These fungal organisms can survive (if not thrive) in any organic based potting mix. Including those that are allowed to dry out considerably between waterings. Given the right amount of light and a thorough watering, that would be inducement enough for the fungal body to produce its fruiting body. An increase in perlite, bark fines, Turface or other material that would provide plenty of porosity would probably be good for the jade and bad for the fungus. Those 'black soils' are nothing but sedge peats. They are the muck that comes from large sedge and reed deposits. There was a 'dredging' plant near where I worked in SC, and I visited it several times. They tried to convince me to let them make a nursery mix that I would use, but even though they gave me a bunch of different mixtures to try out, there was nothing they could do to improve it enough! Sedge peats have no structure. They contain no more nutrients than regular peat moss.

Sorry, I just saw this topic, I didn't know it had been resurrected again. Natal, Paula lost weight eons ago. Old news. Do you work for Google? :) Lukk, Paula is the one who made her health public. She's had the disease for a few years now and she is going to make money from advertising a new medication for diabetes. Since she kept it a secret for so long while cooking high carb and DELICIOUS food, lol, speculation is she only "came out" because of the money. Which rubbed a LOT of people the wrong way, even others on the Food Network. Tina, I did see the interview, she's in denial when she said there's only a "few" people who were mean. Once more she hedged and said how much her family loves her. But I guess I'd do the same. It's not going to die down unless she stops those interviews with Al. I'll still watch her show unless she starts cooking "light." Everybody with a brain knows it's all about moderation. It's like telling an Italian cook with Diabetes to can the pasta. lol I have to wonder though, will the drug company still use her now that she's had such bad publicity, so bad that her own, long-time publicist quit on her because of how Paula handled it? Stay tuned! I still like her though, she just made a questionable choice.

Hi Marvin, Seedlac eh? Seedlac is the most unrefined form of shellac. It containing all the processing impurities, including bug parts and most importantly, wax. This and buttonlac are the two most durable forms of shellac and a topcoat is not recommended. They've historically been used for french polishing and for finishing stringed instruments. Pls remember to strain the impurities and stir the seedlac to fully blend the wax into the solution. Most shellac flakes (there are yet a number of grades) are sold decanted, meaning they're dewaxed. You can safely put just about any topcoat you wish over dewaxed shellac except waterbourne poly. Alcohol-based finishes will raise the grain so be sure to lightly sand between coats. Now for the alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol will work, but not very well. Drugstore bought rubbing alcohol contains too much water (among other things ) for it to be used successfully with shellac. You'll want to use denatured alcohol as the main carrier for shellac. However, if you're in a pinch, ammonia can be used to dissolve the flakes, although I can't condone its use because of the inherent health risks. Most woodworkers use shellac as a sanding sealer, or conditioner prior to staining. It helps to minimize blotching that can come from staining. A spit coat is all that's really needed - usually no more than a 1/2 lb cut. Before I get any more long winded than I already have, I'll direct you to a friend's website, Jeff Jewitt. He's one of two people that are considered the top finishing gurus in the US. I get all my shellac from him btw. http://homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/articles.htm Don't hesitate to email me if you have any more questions. best of luck

"Here's my confession... I used to wish I was driving the bus when it hit her!!!" You can't be driving the bus when I'M driving the bus, lonepiper!! :-) "It doesn't really matter if she hates you. It doesn't matter if she thinks you are evil incarnate and horrible. All that matters is what YOU think about yourself and whether or not y our stepkids are comfortable and happy with you as you are. Her opinion doesn't matter unless you let it bother you, and if you do, after a while , the anger and resentment that you feel over it WILL spill over to other people, and cause problems with your marriage , your family, and your self esteem." Kathline, you've hit my nail on the head as this is something I've truly struggled with. I have tried for years as the wife of the CP and the "primary motherer" (for lack of a better description) to have some form of a relationship with my SD's mom as I thought it would be best for SD if we were all unified in raising her. For every attempt I made to include her or involve her she met me with ugly words and hostility. I tried harder. She seemed to be warming toward the idea and even preferred communicating with me over her ex, but then it all went downhill again. I kept trying, thinking there was something I could do to help SD and mom's troubled relationship, help us all get along, make us one big Brady Bunch family. I would make myself sick over the things she said to my SD about her, me, dad, etc. It wasn't until pretty recently that what Kathline (and my DH, many times!) said really hit home. I couldn't change her. I couldn't change how she treated my SD, me, or anyone else. I could only change how I let it effect me. This doesn't mean I'm all over it, but I am learning to let it roll off. I think this is helped by the fact that my SD, now 12, is seeing in her mother what we have seen for a long time - a selfish, self absorbed, unhappy woman who will take down whomever she needs to bring herself up. I now have to worry a bit less about how SD will react, as she seems to be handling herself pretty well. I just have to live without the Brady Bunch theme song. Good post, Kathline. Well said.