The drama continues... Apparently, in addition to "are koi the best for this solution" the shopkeeper also fudged a bit over "do I need to have a covered container?" The next morning, 4 of them were on the ground outside, jumped for whatever reason - mainly because it was just a terrible environment for them, I assume. One was still moving, so I cleaned him as best I could and put him back in, the others got a short ceremony and disposal. He bounced back a bit, but my wife and I decided that this just wasn't going to work. We either had to return these remaining guys, dispatch them all, or ... well, I now have a 40 gallon tank sitting in a hallway, filling that weird spot that nothing seemed to work in. The remaining two (the 4th jumper, unfortunately passed the next day) and a pair of plecos are now the talk of the house, and a source of unending amusement for our cats. They are already getting used to our presence when I feed them - the bolder of the two was willing to eat a pellet right up against my open hand. And I've started plans on the pond for next year. Just what I need - another obsession. :) Incidentally, I did not buy the aquarium from the pet shop that sold me the fish - he's lost my business, although I shouldn't be surprised if any consumer pet shop did the same thing they're not hobbyists, they're salespeople trying to make quota, and have always been covered under "caveat emptor."

Costco bulbs are not known for their quality. But given you have purchased them, plant them and water and hope for the best. The strongest will grow and while they may not bloom this year, if they survive next winter, they should bloom and give you what you want.

Hello, I confess that I haven't read the entire thread, so please forgive me if what I have to add has already been discussed, done and dusted! I love that yellow. I repainted one bedroom with a very subtle yellow, but while in the process, while the old color (apple blossom pink, a nearly white pink) was still showing, I thought the yellow was too strong! but, when it was all finished, it was perfect. You see, it was the contrast with the old paint that through off my perception. Now, I love that gray, and I love the yellow, but to my eye they don't work together. The gray brings out some pink tones in the yellow, and somehow they aren't on the same wavelength either (I don't know what the word for that would be). That makes the cupboards stand out too much (I hope that makes sense). I am sure that you can find another gray that will work better. Once you do, I think that you will be happy with all the cabinets being yellow. Someone mentioned Home Depot. I think that was the store that had a machine that would analyze your color and suggest shades that harmonised -- you picked the color family that you were interested in. Of course, then you could use that to help select a shade in the brand you preferred. It helped me find colors that worked with a difficult existing wallpaper -- and that helped to de-emphasize the disliked background color of the paper. Hope this was helpful. It will all be good when you are done, I am sure!

Thanks so much, paintguy! I think my problem may have been that after I cut in with a brush, I painted most of the ceiling with a 1" nap roller on an extension pole. ( I did get the good Purdy one.) I will say it got heavy fast, so I probably applied different pressures. Then I'd go to the ladder and shorter poles. And then, then next day to finish I used a 3/4" roller, and for touch-ups I'd grab a brush. As far as the paint not sticking by the crown, I suspect the old caulk may have been silicone? Glad to hear I don't need scaffolding! And I would call in a pro, but I thought this would be an easy enough job that I could tackle myself, and save the pros for actual construction stuff. I guess a pro would have finished long, long before I ever will, tho! So...maybe different applicators and different pressures are the problem? Sometimes in certain light it almost looks like I used different sheens, but it's all the SW ceiling paint, Wool Skein. I think I'll call this the first coat, and go over it all again with the same roller nap! Again, thanks so much!