Hi Everyone, sorry I've been MIA, been battling the flu and still working long hours. Just wanted to let Margo, Katie and Annie know that your Triple Whammy Bingo prizes are on their way - FINALLY! Sorry it took so long. Thank again to everyone who helped write "The Last Leaf" And just so we don't leave Lucille in the lurch: At last glance, Lucille was standing by the path, bewildered, and without what she thought was the last leaf, one of her Afghan hounds having made off with it. All of a sudden, the hound, Vinnie, I think, came running back with tatters of the leaf in his mouth. "Oh No," cried Lucille, "Now I have nothing to give Mother Magnolia tree and the little leaf eared critters will never get to go to their winter sleep". However, the other Afghan hound, Willie, I think, took off running back to the house and dug the REAL Last Leaf out of the pile of debris Lucille had swept off the porch. He brought it back to Lucille, who promptly gave it to Mother Magnolia tree, who was very grateful; so were the little leaf eared critters, who were yawning while they said thanks. Lucille picked her purse up out of the ditch, where it had fallen, went home and wrote out a check for her electric bill and FINALLY went to bed. WHEW!! The End! Jeanne has posted the FOTESS swap for November and it really sounds like fun, be sure to check it out and join in! Have a great week, Everyone! Shirley!

wantonamara---- You qualify for 'hell' strip conditions, think of it as a real big strip with special challenges to boot. Woodstea, if your strip is like mine, you can clean out the leaves but in two or three days it doesn't look any different than it did before you cleaned it a couple days ago. I usually clean mine several times in winter, its a good reason to get outside on warm days. Those oak leaves keep coming all winter. I cleaned mine out yesterday (Thanksgiving) because we celebrated Thanksgiving today. People driving by probably felt sorry for me for spending Thanksgiving Day grubbing out leaves by hand into a bucket but I enjoyed it, it was gorgeous out. There were lots of those styrofoam packing peanut things among the leaves that had blown in, someone must have tossed a package and let them blow everywhere, a beer can and some bits of paper. I thinned out some stuff because it was looking somewhat overgrown and it looks much neater now (for a couple days). I need to get rid of Miss Huff Lantana so I cut it to the ground. It got way too big for the strip.

being there only for a short time, i would do the least possible. get a large indoor/outdoor rug for kitchen as stated above keep appliances if working properly keep counters if in good shape. you will have your 'stuff' on them so u won't see as much. why spend $$ for granite etc...?? i wouldn't even put a b/s., just paint put a big, bold piece of art on wall with double windows, it will take away from the elements you don't like... i would just minimize what u don't like and accent features that u do, like the fireplace and the view! you said u have a budget so money as an object, save it for the new build because you spend more there than you ever thought.....

@Embothrium "Pictures above show too small clay pots filled with coarse soil less potting medium. This combination will guarantee chronic problems with quick drying out and with recurring nutrient deficiencies." that's how I grow my michelia alba as well. I use 511 mix in small clay pot. it does save my plant from root rot. however, it has serious iron deficiency. I wonder if I should fertilize it often or even use iron suphate. my m.alba did had root rot twice and had been repoted 3 to 4 times within a few months. the iron deficiency maybe related to stress as well.