Usually, I take pretty good pictures... but tonight, I just couldn't get many good shots... here are a few update photos... you can see scapes poking up in some pictures, and just leafy growth in others... and then there are the seeds I just planted... some Hippi seeds from a dear friend, and some Daylily seeds from a reddish/mauve plant in the garden... I'll try to take some better photos when the sun is up! In the meantime, enjoy! Amalfi... Sweet Lilian... Group Shot - Babies and Young Bulbs... Limona... Group Shot - New Bulbs... Hippi and Daylily Seeds - Just planted... Thanks for looking!

My 'dunstan' citrumelo produced for the 1st time this year and they are surprisingly good. I squeezed a fruit and added slightly more water than juice and a little sugar. This tasted very much like grapefruit juice, in fact almost identicle. Because these are more sour than grapefruit I bet they will be excellent used as a lemon or lime substitute if the juice is used straight. I plan on trying this very soon. i have also heard they make a very good "lemon" pie, one person from NC even told me they were better than the real thing. I am somewhat perplexed as to why these are so uncommon. This is a great find for anyone wanting to grow an edible Citrus in zone 7.

The serving pieces are really lovely. Lucky you to have such a talented sister. (Mine's a golf pro and I HATE golf!) Opening the dish soap was a hoot. Does that count as a dreaded 4th item? I'll have to look for that wine book. A great title! A great package.

If you are interested in Simonton, you can go to their website and enter your zip code. That will at least get you a few dealers and a few wholesales. The wholesalers can recommend a few more dealers who aren't listed on the site. From there, I'd check the BBB. Don't be overly concerned if a dealer has a few complaints as long as they have been resolved. Often a large volume dealer will have a few complaints just by virtue of the greater numbers of prospects they come in contact with. The key is whether they were resolved. When setting up the appointment, ask that the salesrep bring at least 10 local references with him. You don't have to call all 10, but that will at least prevent them from stacking the deck too much with only very happy customers. Call a few of the people and go by and look at the installation if they will permit it. Pay particularly close attention to the trim coil wrapping. Is it fitted well? How does the caulk look? Is it smooth and sealed well? How about nails, are they well hidden or did they drive one right through the middle of the sill? Ask the homeowner how long ago the windows were installed and if they have had any issues such as cold air infiltration or excessive sweating on the edges of the glass. Other than that, trust your instincts. Does the sales rep know what he's talking about or is he trying to BS his way through your questions? I'd also throw a few unexpected questions at him. Ask about DP ratings, condensation resistance etc. See how they handle those kinds of questions. If he doesn't know, is he honest enough to admit it and offer to find out, or does he just make something up? Good luck!!