Thanks for the compliment regarding my photography skills, pennyhal. I got the plant at a nearby wholesaler for $8, believe it or not. They had a bunch of gibbifloras and only one other had curled leaves, and its were not as curled. My understanding, bikerdoc5968, is that most if not all Echeverias with carnunculation (bumps) are either gibbifloras or gibbiflora hybrids. I've never seen any like the ones in your first photo. The spacing of the leaves makes them look good even with long stalks.

I agree that it is easier to ask your guests to bring only themselves most of the time. Better for everyone. I have a friend who offered to bring appetizers to a gathering of ours last year. She turned up about 15 minutes late with a cold package of brie that had come from Costco. Originally it had been frozen and she thawed it. It was designed to be eaten hot though so we had to cook it for 30 minutes. By then dinner was ready so I just added it along with everything else for dinner. It tasted strange to me so I checked the package and it had expired about six months previously. Into the trash it went. Now when those friends come I just ask them to bring themselves and whatever alcohol they really like. I provide the rest. Kate

carol, if you're referring to MY kitchen..you're spot on. I think I've ditched the idea of black cabs. You mentioned my dark counter top. One of the reasons I've backed away! As well as the white appliances. I've finally decided I need to work WITH the elemenents in my kitchen. Not against :) As much as I love an all white kitchen, or black cabs..I have too many things that will make it always seem "off". I think I've opted for a slightly creamier white on the top cabs. And a taupe that I've pulled out of the tile floor on the bottom. That way, the floor doesn't look dirty (with the white against it), and there's not a sea of all white. (cabs, subway tile, appliances, light floor) And all these colors can also be found in the counter top. I'm hoping I can pull it off. :)

Below is a link to BBC Radio 4 and a reading of 'And His Letters . . .' by the actor Nigel Havers who btw is appearing as Maxim de Winter in Rebecca on the London stage. Perhaps not quite Olivier but he does have that aristocratic 'something' about him. At the BBC site click on Monday And regarding aristocrats, Frieda, maybe some people in the UK feel that a hangman's gibbet should stand outside the House of Lords or that hereditary peers should be replaced by friends of the Government with deep pockets . . . not so different from the old system when you consider how many 'top people's' ancestors obtained their titles. Either way, arriving with William the Conqueror or slightly more recently when various Royal Mistresses demanded positions for their offspring, this group is part of the Establishment. No amount of money, delicacy of character, nobleness of soul makes it possible for the rest of us to join this elite group (and it is amazing how many would like to be Up There). Top actors, pop singers, Party Girls etc hang round the edge but they are almost never admitted into this inner-sanctum. Of course there are some very wealthy people in this bracket; mostly from ownership of land and lots have 'Stately Homes'. Many of you have probably been to Chatsworth, Castle Howard, Warwick Castle etc. who's owners have wisely turned their properties into money-making enterprises. Interesting about the story of the student and her father. Surprisingly over here, for everyone below Royalty if such a thing had happened (a father writing in on behalf of his daughter) any university would have put the application straight in the bin; there is no automatic right of entry to any uni' for sons/daughters of alumni. Re adoption: there are certainly far fewer babies available these days. Although many many more babies are being born 'out of wedlock' (for want of a better expression) this is usually by choice . . . of at least one parent . . . and in both big cities and small country towns the sight of groups of very young females pushing baby buggies, smoking, chatting to boys (the possible fathers?) is very common. Our Govt gives out vast amounts of benefits to this group so the need to put a baby up for adoption is very low and many people only want healthy white children. The Social Services who are usually the first port of call in these matters make the 'process' very very difficult, especially for middle-class couples. It seems that if a child comes from a poorer, perhaps racially mixed background the social workers wants it to be adopted by people from that 'class' without considering whether the child might stand a chance of a better life. Some parents look abroad as I expect they do in the US, but this can lead to even more problems . . . and cost far more than going through the usual channels. When the cases of the Romanian orphans was first aired on TV some people tried to adopt a child, thinking with their hearts rather than...