I think I have an entirely different perspective on moving forward slowly in baby steps, when leaps and bounds are there for the taking. If you're blazing a trail, or you've set out from 'A' in a random search for 'B', slow baby steps might be a reasonable course; but when the trail has already been blazed and well-traveled, there is very little risk in moving forward quickly. The worst that can happen is a little stumble, but there are plenty of travelers along the way to help get you back on the trail. Another way to look at it is, why take a years worth of baby steps, trying a little of this and a little of that, when a few weeks is all it will take to evaluate your progress and do an immediate about face to the former status quo if things don't work out. There is always something to be said for the KISS method, but keeping it simple doesn't mean you should (logically) feel there is an improved chance for favorable results. As I think about that issue and how it relates to the way I grow, I'm left to wonder what could be done to make it any simpler. I use virtually the same soil (made with equal parts of only 3 ingredients) and the same fertilizer for all my houseplants. They're pretty much all treated the same way, except maybe in summer, when some require a little less than full sun. I think the most complicated part of the whole package is the explaining 'why' it works so well to others who wish to take a similar course. The rest, the application part, is simple. I guess I like the people I'm trying to help to understand the concepts behind why they're having greater success. .... sort of like that whole "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. TEACH a man to fish, and ...." It's sometimes difficult to explain a technical concept w/o BEING technical in explaining, but that the explanation might seem technical is not by any means a clear indication the application must follow as such. The application is really quite simple. I'm not sure how I come down on the 'fuss less and water less' thing. There's nothing wrong with fussing. Heck - I'm always fussing over my plants - taking a leaf off here, whacking a branch or deadheading there, pulling unwanted weeds out of the soil ..... as long as it's appropriate fussing, all is well. I think key is learning what is and isn't appropriate. The same with watering. You can tell a known over-waterer to water less, and most times the suggestion will be helpful, but not always; so I would probably make the suggestion that the over-waterer learn to water appropriately (which is quite an art) and on an 'as needed' basis only, instead of on a schedule. To that, however, I might add the qualifier that as the porosity of your soil increases the importance of watering on an 'as needed' basis decreases; and the greater will be the 'forgiveness factor' if you DO find it necessary to water on a schedule. The reason is, of course, that it is the soils that remain saturated for extended periods that encourage rot organisms to take hold. Porous and fast draining soils that retain no saturated layer of soil at the bottom of the container offer considerable margin for error in the watering department ...... less likelihood of the mold issue like Kim had arising, as well. I think, in my travels here at GW, I have identified 3 different ways of how people look at the issue of change. I won't go into the reasons for the positions people take, I'll only say that they are there. The first group is almost entirely resistant to change, no matter how overwhelming the evidence that it is in all probability a good course. Even the fact that this group might have plants they KNOW aren't all they could be, is not enough, from their perspective, to warrant change. Another group is somewhat resistant to change, but will make changes when they have seen good reason to make them. They are often only swayed by the testimony and success stories of others. This group is often content with a few minor changes in their approach, and not usually willing to make an exerted effort at major change; although I've seen a lot of them become very enthusiastic after a few changes have made considerable improvement in their results. The third group is very open to weighing suggestions, and to making a sometimes considerable effort to improve their results through learning and incorporating new strategies. They're generally interested in the positive and even naysayers can't hold them back. Unfortunately, these groups are often at odds, and even more sadly, it's usually because of their perspectives; but should it be that way? Of course not. Why should the growers hungry for change and improvement care if the first group is content in their methods and results? Conversely, why should the firmly entrenched care if some few want to break away from the pack and stretch their wings? Ah well, I didn't think I would find so much to talk about. It's getting late, so I'll wish all a good night. Take care. Al

Hmmm, I think we should be over in conversations with the way this thread is going but....I'll suffer my 6 lashes with a wet noodle for adding my two cents. Indian Fry Bread, I wonder if that's the same as the bread made by making a dough out of flour and oil, rolled into a small ball, flattened, then deep fried. It puffs up when it's cooked. This little restaurant we go to served this with a Chickpea curry one day, Annette with her forward ways ended up in the kitchen watching how the bread was made. Yup, I got the recipe for the curry too :o). Annette

One thing I would look at with the duvet is the measurements. Most of the ones that I have seen are not made to drape over the sides of the beds all that much. Just something to think about when considering it. I have a duvet on my bed year round. I think that we picked it up at J.C. Penney. It has large baffle boxes and is probably a medium weight. I can cram the whole thing into my front loader washing machine if needed and then I hang it over the half wall of my stairway to dry. I try to hang it up around bedtime because wet down does reek. If the weather is right, once in I while I will just hang it outside in the sun to freshen up instead of going into the wash. We have a linen cover from Restoration Hardware that we use on it. My house is not air conditioned and I use it most nights (although it is definitely less humid here than where you are). Personally, I do not like the way the synthetic stuff shifts or feels (which makes finding a pillow I like difficult, too) so definitely spend some time feeling the different inserts.

Nice link Bourbon! I do know about the Champaca. I've tried sprouting the seeds a few times without any luck lol. I may just order a plant. Its another one I would have to put in the greenhouse though and I am running out of room. One of the reasons I started adding more roses is to have more color in the yard during the winter months here plus I don't have to put them in the greenhouse like many of my plants. I really need to move further south! Champaca is also called The Joy Perfume Tree. Chanel no 5 is supposed to mimic the Ylang Ylang tree. I am probably gonna get shade for this but I don't really like Chanel no. 5 lol. I do like the smell of the Ylang Ylang tree. Something must get lost in the transformation to perfume. I haven't smelled the Joy perfume yet. This is a great website to search and read about tropical plants. I have only ordered seeds from here because a lot of their shipping seems high but its a good resource to read about stuff. https://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Michelia_champaca I also have a couple Michelia figo aka banana shrubs which I can leave out in the winter here. It smells just like bananas and vanilla. They aren't as widely grown in North FL and they were when I lived in Louisiana but they should be.