Ed sounded hopeful. I sent him a pic of the eye and the roots. He said it looked real promising from what he saw. Good color, firm. And roots look good and he couldn't see any signs of crown rot, not bacterial rot as no bad odor. But he said it's hard to kill a hosta. And they can bounce back from anything, anything but rot. But if you get it off the good parts in time, it has a chance. I am hopeful. I am going to reorder her though. Any suggestions on a good place to order from that is not in Minnesota and still frozen? Orange Marmalade was just all mush. No visible eye any longer. As was Fire and Ice. But I hear F&I is not an easy one anyway, either, like Dream Queen. I calculated my losses, w/o including Luna Moth yet, I am at 35%!!! Ed said I am not to blame it was just we were hit with ice and snow bam, bam, bam. And it was heavy and sometimes it just can't take all that. Here's a pic of my current arrangement on and around patio. I put the patio babies up on bricks and stands so the sun hits them for longer. And I moved the ones in deep shade, because they need it the most, over to all day direct sun for now because they have good eyes but they are the least amount of growth showing, so I am forcing them out of dormancy, if you will, like the other lady.

My gathering with the old guys and wives is to be on the 27th - at that Hilltop restaurant on the west edge of London, to which I referred. I told the coordinator this morning that I might not be going ... and he wondered what could have come up to displace a plan that's running for all year. I told him that it was a meeting with some folks/friends that I'd met on the internet ... and one popular lady was from Arizona, so it was a one-time only opportunity. I'm thinking of suggesting that the lady that I usually go with go anyway,suggesting to anyone who asks that Ed isn't all there, today (if you'll pardon the expression). Actually ... the coordinator was running around at the close of the meeting looking for his list, and I don't think that he found it ... ... so maybe even he isn't sure how many will be "all there" at the crucial time ... ... with or without wives! Since there's to be a gathering with the Windsor folks, and Iva Mae isn't expecting to be available, and I'm free to travel, would it be better to plan a meeting in Woodstock ... Brantford ... Hamilton, which would make it easier for folks in and around Toronto to attend? Perhaps it could be earlier, after Niagara Falls and before Nita and Mike come to the campground near London? ole joyful

Alice, that's great that your classroom is like that. Perhaps you have a more flexible school district. I know many teachers who are completely fed up with the limited decision-making they have, where they have to teach to standardized tests, and which their entire future depends on those results. I went to public schools. I was a straight A student and took a load of honors and AP courses with perfect grades. I went to a top 10 university and was in for a shock when I arrived. I had perfected the art of memorizing and regurgitating facts for a test but I didn't truly learn. I knew how to do something, but I was never taught why I was doing it, or what it meant, or the impact. I went to 5 different schools in two different states so I can't blame any particular thing other than the style of teaching didn't work for me. I struggled in college because I felt that while I had gone to school, I hadn't really been educated. That's just me, and there are plenty of people who went to public schools and feel it was just fine. There are many great public schools, with passionate, dedicated teachers. As for private school teacher credentials, I would always do my research before enrolling as I know there aren't any mandated standards. For this particular school, all teachers have at least a BA in their topic. 20% have masters degrees and another 15% have PhD's in the subject that they are teaching, which I think is great for elementary school. I would much prefer teachers have degrees in specialized fields rather than general education degrees that are often seen in the elementary level. It's treated more like a high school where each subject is taught by someone with a degree in that field, instead of one teacher teaching every subject like most elementary schools. Of course having a degree doesn't assume someone can teach the subject to children but that's where I would rely upon the founder to ensure a good match. This type of approach really appeals to me, but that's not to say other approaches are bad.

Lead paint in old houses can be a problem. But, it is a problem that is often wildly exaggerated, as it has been here by some. Assuming the windows have been painted with paint that contains lead, its not a problem unless (1) the paint becomes particularized and airborne or (2) the kids eat it. Teaching children not to eat the windows has never been much of a challenge. But, if window-eating is a concern, then it's not the whole window that is the problem, just the stool. Removing the old pain from just the stool is not a stringent challenge and well within the ability of most homeowners. Just remember to use plenty of plastic to protect walls, floors, etc. from the remover. Window tracks should never be painted -- but for some reason we cannot convince painters of that fact. While it is true that operating a double-hung window sash that has been painted with lead paint can release micro-particles of lead into the air, we are talking about tiny, tiny, tiny amounts (unless the paint is already peeling) -- so tiny that it is doubtful they would ever arise to the level of a health hazard. But, if it is a concern, you can reduce the risk by using Slide-Ease or a dab or two of floor wax to reduce friction. Reducing friction has the effect of (1) making the window easier to operate and (2) decreasing the amount of particulates produced to something less than tiny, tiny, tiny amounts. Certain home health hazards are alarming, but this is not one of them. You alarmists should save your concerns for much more likely hazards -- being struck by a comet, form example.