Carolyn, Why don't laelias bloom for you? but catts bloom for you, right? I will def. check out those SA vendors per your suggestion, thanks... I've been so bad, all your talks about "other plants" make me feel a little guilty! I don't "look" at anything except for orchids now... I've been trying to stop myself for hitting that "submit" button at growers' sites. I kept telling myself this is my first winter with the 'chids, let's see if I could get thru without a problem... but if CJ can have a "winter fix", then we all deserve to have at least a fix or two, right??? Oh, Michigoose, I would go back to Trader Joe's, look at it this way, you know how lucky you are to be able to buy orchids at local stores? I certainly don't get that luxury... lol...

Thank you NuitJasmine for the links and advice. I am looking at houses to buy as real estate prices are falling and there are many REO/foreclosures. A kind real estate broker pulled the info on the property I am renting: landlord has mortgages in 8/04 $220,000, 4/05 $150,000, 9/05 $420,000 and 5/07 $499,000. He also owns property in Colorado and possibly elsewhere. He has received two late notices from Countrywide which is not a lender on this house. It's apparent he is in financial trouble. I plan to check with the county registrar periodically for notice of default on this property. I was told in the case of foreclosure one has 30 days to get out (I assume this means the owner/borrower who cannot pay the mortgage). I was also told by a mortgage broker that banks do not like have property on their books nor do not like houses to sit empty. I plan to stay informed and contact the lender in the case of foreclosure to pay rent to them when they take back the house. For all I know they may work with me to buy this property or the new owner (whenever this may finally sell) may agree to keep me on as a tenant (at a higher rent obviously which I am quite willing to pay if I can stay here). As for eviction, under rent stabilization he has no just cause. His eviction attempt is illegal, it is not justifiable under the Ellis Act for the purposes of selling the house; he did not file proper documentation with the city nor pay relocation costs to me within 15 days as required. I can only assume he hopes I'll go away "voluntarily" because his lawyer sent this letter. If I had more money at my disposal I would as this is an extremely stressful situation but I need time to pay off some creditors, save money for moving, find the right house to buy or rent at the right price, etc. The relocation money would really help but I doubt he has the money to pay it and I can't take any action to force it because he's not allowed to pay me to relocate for the purposes of selling the house; only the new owners can (legally). I'm not unreasonable - but there is a total breakdown of communication and goodwill from this landlord as though I'm to blame for his situation. There has been vandalism on my car three times coinciding with events e.g. his receiving a letter from the city regarding habitability repairs, a neighbor filing a complaint because his dogs howl and bark at all hours, etc. I'm a divorced mother of a disabled child barely keeping my head above water - this guy has a motor home, a full-size pickup truck, a mini truck, a Mustang, horse trailer (and horse), ATV's, a VW Thing, and he's just bought a new Nissan truck. He's blown through two marriages and pays child support on kids from both. He moved in the front house when his residence nearly went into foreclosure after his second divorce. He took back one room in my house to store his stuff and bumped me from my parking space without discussion because of all his vehicles. I've paid $80K in rent so far over the years and essentially paid for half of what he originally got this property for had he not refinanced it over and over again. It's a shame because he could easily have owned these homes outright by now had he taken another path.

CHIGGERS! The invisible eat and runners that don't really run. A nice big bottle of peroxide, a good scrubbing with soap to make sure they're really gone (microscopic skin lice..the 'welts' are an allergic reaction to their 'saliva')Hubbs has been bringing them home from work like crazy from all the grass growth and rainfall. We've been washing clothes like it's going out of fashion. Leaf cutters. Oh yeah, it's fun for your roses to look like swiss cheese - not. Leaf spot. I have battled all season, screw the organic I'm playing for keeps. I do avoid the insecticides though. Just fungicide, since it's a little more user friendly. I've topped off my season with loosing a tree to Io Moth Caterpillars, which not only strip a tree in a week when you get a large colony, but they STING. Moving eating stinging machines. I tried bacterial worm spray but it was too late. They were headed for my roses. I got out my pruning shears and cut over 100 worms about the size of my index finger in half. I've got the fire ant leprosy look alike feet, which with a barefoot gardeners tan really looks strange. I've discovered stings on your fingers are ooooohhh so much worse than other places, my whole hand swelled up like the michelin man after a sting under my wedding ring. I'm starting to notice the really 'good' ones inspire a somewhat 'arthritic' joint pain under the sting. I've got more grubs than I know what to do with, and have come to take pleasure from putting them on the hot sidewalk in the sun when I find them. When that doesn't work they get finished off with the shovel. Building mounds for plants is making me insane. 6-10" down, ROCK!

LOL!! I can poof my hips plenty, but it's the un-poofing that has me stumped! LOL!!! Dee--only if there is a red Swingline Stapler involved! (Did you ever see the movie "office Space"? I can relate to Milton, although my stapler is in more of a kitchen-y setting!) Tikanas, I remember you asked about me and that stapler--here ya go--the infamous chicy story--- Several years ago, some smarty-pants posted the following recipe: ROAST STICKY CHICKEN 4 tsp salt 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp thyme tsp garlic powder 2 tsp paprika 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp white pepper ½ C chopped onion 1 large roasting chicy In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices. Remove giblets from the chicy; clean the cavity well, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture into the chicy, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and rubbed deep down into the skin. Place in a resealable plastic bag, seal and refrigerate overnight. When ready to cook chicy, put in a crock-pot and do not add any liquid. As the cooking process goes on, it will produce its own juices. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours, and it will be falling off the bone tender. Sounds simple, right? I got a wild hair one Friday to fix it, and then cook it the next day. So, after work, I went to the grocery (no list, mind you, just reliance on my mighty memory! SNORT!) and proceeded to run amuck. I couldnÂt remember just what spice I had, and when I got a good look at the prices, I decided that I had all the ones that were required, and so I just bought a fresh chicy. Got home, got comfortable, Rog was at work, and all was right with the world. UntilÂ..I got to looking for the spices, and realized to my horror that I was missing a great deal of what I needed. Hmmmm get dressed and go back to the store, or improvise? Improvise, it is! No cayenne? I got FrankÂs Hot Sauce. Thyme? DonÂt need no stinkin thyme! I got oregano! Garlic powder?? Please. I got the real thing. White pepper---ahhhhÂ. I do have that. UmmmÂ. No, I donÂt. I do have an empty can in the cabinet, but I donÂt think that counts. So, I improvised, substituted and down-right lied. Got all the spice together, and then started to mess with my fresh chicy, that I paid more for than my stupid car. As I am pulling out the giblet bag, I noticed that it was hard and cold. Not good, as fresh anything should not be partially frozen. As it reposed on the counter, and I was contemplating on whether I should get the bourbon or tequila out (for me), the d@mned chicy tried to make a run for it and slid off the counter. Onto the dirt and grime, decimated frozen peas, and lots of cat hair that make up the daily mess of my kitchen floor. Freakin greatÂnow IÂm gonna hafta shave the d@mned thing before I can use the rub. I pick it up and throw it into the sink, spreading unimaginable gunk everywhere, wash and dry it, nail it to the counter, and start to apply the rub. Lemme tell yaÂthis ainÂt as easy as it sounds. Nothing like massaging a cold, dead chicy, and getting the impression that it actually likes itÂewwwww! And I donÂt know what they mean by "Large Roasting Chicy". What the h3ll is that?? Mine was 6 pounds, and the rub didnÂt seem to cover it like I thought it should. So, into the galleon sized Zip-Lock bag it goes. No, wait. The d@mned chicy is too big and when I try to shove it in the bag, the rub is getting shoved into the grooves of the sealing part, and itÂs not staying on the chicken. H3LL! LetÂs try this again, and dig outta the grooves as much rub as I can, and smear it on the chicy. DidnÂt work this time, either. (Note: Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Case in point.) I cuss and I fuss, and I finally got the chicy in the bag (BARELY!!), and now, the Zip Lock wonÂt lock. Too much rub in the grooves, and nothing, short of dynamite, will clear it out. OK. IÂm tired, IÂve killed the kitchen, I have spice rub and cat hair all over my face and arms (where they stuck in the chicken juice). I donÂt care anymore. I will be in the local mental facility tomorrow anyway, so why do I care about tomorrowÂs dinner? The chicken won. The rub won. The d@mned Zip Lock (that wonÂt) bag won. They had, until I remembered my stapler. My handy dandy, will staple anything, always there for me, stapler. With a maniacal laugh and a smile that would put the Joker to shame, I dug it out of the drawer, and proceeded to staple that d@mned bag **shut**. I was a staplin fool, and I only stopped when I ran out of staples. IÂm sure the neighbors were wondering what was going on as I told the bagged chicy "IÂll get you, my pretty, and your d@mned rub, too!" along with the sounds of out of control stapling. I did eventually get some cheap wine and take a bubblebath, after showering off the remnants of the chicy. Rog saw the poor creature stuffed in the fridge, and wisely chose not to say anything until the next day. The chicy was very good, however, but every time I see a galleon sized Zip lock bag, I get an irresistible urge to staple something. Now, aren't you sorry you asked???? LOLOL!!! Hugs, Maddie