thanks again, you are great, on the 3 sided bin idea, I didn't do that as thought? maybe wrongly that the material needs to be held in to build up heat??, I used the bungy rope on the forth side so I can take that side down to turn it, unfortunatly it has been prove that I am the world's weakest women, and I find that task imposible! so I thought if I build a second bin, I can sort of empty one into the other? and then back again, this I can manage as I can do it methodically, and for this year at least, should work, I will need more pallets I feel next year, but hopefully the pallet litter bug will abandon some more, if not I will have to actually start doing some phoning round businesses. I like the wheelie bin idea (thats what we call them in the UK?) and funnily enough saw them in BJ's yesterday when we joined and a first thought they where composters, $20, which kind of proves my point, I suppose, moulded plasic on wheels $20! (is BJ's costco ect, what a big box store are? I would call it a cash and carry! and writing that, even to me I suddenly think "cash and carry" what does that mean?? I digress) we have chipmonks, see them out and about but so far they have left the heap alone, even when it was a cold pile, I can only assume that the population is getting its food needs from the wood, or they just don't like the fact it is normally a bit stinky by the time I transfer it to the heap, I have a small closed bin the the kitchen, and I normally empty it every 3 days or so, so its gone abit smelly by that point, I am sure I am going to empty more frequently as the summer progresses, which is why I loved the wheelie bin idea.

Ohmygosh! I NEVER thought about the effect of sunlight on the placement of the intake vents/exhaust fan thermostat! My new GH is finished, at least to the point of being sealed, except for the frames we will add around the intake vents and exhaust fan and have rather abandonded it for the present, as we hustle to get our fall yard and field work done while the Sun shines, which it hasn't for much of the past month. But we do have electricity into the GH, so even when it turns really cold, we can still work inside of it and one of the questions has been the placement of the thermostats. Now I've been warned about the one for the vents/fan, I'll be sure to mount it in a shaded location, but what about the thermostat for the heater? My best sense tells me it should be mounted by the north facing door at the opposite end of the GH from the heater, because even with the intake vents and exhaust fan closed for the winter, the roof vents will still release excess heat. Yes? No?

Dawn--I really enjoyed reading about all your activities with the fire fighters. The Shady Dale Firefighter Cookies sound wonderful. As a 'cookie monster' it makes me want to sound an alarm as well...haha. But seriously it sounds like your cookies made a really bright spot of encouragement to all those guys. It was so sweet of you to keep those cookies coming to them. Yes Carter county had many many wildfires last year. I wouldn't even attempt a guess...it seemed like a daily thing and at times there would be fires in several areas at once. They even got so bad at times our weather radio was going off to warn about the fires and smoke dangers! I remember hearing about the big one where the Salvation Army was involved. I believe it was one where several residences were threatened and one of our doctors lost his garage or out building and ruined some siding on his house. There were so many I am not sure....we never drove out to see the fires or where they had been....we just prayed for everyone involved and prayed no one would lose their homes or be seriously injured. Hey you were RIGHT ON....it didn't rain here at all on Thursday...nor Thursday night. It was a nice day but I didn't accomplish much due to my back acting up. Then ended up making a mad dash over to my mom's when she called around 5 to say she was bad sick at her stomach. At her age and with her history of fainting it is scary when mom gets sick. Also a chore to nurse her since she doesn't get out of bed due to being afraid of passing out....lol. I ended up staying with her all night and sleeping on her love seat....at least I managed to sleep a few hours. She was fine by yesterday morning and even wanted to go to the Mother's Day luncheon held in the dining hall out where she lives....at Ardmore Village. Both sisters came as well and it was really nice. They do it up really nice at those functions. Yesterday the theme was 'pioneer women' and they had the centennial quilt winning entries displayed around the room. The table decor was pieced and quilted table runners with gingham homespun type fabric fringed and tied with jute and wildflowers for napkins and yellow wildflowers in fruit jars for centerpieces. It was really cute. It was just wonderful to wake yesterday morning and see that the sun was actually going to shine!!! Seeing the sunrise like that was a huge boost to my spirits and I know it was to all of you as well. We did get a slight sprinkle around 2:30 or so yesterday and then later on around 6 or 7 it came a longer and heavier sprinkle while the sun remained shining. haha. I don't think it amounted to much but was wet enough I didn't want to walk out to the garden to check on it. Dawn and Susan and everyone--I feel so bad that you and so many others are losing plants and gardens due to all this steady rain. There are so many things which cannot tolerate being wet much less standing in water for days and days. It is just sad and no question about it. Dawn-My goodness your soil really is horribly saturated to fill the hole with water like that!!! I AM SO SORRY!!! I doubt there is anything you can do to save plants which are starting to show signs of drowning is there? Unless perhaps take it up out of the wet soil if possible? That would be all I would know to try. I need to get out and evaluate the condition of things around here today since I have not made the rounds of the yard in a couple of days now. I am ready to get out now but DH and DS are both late sleepers---I am an early riser, lol-- so I try to keep quiet until they finally get up. If I open the back door my little poodle hears it and starts barking to go out with me and will wake them up...lol so I am stuck for a while longer. Sigh. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...Happy Mothers Day everyone....and let's pray for a nice SUNNY weekend! Even a few days of sunshine might go a long way to helping the saturated soil and the plants which are not too damaged already. G.M.

Angela Noble, Applying 3 coats is meaningless if, the contractor does not prep or apply the proper coverage. All of Pallman's water borne finishes require a final cut at 100 or 120 grit and 450-500 coverage per gallon. The sealer will seal 80% of the pores with proper coverage of 450 sq. ft. per gallon. Allowing 20% of wood for the first coat of polyurethane to grab onto. With an additional 2 coats of water borne polyurethane at the proper coverage of 450-500 per gallon. Your floors should be more than sealed. If, the products was diluted or applied improperly. Your floors will not have the proper coverage and will not be properly sealed. Leaving it vulnerable to premature wear and failure. How was the product applied: T-bar, rolled, brush? Are there gaps in the floor? Was there any thinning of the product?