Hi Lucky, Yes, I saw your explanation about the bugs. I don't have any experience, so I suggested you might want to see if your county where you live has an agricultural extension society and call them tomorrow. If the BBS are charging $10 per plant, then they must be very hard to get and rare in your area. For less money, perhaps consider ordering directly either from Optimara or from one of the specialty growers because you would possibly have a better chance of getting something less likely to have pests. The seed trays I got were under $10 each, and can be found for even less, I bought mine at a higher priced garden center. The long, narrow rectangular shape holds quite a lot, plus they are vented. I don't recall which thread where someone posted a photo of the exact same trays I got. Perhaps Diana remembers. Some people in my AV club also use clear plastic shoe boxes. The round cake boxes never worked for me, but that was before I joined the forum, so I did not open them to ventilate, so things rotted. Having trays where you can lift the domes off is easier, soil does not get tossed around as much, they are stable on the counter or floor. Diana, you wrote that you separated some suckers from new plants, that is a kindness to the plant! You wrote: I also took 2 suckers from it so I have 3 of them (why?). Joanne This post was edited by fortyseven on Sun, Apr 6, 14 at 21:18

Lowes sells 7.7 oz tins. When I was there, they couldn't make up some of the paints I wanted. I am assuming it's because they mix them there and a few colors I had requested had too small parts of a colorant that couldn't be measured. Don't quote me on that, though. As mentioned above, SW has Quarts to Go for $5.00. Much better deal as you can paint a whole wall. Learn from my mistakes though and ask if the formula stays the same for a gallon. In my case, with Ivoire, it didn't. Also, if you are planning to use a different paint than the sample quart, like Cashmere, the formula will change again so when you have made your choice, try it in the paint and finish you have selected. In another post I just wrote that I love paint. I should amend that to having a love/hate relationship with paint. :)

if there is no change besides ripping out soffit and new electrical, I would visit your local hardware store with a good bulletin board. A lot of handymen are actually previous employees of bigger builders/etc...for various reasons they go off on their own. Interview by phone or email. Tell them what you want done. The electrical part will probably require separate group to come in. I would probably use Barkers or Conestoga or similar-online source of design and detail work for ready to assemble cabinets......they ship to you. Putting together is the job of handyman guy with good carpentry experience-it's not rocket science. If you are in a smaller area, I wouldn't like the Lowes/Home depot crowd to be in charge..... I notice in a larger geographic area, some of their stores have really good experienced designers. In a small area, that range of experience might be limited. Too little time and too much risk to mess around. Of course, you should offer more info on this website about your PLAN-the process follows plan. Your plan might be different once you look hard at all your choices and budget and get feedback.

I am glad that the big boxes are helping. I live in a small town yet we have a lot of interest with a good turnout. The orchid society is really helpful. It is sad to hear the lack of access. I feel that you all would enjoy the opportunity. So unfortunate...But regardless you still do a damn good job with what you have! Maybe if you asked the manager at lowes if they could bring in a speaker from their source....Being an hour from the closest society they could get a big turnout...If you can get that far then ask the manager to do it monthly...