I grow mine in full sun in a garden with not so good soil, they do need plenty of water. I usually fertilize everything with liquid fert. every other week. I have never noticed the color being less vibrant....but then again I have never tried growing them in shade! If you have extra seed, why don't you try a couple in the shade too, if you have a place? That would be a good experiment, and you'll have to let me know the outcome if you try!

I have that same sander and was supplied an odd shaped tool that's designed to help you hold the clip open when changing belts. I've never used it, though, I usually just hold the clip open with my finger. It's a tight fit, but I have small hands, so it's doable. When I'm changing the belt, I usually start with the right end first. I trim the end of the paper, then stick it into the clip. Pull it tight, and then start wrapping the paper around the drum, keeping it tight and aligned properly. When you get to the end, cut the paper a little longer than needed, maybe 2" longer. Then make a mark on the paper where the drum ends, so you'll know where to start trimming. At the clipped end, make another mark, roughly an inch away from the edge, so you're forming the "tab" that will fit into the clip. Now test fit the paper onto the drum. It will probably overhang the drum a bit... you'll have to trim it again. Keep trimming it until it fits nicely, and make sure that your "tab" will fit into the clip. I think it needs to be about 3/4" wide at the tip end. Make sure the belt is wrapped properly, and then stick that last tab end into the clip. When you release it, it pulls the paper tight. I usually sand a piece of wood through the drum a few times, the paper will stretch a bit. Re-tighten it and you should be fine. BTW - I recently met a fellow woodworker who swears by the purple abrasive paper, I think it's made by 3M. He said it's more expensive, but lasts 10 times longer. The next time I buy paper, I'll probably try that stuff, as I hate changing the paper on these sanders. It's a pain! Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: My woodworking blog

"Reheat Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works." I have several Pampered Chef pizza stones (well, they call them "baking stones"). Put the leftover pizza on one of the stones and put it in the oven. Heats it thoroughly (better than in a frying pan/skillet), and the stone keeps the crust from getting soggy. "INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS [snip] ...dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... [snip] well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!" We don't use dryer sheets. We use liquid fabric softener that goes into the rinse water in the washing machine. Keeping your electric bill lower would be an issue with an electric dryer, but ours runs on natural gas. What are "leftover Snickers bars"? ;-)

My stove is a Maytag double oven (I think it is called 'Gemini'. It is three years old and I use it daily. Yes, the grates are caste iron -- can't imagine what 'painted' means. The dishwasher is useless unless you put them in there daily and who does that? I will tell you that before I found the great ammonia hint, I ordered black grates and with shipping, it was $100. That was worth it to me because the ammonia method takes a over-night process and I now have a second set.