I think the problem most North Americans have with South American veggies is that we don't know how they serve them. My hubby spent his childhood all around SA and has introduced me to some of the various dishes. I must say I've only found a couple I didn't really like and those were just too hot (chile pepper wise) for me. The sauces are amazing.....flavor but not oily or full of cream. The Spaniards didn't do us a favor when they conquered the Indians of South and Central America. The health benefits of some of their food is just now being understood. Oca and quinoa are veggies that contain a large amount of protein. And some of the drinks they make from local corns are full of antioxidants. Looks like the Spaniards left the real gold behind.

lvannote, cure/leach your tufa, cause fresh tufa and crete can be caustic. Find some moss growing in an environment similar to the location for your tufa. Glue your moss to your tufa then regularly mist your tufa twice a day for about a month with rainwater or distilled. Make sure that moss gets no direct sun and plenty of shade for that month. Use 1/4 strength miracid fert or similar acidic fertilizer for acid loving plants every two to three weeks in Spring and Fall. Go to this website: http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ and download the Moss Grower's Handbook by Michael Fletcher. Page 18 tells of gluing moss to substrate, in your case your tufa. Southern Indiana, particularly sandstone areas that are shaded and frequently damp and have high humidity should have about 100 - 200 different species of moss. Look in shaded damp ravines. I have seen brachythecium growing on smooth brick. You could just pick the moss up off the brick. Only gravity and a sheltered location kept the moss in place. Generally moss needs a way to attach to a surface. In time it can atach to a rough surface, but almost never to a smooth surface. Moss found on rocks will do well on tufa. Moss found on logs or soil may not. Moss transplants best from similar surface to similar surface. Rick

Irina, That hammock thing looks intriguing. If would have to be inside though. It's still too cold for that king of experimenting but I'll let you know how it goes ;) Christine, No, this is not a usual way of propagation. But, some of us like to experiment and the longer we suffer from cabin fever the more we want to try something new, different or unusual! Pembroke, I have a 'Playful Spectrum' (notoriously unstable) that sported into a solid pink. Irina suggested I take a leaf from the lower leaves that may still have the genetics of the original form. Maybe try to take your leaves from the side that is blooming true (and maybe from the older parts of this side, as well). I don't think splitting the plant will do much good as everyone else says. You'll end up with a misshapen plant that still has the genetics to go off on its own. Some violets are just unstable and highly affected by their environment. Linda

Flyleft, there is a post on the Appliances board that discusses solutions to cleaning in between the glass. I think I read it about a month "ish" ago. The link was first started quite a while ago, I believe, but got bumped from recent postings. You could try a search in that forum (use bottom search box) for "cleaning oven glass" or something like that. Sorry, I can't remember the title of the thread.