I also live in the U.P. so our growing season is to short for me to not try and overwinter as much as possible. I have a banana tree (from seed two years ago)and a large elephant ear that come inside. Cannas and gladiolas, oxalis,a lantana I grew from seed this year and a nice containerof Ganzia and tricolor sage and Orange celosia I refused to give up to the cold. I have a small grow room that I start seedlings in the spring that most of the pots are at with a sunlamp for light. I have two special geraniums that Im trying the no soil,brown bag method. I have a large strawberry pot with rosemary, thyme and a curry plant in the southside kithen window. A eucalyptus and sunset hibiscus and two types of Abutilion in same window. Ive had two large Hibisus that Ive had for ten years that come in and out depending on the night temps. Ive had good luck keeping rosemary alive most of the winter in a cold porch with brightlight but this year Im keeping it inside and well watered, keeping my fingers crossed!Even if I lose this one It wont be till after Xmas and It makes a nice xmas plant.

Posted by mimi856 Sat, Jan 1, 05 at 22:58 So, I wrap my outside of my stain glass windows with the lead . which do you like to use. (I once ordered zinc by mistake.) and what do you use to hang yours with.? Posted by: Calamity_J Sun, Jan 2, 05 at 1:28 On smaller peices I use hobby came, on big peices I use H came and add twisted (like cord) H came inside that, but that's cuz it's what I've got kicking around and wanna use up, It does look good tho, when I worked as a Christmas helper at the local sg shop, zinc came was used. Posted by: stxmona Sun, Jan 2, 05 at 6:37 Haven't used any lead or zinc for years so can't remember. Usually if I need to frame...I use a wood frame cuz glazing putty is hard to get here. But either zinc or lead cane will work. Usually you just solder on a ring and hanging with chain or wire.

I am someone who did the science degree at 45 years (my first degree) and then ended up an academic - I ended up sad at the mess that our Universities are now in and walked out at 60 earlier this year - on the spur of the moment, after having lunch in the country town I now live in and love. I sold my city house to the man next door the next day and bought my dream (seen after the lunch the day before for the first time). So, after 20 years of sitting at a computer, I now look after 4 ducks, 2 drakes (I love them), a Silkie rooster and I think now 8 hens of different colors and sizes - they all live together with no pecking order (maybe because they are spoilt?), 2 dogs, and I am now looking after a friend's dog as well, and 2 ponies whom I absolutely adore. And some wildlife, I have had to learn so much as I find it hard to do all the right things, but I have a teacher about the horses one morning a week, and I am getting better. There is so much to do with all these animals, it takes me hours each day and of course I enjoy them all so much. I am now going to learn to ride so that one day when he grows up a bit more (as he is only 2 yrs) I can ride the larger pony as he is 12.5 hands and very stocky. I walked them down to the village showground today and as often as I can and we "talk" to the other horses down there and anyone else who likes to talk to us - I will get a reputation as the lady who takes her horses for a walk. It keeps me busy - I buy papers and never get to read them. I have also opened a small B&B which is booked on weekends and so one day a week I am flat out making it all beautiful and then I try to keep a low profile on the weekend so the guests can have as much privacy as possible. That's when I go shopping as the shops are all a long way away so I head off to look at nurseries with the dogs in tow. Life is truly wonderful. Granville44 - if you ever need a treat for some kids who would like a few days of country life and who would be kind to my animals, I have a 3 bedroom B&B on 5 acres just 2 hours from Sydney and would be happy to offer this to a church or charity group occasionally - I once had a teenage son who had some serious problems so now that I am older, I would always like to be able to put some joy back. Email me if you wish Kevarose

It's no wonder you're having trouble sleeping with that bright light shining into your bedroom. The management of the other building may not realize that it's so intrusive. Perhaps you could ask them to adjust it so that it doesn't shine so directly into you apt. I rarely have trouble getting to sleep, but I sometimes hve trouble staying asleep and find myself awake in the wee hours. It doesn't happen very often now, but the last few years of my working life it was almost every night. I chalked it up to having work related things on my mind. Anyway, what I did/do that works like a charm for me is to play a mental exercise. I'll pick something like places, foods, names, etc., and starting with the letter A think of all of the places/foods/names I can that start with A. When I can't think of anymore, I move to B and so on. Rarely do I get further than C or D before falling back to sleep. An example of places could go something like Alaska, Arkansas, Amsterdam, Africa, Albuquerque and so on. I'm always amazed at how well it works as I would think it would stimulate my brain and make me more awake, but it seems to have the opposite effect.