the main stem is around 3 inches tall and has none, there is one branch off the main stem and it is about 2 inches long and it appears to have 4-5 small buds but they arent doing much.

How cold was cold? Keep in mind your plants would be very tender because of them being in the house. Being wet and cold at the same time for some types would be lethal even if they didn't get exposed to freezing temps. I personally think it's not a good idea to move something outside unless it's for a shower under the hose or it's spring and you plan on leaving it out for the season. Houseplants on a whole will stress from the higher light intensity each time you do it. And if the wind comes up suddenly while it's out, things could get ugly. It's not hardened off and able to deal with wind. I'm curious why do you need to take them outside to water really good? Are you just meaning just the soil? I like to do that indoors right where they sit. randy

I once put a broccoli seedling on my railing and went to gather some stuff up before I went outside to plant it. I came back to find my sweet little girl cat (right now purring in my lap) helping herself to a nice fresh salad. Grr! Cats like broccoli?? Most humans don't like broccoli, and cats are carnivores! I took the seedling back up to put it under lights where it could grow another leaf or two before I planted it. It's doing fine, actually. So's the cat. I did not kill her. She's too cute. I just yelled at her. My spare room is a cat-free zone. That's where my quilting, my plants, my crocheting, and all those other delicate items stay, and the cats aren't allowed in. My thoughts and sympathies re: the Virginia Tech shootings. I have a similar back yard. I'm from Colorado.

I will try to answer questions. I don't know our GC's rationale and that's a good point that I should just ask him to explain his thinking. I doubt he is thinking resale as we have very clear with him that we intend to live in this house for the long term. (And the neighborhood defintiely does not call for huge "professional" gas ranges.) The capture point is a good one. The counter is that it's a small old kitchen. A big hood would dominate unreasonably, IMO. And I'm tall enough to bump my head on it too. So I think the slide out is a decent compromise. We have a gas furnace that is located in the attic. I doubt it has it's own mua, though the attic is also leaky. We have a gas tankless water heater located on the exterior of the house. And we do have a wood burning fireplace--currently never used, but with very long range tentative plans to convert it to gas and use it. The kitchen will have multiple operable windows (one of my main goals for this remodel is windows I can open in the kitchen). Thanks everyone!