Hi Kiger I've been in your shoes. It took a lot of work but I did find some very nice Asian Pears (all dwarfs) at 2 garden centers north of me. I purchased a Rajah and what was labeled to be a Daisui Li at Berns Garden center. I later discovered the second one was mislabeled as it bore actual pear shaped fruit. Original selling orchard (Hollybrook Orchards.com) says it couldn't be a Ya Li (only pear shaped Asian pear I can find record of) as they don't carry that variety so insist it's a European and I'm hoping to figure out which one this year. I checked back for more at Berns's this year and they had none. However I also found nice dwarf trees at Marvins Organic Gardens. Sadly they are currently closed for the season but I know when I bought my last tree there in Oct they still had a couple Hardy Giants (which I believe is another name for Olympic) plus one Hosui and a couple New Century (Shinseiki). Very nice dedicated folks, but trees a bit pricy. If you get on their mailing list sometime during the winter they offer a chance to buy gift certificates and actually send you twice the certificate you purchase. That means I bought $100 and they sent me 2 $100 certificates. So the Hardy Giant priced at $90 actually cost me $45. Other thing I want to mention is that I went to many many many well known reputable nurseries around the Cincinnati area looking for Asian Pears and was told by every single one of them (except Marvins) that Asian Pear was just a pear that bore fruit. I couldn't even get any of them to check a book to prove they were wrong. Oddly, even Berns where I actually bought 2 Asian pear trees told me the same thing. Luckily I checked their stock for myself and found the Rajah and Daisui Li there. Rajah is my favorite of the 4 varieties that have fruited for me. Hosui tastes slightly better but is a far more challenging tree to grow. (I prefer sweet over tart). Rajah has been a dream requiring minimal pruning and producing lots of yummy fruit. 20th Century I didn't care much for, but they say first couple years of fruit on young trees tend to be lower quality so I'm giving it a chance. The first 4 trees (yes, I count Daisui Li since the tree and leaves look way more Asian than European to me) were prob 4-5 feet and in 5 gallon pots. I planted in autumn and all 4 bore fruit the next year. I also put in Hardy Giant, Shinseiki, Drippin Honey and Chojuro this year but will prob only get fruit from the Hardy Giant as it is the only large one. I really hope this helps. I went nuts looking and calling a couple years back. Pam in cinti Here is a link that might be useful: Marvin's Organic Gardens

Wow, that is so cool. I think it is so amazing that cloud formations are as individual as snow flakes. Each cloud formed by a wind current or weather condidtion unique to its creation. Thanks for sharing this.

I seem to have the worst luck possible with paint of all kinds. I've bought a Wal-Mart brand latex primer that looked like thick marshmallow sauce, went on great, bonded to the old plaster great, and when it dried had little bits of solid pigment streaking the wall everywhere. Went to a very expensive oil based primer for a different room and got fewer similar but more noticeable little mushy blob results. Mixed that paint again today this time using my drill and agitator for 10 minutes and wound up with bigger, softer, blobs and the paint seems sticky right from the can. I guess that is progress of a sort. Will repeat tomorrow. My first message contains the answer to your question.

I am watching it right now. Bob, you had a pretty bike ride-lucky you!