Al, thanks for the gallows humor! Brightened my morning! ;) I think Mike has made an accurate assessment of the situation. The dangers of radon in the kitchen are hyperbolic, but that's not the issue. The issue is that the fear-mongering is a tangential attack on the potting mixes that incorporate granite. If we keep the topic on target, we quickly realize that there is a very, very, very low (miniscule) risk of radon in a mix. Another point that I'd like to address, and I apologize for not returning to this topic sooner: "No one trusts the tests by the Marble Institute. Its like the cigarette companies saying smoking doesn't cause cancer. I believe I read in Europe, granite must be tested before installing in the home." - Plenty of folks do trust the Marble Institute. Speaking in absolutes is seldom accurate. - In this case, it would be more accurate to say that this is like Cigarette Companies saying that smoking doesn't cause "all" the cancers that are attributed to smoking.... Further, the EPA is a garbage agency. Many, many folks mistrust the EPA and the harms it has caused by enacting policy based on hyperbolic, uncorroborated, and junk science. It is ironic to point the finger at the Marble Institute, while lauding the EPA. Again: Granite chips, in containers, pose an insignificant risk to users. To add: when sifting any ingredients - peat, turface, perlite, quartz, coco, or bark - always use caution to avoid inhaling fine particulate. Practice common sense. Josh

I'm sorry, but this time you lost me back at the bakery, er, I mean pantry. I know you need to nail down these last minute switcheroozies before Thursday's install, Sylvia, but without seeing a layout drawing from where you're starting, there can only be guessing. I also recognize that your descriptions and explanations sound perfectly clear to you but that's because you know what you are looking at, people here do not. It's truly amazing your contractor is still allowing changes this late in the game. He has so little leadtime left. Sounds like he's one heck of a guy in the customer satisfaction area. Lucky you!

In my experience with feral cats, If you crate a feral, (or even a domestic cat) they do much better if you cover the crate with a large towel or blanket. especially when transporting. I suppose I am fortunate to have a vet that has no problem neutering feral cats. (There is hope for Bob, Maryl) I have several formerly feral cats that are now inside cats...more notably Bella, Gus, and Bosky. Bosky sneaked out once after we brought him inside (he was injured by older dominate males and badly needed treatment). He then sneaked back inside that same day and has never attempted to leave again. We had him neutered while he was being treated for the leg wound, of course. I couldn't stand for the very feral but beautiful Bella to live as a feral cat and Bella has been an indoor cat for several years now. As it turns out, she would probably be dead otherwise since she had a tumor in her ear that was infected last year and she would have died without surgery.. The previously feral cats are very loving and seem to be happy as house cats. Of course then there is Gus. He was attacked by a pack of dogs and we took him to the vet where he was shaved and treated for his many wounds. DH said he wasn't going back outside after the rather expensive surgery, and Gus has never tried to escape the house. One other thing, after neutering, we put the feral cats in a large dog crate for recovery (put a little mulch or dirt on top of a small litter box and they will use it). We have water in the crate, of course, and feed them in it a couple times a day. After recovery, we free them and they have always stayed around as if nothing had happened. We kept Spatter in the crate until she weaned her kittens, then had her neutered, she had time to heal then was released. She stays around here still and eats here almost 2 years later. I must admit that I earn the Crazy Cat Lady title. kay

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you all know you were spot on, of course. Kitchen is red oak, main floors and upstairs are white.. and naturally all patched in oak amongst the white is red. It’s so beautiful I may just do Bona NaturalSeal followed by Traffic HD. My floor guy didn’t bring any Bona products with him to test out so I’m hoping you all have some advice to offer for the red oak in the kitchen. (Planning on emailing him tonight to confirm he’s bringing NaturalSeal and Traffic HD with him tomorrow). What would be the best product to use on the red oak to try and match as closely as possible to my natural white oak? I know it won’t be perfect and that’s fine. Just hoping to give him a heads up since he only brought 5 Duraseal stains with him today and all but 1 were med-dark.