BATS is an insecticide that causes the plant to become toxic to insects that feed on it. Bauer Advance Tree and Shrub is the name of the product and it works very well. Using indoors is pretty safe if you are careful but outdoors these products can easily poison bees and other good insects if you are not careful. I grow staghorn ferns but only have one right now because my Platycerium grande died because it dried out too much while I was on vacation last year. Mike

To clarify, what I had on the wall was (and still is on one) masonite strips, making up an Arts & Crafts, Mission style of wainscoting. So it's those strips I'm prying off, and they're really hurting the wallboard, leaving gouges. Western, I'm going to get a chance to do that mudding. :/ Cooperbailey, thanks for asking him. I've been using a flat screw driver and a hammer and that's worked pretty well. Fortunately, some of the boards came off pretty intact, though a lot of them left residue on the wall as they layered into small pieces. Many have left gouges where the wall is sort of peeling. It looks very nasty. I've completed the short wall. Next, the long wall. Then I get to sand the whole thing again, peeling the peely places I guess until I hit firmness. Then I get to mud/skim coat and sand the whole thing probably three times, letting it dry between coats. Gosh, I sure hope I can make it smooth and nice. Then I will wallpaper it. OR, if I get it really smooth, then I could use thin moulding to do the little boxes on the wall. What do you think? I think of beadboard as less formal... darling in bathrooms, but maybe the other types of wainscoting are better for an entry staircase with my formal furniture? Or not? I did order the beadboard wallpaper, but I can use that any number of places, like the hallway, bathrooms, my bedroom, etc. The life of a DIYer doesn't always run smoothly, but we always learn something, even if it's "don't try that again." Now I get to learn to mud walls. Estreya, thanks for the hug! I could use it right about now. That and maybe Bengay? lol! Oh, just got off the phone with my son and for right now he seems to be doing better than I expected. We'll see how it goes over the next days. The official breakup is still in front of him.

Sorry, I missed a bunch of posts here. This "temporary" flooring will be used for the next 1.5 yr or so until I undertake the kitchen remodel. There will be NO salvaging the rug. It's disgusting and while I didnt intentionally spill the paint-- lukki is right that it is a happy accident! I also nix sheet vinyl. I hate it.. would rather do anything else but. My long term vision for the kitchen is only partially worked through so it's hard to say what I envision for the long term. IF I can bring in flooring that will last through a reno, then I'll be more likely to take the time to choose carefully. As I've said a few times, I love the look and features of cork. However, I think I could also be happy with some other options. I am definitely intrigued by the poly plywood suggestion-- and had already hoped to paint the subfloor (until I discovered that it will require a great deal of work). I could move forward with that as soon as the painters are through. I don't mind spending some money on the flooring-- it's worth it to be rid of the carpet. What I don't have much to spare is time... so all of the quick and easy options are high on the list. Bee.. that's funny! I said that very same thing to my bf (who thought Ollie's was a hoot.) Thank you all-- love the range of ideas and suggestions! I just need to spend some time mulling them over now.

We just received a refund for a whole 33 cents! It only cost $2.27 to mail it to us. I don't know what I will splash out on.....say 6 french fries at McD's? 1/4 cup of coffee at Starbucks.........goodness it is going to keep me awake deciding. QOP