Well sounds like you are so lucky to be able to start all over again just like you'ld like it. Stand across the street and take a good look and then drive around nicely landscaped areas and all of a sudden everything will fall right into place. When hubby and I moved into this beautifully kept but empty home 23 years ago there were weeds everywhere taller than me. Dead animals, a few roses on their last legs. Ahuge mountain much too close to the house. Since I like to garden, I've played over the years with different approaches but have finally become very pleased with how it looks and especially with all the trials and errors how nicely everything is growing without too much effort which is very important the way the planet is going. So wing it and have fun creating something to be proud of.

Yes, Pauline, guess it's not just me. I had that problem too. I love Savoy cabbage and do prefer it, except that it can be two or three times as expensive as regular cabbage here. Loved your video DCArch. [really, reallly loved the pounding a tall stake trick...going to do that one for sure. Thanks] Savoy cabbage is much more tender and it's pretty. Smiles. For something that is going to take the time it takes to make stuffed cabbage I usually manage to afford the Savoy. Lars, I think using the Napa is a great idea. So what if they make a smaller roll. Sounds good to me and I'm going to try it. Being more tender/quick cooking makes them similar to the Savoy in that respect. Thanks for the idea. I can be either very lazy or unable to sit for long times rolling cabbage so more often I make a stuffed cabbage casserole by just layering the cabbage, filling and tomato juice/sauce. Tastes great.

That's not a small galley kitchen!!! I love galley kitchens. They're very efficient. They have a ton more working space, often. And I like having the kitchen out of the way of any entertaining that's going on. i don't want my honored guests to be in the workroom. And I don't want to worry that I've just thrown things around my kitchen, and left the pots & pans on the stove, etc. I like being able to have all that mess and all that work out of sight. Both before AND after. If the kitchen is open, then guests are probably going to feel that they need to help you clean up. I refuse to allow dishes to be washed on the night of a party. I will put the food in the fridge, and THAT IS IT! It's not just that I don't want my guests to do chores. **I** do not want to spend my evening doing chores. I want to spend it w/ my guests. I love that my small galley kitchen has a door between the kitchen and the dining room, and I can SHUT it. And I agree with this: There is a lot to be said for a galley kitchen. First of all, when you are entertaining it will help keep people out of the kitchen. I can't tell you how many times I have ruined something while trying to carry on 3 different conversations while cooking.

That looks like a katydid. It's a kind of grasshopper and yes it will eat the leaves. Neem oil won't do much to kill it unless you spray it right on it, but then you're just drowning it, lol! Chewing insects like this are best dealt with by Spinosad. That's the pesticide's name, look for it in the ingredients in several brands. Bonide's is Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew, there are other brands too. Spray it in the early evening when bees have gone home. Once it's dry, when the bees come back in the morning, they can walk on it and it won't hurt them. An insect has to ingest it for it to work, so the kadydid will have to eat a little more leaf with Spinosad on it, but then they stop eating and die. Spinosad is good to have on hand too if you get Citrus Leaf Miner, which usually shows up in the fall and spring.