That works out to 110lbs/1,000sqft per year. The author doesn't indicate what type of fertilizer his father uses but it may be the same full spectrum micro-encapsulated fertilizer (slow release) in a 70/30 ratio with Ironite that the author uses. If the combination of the fertilizer mixed with Ironite is 4% N, the father is applying 4.4lbsN/1,000sqft per year. -Deerslayer

Whoa, I think the conversations are going OT here - let's get back to Phoggie's concerns, which in re-reading I note she mentioned wanting to sell her house, but nothing in town is selling. It's pretty clear the current environment is to the buyer's advantage, not the sellers. You can certainly sell your house, but you will have to take much less, in some areas up to 25-30% less, than it was worth two years ago. If you can afford to take the hit and absolutely must sell, then find the very best RE agent you can, and make sure you take their advice about how to best market your property. If you can hold on instead, you will be a much better position in a couple of years. The real fall-out is not banks failing or home prices falling, it's the tightening on mortgage applications. A rather large percentage of folks can no longer qualify, as excerpted below from the WSJournal (a link to the full article is provided as well, but you need to be a subscriber to read it): "...But even borrowers who think they're well positioned to be approved for a mortgage "can't assume anything," said Guy Cecala, of Inside Mortgage Finance. And they'd better be prepared to shop around to get the best rates "Cecala estimates that a third of the people who were able to get a loan in 2005 and 2006 no longer qualify for financing today. That takes into account the disappearance of subprime and Alt-A loans as well as the tightened requirements for getting prime mortgages, he said. "Mortgage credit is as tight as we've seen it in a generation," said Cecala, publisher of the industry newsletter. "When does it get looser? When people feel that the housing market is stabilized, and that's really not going to happen until we start seeing an end to rising defaults and foreclosures, and housing prices have stabilized in markets throughout the country." "If he had to guess, it'll be another year before getting a mortgage becomes any easier. "In some cases, lenders are even looking beyond the numbers for proof not only that an applicant has a job with a steady income stream but is also likely to keep that job, said Bob Moulton, president of Americana Mortgage Group on Long Island, N.Y....." It's a rough time for many. Watch your expenses, take care of your health (maintenance being many times more cheap than procrastination). Talk to your neighbors or friends about ways you can save money together, even in little ways. Look at your town/city with new eyes, there might be free events you passed by before - if you give them a try, it will at least be something different, and you won't be out any big $$. And you might find something new and interesting this way, that you would have missed otherwise. Get together with a friend, take a walk in good weather and just talk. Come back home for coffee and a home-made coffeecake. Someone posted on the Caregivers forum about a friend whose DH was just given 2 months more to live - it reminds you that truly, the best things in life have little to do with money. Here is a link that might be useful: WSJournal article (subscribers only)

I operated an overlock machine in a factory setting for several years. In addition to several other "multi-needles" (the generic term for the many machines that employ loopers in place of bobbins). I can rethread my machine (5 thread overlock, Willcox&Gibbs) in under a minute when I use it regularly and just under 3 when I'm out of practice. What's up with the threading ORDER? in all the years I've operated overlocks I've NEVER read anything so foolish! If the machine is properly timed and the tensions properly adjusted it shouldn't matter in what order you THREAD THE THING; once the machine begins the stitch cycle the only thing that matters is that it's been threaded properly and the tensions are in correct adjustment. Once you learn how to "time" a machine you become irritated by wivestales like that; they do little save breed fear, insecurity, and indigestion in owners. Trust me. I THINK there is most likely a tension issue. When I suspect this I immediately back ALL THE TENSIONS off and then begin the rather tedious task of patiently bringing them all into proper adjustment. You may have a burred needle. A burred needle will be "retarded" in its scheduled stitch cycle and it may actually fray the thread of the looper that passes by it in the stitch cycle. The fraying may occur over many repeated cycles, so changing out a needle is a good first step. My guess, though, is a tension issue. This was the number one cause of "down time" in the line. Don't be cowed by the manual. You need to sit down and fiddle around with the tensions; until you're willing to GO FOR IT, you will never master your machine and forever be a slave to it. Take an antacid, change the needle, and start screwing around with the tensions. Really.

Thanks everyone for your support & stories! Also the info has been very helpful. We don't have basements in the Delta....they are usually in hillier areas. We don't even have a crawl space. Our house is on a raised foundation looking like a crawl space but it is only an illusion..called a monolithic slab or something to that effect. There was a pan under the water heater but from what the plumber told my husband, the pop off valve blew because the temperature was set above normal & it finally just blew. He advised my husband to set the temperature down to the normal setting, checked everything out and all is well. Just repainting to tackle after Christmas. We got our new frameless shower door put in & it looks awesome so that is something to be lively about! We have out minds set on graduation Saturday morning & seeing DD receive that diploma which is a GIANT happy! So will continue on with Christmas decorating when I can & not let the paint or water heater get me down. I think we were just in shock last night but are much much better today. Thank you all again for helping me & the sweet notes about the room & tree! Ya'll are the best! Bonnie