Oh my, Michelle! I can totally feel your frustration. I am not sure why the nitrogen would need fixed with brand new "soil", but it sure sounds like that is what happened. It may have been the particular kind of compost you used? I know Mel suggests that you really must use at least 5 different kinds of compost, but many people don't have better success than you did. The compost seems like the only variant of what the "soil" was comprised of.... Now, peat makes the soil acidic, so it could be a factor especially if the compost didn't compensate for it... Know what I mean? I think you're on the right track to do a green cover crop that will add nitrogen. I'd also get on the homemade compost bandwagon and make as much as possible as soon as possible to mix into your current "soil". The leaves are falling and they're very good for your composting efforts and for your plants when they're in the soil. Have you checked to see what the Gardner and Bloom compost is comprised of? I checked the labels on my compost products to see what all was going into my mix to be sure it was from SEVERAL different sources.... It could be something that was composted that had no nitrogen to begin with maybe? I've also never seen squash not grow when cared for... hmmmm... I feel so bad for you, but that's all I know to chime in with.... ~Angela

Hi! Thank you for the input. As for 36" vs 48" for the refrigerators, the capacity difference is pretty big for a small increase in cost.. For example, the sub-zeros I was looking at go from 16.4 to 19.1 for the fridge and 5.3 to 9.8 for the freezer. We are new parents and sadly never go out. We also make our own baby food and cook 99% of the time. I could easily fill the fridge. I don't think I can swing the independent/freedom from Miele/Thermador as they are only marginally bigger (if at all) than the sub-zero and cost a lot more. Thanks for the tip on the Electro-lux double ovens. Seems to be what I've seen online here is that people are having a lot of luck with their ovens. That being said, I am toying with the Miele 27" and Wolf combi/steam ovens in place of a double oven. My biggest problem right now is actually finding a 27" that I can measure in person. Most dealers are stocking the 30s on their floors and Miele for example does not post the interior dimensions of their oven (???). We have an old 24" Maytag that fits so little it is worthless. The cabinet contractor said he can easily convert to a 27" oven. If we want 30" ovens, we have to pull new electrical, build a new cabinet, move light switches, to go next to the where the refigerator would go (I have 71.5 inches total to play with on that wall). Tough decisions... Your comments hit the nail on the head with the washers. They all seem to be unreliable. I'm hoping the Miele will be big enough for my needs. Miele said I can return it within 90 days if it does not meet my needs. Not sure if they will really honor that if we do end up buying the unit!

Here are a few ideas-- 1.Widen the walkway with bricks on either side that match the house and take out the grass from between the walk and house and make it part of the bed. 2.Have all plants in front of the windows be lower that the windows. Go to a nursery and look at what is available that you like. Ground cover in front of the shrubs and annuals or something very short in front of the stoop. Matching planters on the stoop on either side of the door. 3.Black shutters on the windows on the brick end of the house would help unify both 'parts' of the house.

It looks OK to me. Did you wash the roots some? They look less black in last photo, but I can't tell if it is just different angle. I just peeled off another leaf, not because I worried about rot, just to show you how stem looks: If you really worry, just cut old roots off, cut maybe 1" of the stem - or more if it is still too long or if lowest leaves look like they are going to wither, and re-root it. I didn't take photo of the plant before cutting it, I actually beheaded it since it was more etiolated than yours. I must have cut off at least 1" above the soil level, didn't even take it out of the pot. So it would be probably 2" or bit more. I cut it not because of rot, or problems with roots (I didn't even look at them), but because I didn't like the look. You just have to make decision and perhaps take some chances. Either leave it, repot into well draining mix, or re-root. If my plant, I would cut it since the stem is long anyways - regardless how healthy or unhealthy roots may be. Do not forget, oldest leaves will wither away anyways - they do not last forever. And, if my plant, I would keep it in grittier mix (lots of perlite and chicken grit. If you have to use 'soil', keep it to 10-20% of the total...) ps: did you see photo Kd (bunkfree) posted here - click me? Proof that roots grow very well without soil...