James, I have no issues with the heat because they grow inside my house. I never put them outside, even for a couple of minutes. I grow them in a spare room that has a large window that gets early morning sun. I also have them under cheap grow lights that clip onto something that's near the plants. The grow lights take an ordinary grow bulb or you can use those long square grow light bulbs. Either type will work and the total cost is really cheap. Ever since I found out about the water my plants are growing fast. I use only organic fert. since the other types of fert. can burn the roots. The organic can not burn the roots. A guy that I purchase miltoniopsis plants from told me that since most tap water is purified to get rid of bacteria and other things most tap water contains chlorine and chorline burns the delicate roots. I never thought about this before and since I found out about chlorine being in most tap water, this makes sense plus you can smell the faint odor of chlorine in the tap water. I can't tolerate the heat so I stay inside and I set my thermostat at 70 degrees. If I'm happy with the temps. the plants are probably happy too. I almost forgot one important issue. I have a humidifier working 24 hours. It's a real cheap humidifier that I purchased off of Etsy. The humidifier looks like a fat white stick. I stick it in an old plastic water jug and you can see the mist coming out. Apparently it works real well. I can't tell you the brand because it came in a company box and everything is in Chinese including the instructions. I think that the humidifier cost me around five bucks. My set up is cheap but I haven't killed any plants. I currently have about seven plants putting out spikes. I have about twenty plants and I don't want anymore. I'll probably get another one only if the flower color appeals to me or if it's a cross that I don't have.

This is so weird now it is out of control. I put 2-3 tiny water lettuce from the main pond (with fish) to the little pond that I completely drained and scrubbed out this spring. There are no rocks or any places to hide, it's small, and I got everything out of it before I filled it. So last night I'm out with my flashlight to check the tadpole I put in there (who is fine BTW thanks, sprouting little legs too) and as I see the tadpole swim under some water lettuce for cover out swims another fish! He looks like the poor little fellow I found that morning, just maybe a little smaller. A bird may cough up one dead fish but not two and not still alive! I'm wondering what killed the other guy I saw. I don't tend that pond much beyond topping off the water (with treated water) and pumping air into it, the filter & pump never really filtered out anything just kept some water flowing down the rock cascade. I did treat the water with PraziPro (as I'm treating my pond and indoor tank too) on Saturday but that is supposed to be very safe stuff. Huh! jalal: Thanks for the compliment! I'll see if I can find out a name for the grass. We got it from a friend who was chopping huge pieces out of his garden. It will grow without bounds over the years. Very hardy and comes back like clockwork every spring. I even have one clump 2 years now growing only so-so but it isn't planted! The root ball is just sitting on the ground. sleeplessinftwayne: That's a funny story. I'd love to see the fish jump from pond to pond or tank to tank. I wonder how they know which way to jump?

Good to catch up with everyone! Summer is always a busy time here. Lots of visitors who want to go the the ocean, and that means the whole day. Then having something cooked so when we get back we can have dinner. When my son and dil are here with their 4 little ones, it is VERY busy, and it takes a few days of down time to catch up with chores, etc. I do try to keep up with some blog events, and today I posted pics of the kitchen improvements we did.. I will link it so you can look if you like..I know some of you asked.. Betty, Congrats! How wonderful! Hope your dh is doing well too! Mo, good thoughts for you! Hope all turns out well. Speaking of which, Jane was having some medical concerns too, so please have positive thoughts for her too! OA, that's great! What do you use to show movies? An outdoor projector of some kind? It plays dvd's?? Cool! That would be great for here at the beach pavilion..although we have gnat issues here.. No bugs at night by you? Mary Ruth, I thought you had moved already! I remember when you said you were taking a break from HTE and Wicker Chair to get ready for the move.. And how is Judith? I know you are good friends.. Jay, good to hear from you too...You have been busy! DD have a good trip to the US! I have never been to your fair country! NCNana, we do out share of babysitting too.. 8 yo gdau has been a cast since school got out, and she won't get it off till Sept. Terrible time to break your arm..roller blades..ugh! Luvs, so good of you to start this thread.. Lynne, best wishes for your dau..I will pray for her.. and thank her for her service for me! Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen updates

juddgirl2 - I have been on vacation and am now seeing this thread. Now I am traumatized by just reading it! Try putting a freshly cut apple in your sons desk drawers. Leave them inside for a few days. This little trick was giving to us by a car dealer to remove odors from cars. My daughters cat urinated on her back seat. We removed the seat cover and shampooed it, but the smell was still slightly detected. The apple worked, although my daughter forgot about it and it attracted fruit flies! segbrown - If you have the stomach, read my story about our outdoor grill. Beware...it is heart wrenching, but the grill lives on, even though it took several hose and dishwasher cleanings to be presentable for me to cook on. I wanted to get rid of it, but DH wouldn't hear of it. Here is a link that might be useful: The grill versus the birds