave. Grands are wonderful but very germy, especially the 3 y.o.