Exactly! It's a process called "bare-rooting," where you remove as much of the old, compacted soil as possible. Often, you'll prune some of the larger, circling, or very woody roots. You might need to soak the root-ball in water to get the old soil off. While you work, it is good to have a helper handy, to mist the root-ball while it is exposed. Fine root-hairs will die quickly, so you want to have your materials ready to go. When you re-pot, you want to carefully tuck the new mix around all of the roots. I use a smooth chop-stick for this, and I work slowly. I also water the mix as I fill the pot, checking for open pockets beneath the root-ball. After re-potting, leave the trees in a SHADY location for 1 - 3 weeks, depending upon how shocked they are. When they begin to show new growth, gradually introduce them to more sun. Light coming through a window does not compare to true, outdoor light. Nutrients such as you'd find in a box of Miracle Grow. Or Osmocote. Or Foliage Pro by DynaGrow (my preference). Josh

Cindy- First, we are our own flooring guys, we bought the material at an auction, rented a floor sander (our ineptitude with that machine alone was enuf to make a sitcom), sanded 'er down and applied the finish, now at 4 coats and counting. We're using stain and polymerized tung oil and the many coats creates a hard, repairable and long lasting finish. We have used and abused them quite a bit at each stage (coat 1, 2, etc.) and they look great, just a few scratches, but we happen to like patina, so no worries on our part. The polymerized tung oil really does hide scratches well when the next coat goes down. From what I've read, and I am by *no* means an expert, just a DIYer who has read a lot of Internet stuff about floors, it's better to wait more time between coats regardless of the finish you're using, so I would say that your floor guy is right and that waiting till late in the game to apply the 3rd coat is best. However, I would try to get all moved in, then apply the coat so that freshly finished floors are not getting a great deal of traffic, esp with heavy items and the work boots one normally wears when moving those heavy items. HTH, and good luck- sandyponder

Hi guys! Good to see everyone checking in! Patti~ Congrats on the grandbabies! Hope you get to hold them soon. How are your relatives in Texas doing? Are they okay with the weather and all? Amy~ Well, I'm glad you hung in there with your friend. I bet you were the voice of peace and reason for him and helped him through his rough times. LOVE the photos! Absolutely serene and beautiful. I can imagine NHSuzanne and SP riding through the wooded trails! NHSuzanne~ You little brat! You're making me really envy you with all these end of the summer trips and time outs with friends. JK! Have a great time and bring your foot warmers!!!!!! Raeanne~ Shame on you for falling asleep! Morgan the magician's assistant went this time! In her family moment (brought to the viewers by Febreze fabric softner), her mother said there was a spa appointment waiting for her. She'll probably get a LOT of ribbing for THAT one! Anyway, I was glad to see her go instead of our fish monger from Washington! :) DeeMarie! Jam packed weekend, I see! Make healthy choices! In answer to the QOD: Friday: Went to donate blood, but hematocrit was too low - under 35. So I'll try again in a week. Then went to a furniture consignment shop and picked up a cool perfectly round mirror, cast iron 6' tall candle stand, and a cool red shallow bowl. Now it's paperwork at the title company, grocery shopping, and working on a new design. After school, I am taking the girls to Corpse Bride, the new Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie. I can't wait. Then I might throw a steak and some spinach on the BBQ to give my red blood cells a boost. Saturday: Gotta get party junk for the my DD's party next weekend, so I'm going to Archie McPhee's, the cheap magic store. The kids love it and I do too. Tomorrow night, it's my company yearly Holiday party. WAY too busy where I work between Thanksgiving and New Year's, so they do the party in September. Just remembered! Gotta pick up my dresses from the cleaners! YIKES! The company is hiring a hypnotist, so it ought to be a gas. Sunday: YARD! YARD! YARD! LAUNDRY! LAUNDRY! LAUNDRY! I have to get my yard completely weeded b4 winter rain comes and get bark sprayed to keep the springtime weeds down! I might even get a burst of energy and work on the garage a little. It needs it---badly! Check in people! We wanna hear from you! MARCI! Have your little ones handcuffed you and held you captive? BESH! Have the junior high kids over-run the town and tied all the adults to the witch burning stakes? JEN! How did the ear operation go? Did our little 'Miss' get her Dora the Explorer boots? TIKANAS! You said you'd be back soon!!!! COME BACK! KYSUSIE! JOANNE! Aand all the others I missed! And MADDIE, if you're back - give us a story or two!

It's NOT about how to post pictures! she wants you to post a picture on that thread. If I did, I know YOU will! lol Here is a link that might be useful: picture posting