Just an observation: I have marble on one run of cabinets--a baking center. It is polished Statuario, and after six years, I can see some etching, but I have to consciously look for this etching, since it is not very noticeable. I don't treat that countertop any differently than my others, so it certainly isn't babied. I wonder if the fact that my kitchen is on the north side of the house with little natural light directly on the counters simply makes the flaws less visible? Perhaps the sunlight pouring in at an angle in some kitchens makes all of the etching more prominent? I don't think anyone has explored that thought--if the light you have in your kitchen comes directly from above, perhaps it camouflages the problem. I also wonder how people use their countertops. I don't know how ketchup, for example,in any quantity, even gets on a countertop, much less sits there overnight. If you are using placemats when you are feeding your kids a hotdog, even the messiest kids would have a a hard time getting condiments on the counters 18 inches from their plates. Now,spilling lemon juice is another story. ....that kind of an accident can happen, of course, but I grew up reaching for a cutting board all the time, for almost every activity in the kitchen, and certainly that's a factor in keeping your marble in nice condition.

Poor Carol--I had that the first part of the month and I hate to tell you but it lasted for what seemed like forever. Then Harry got it :( That coughing was terrible. I've been making endless lists and firming up the TG menu. Today we did all the grocery shopping and found room for all the extra stuff holidays call for. Glad that's over. Other than that it's just the ususal cleaning, laundry, bill paying and meal fixing. Can't wait to see my "baby" grandson for Thanksgiving--yeah, right. He's 14 and 5'll". But he's still my baby!

I beg to differ PK. If one didn't have a current/active email address on file with HGTV Garden Web-Kitchen Table...no pre-registration took place. I had tried numerous times over the last few years to update my personal info page and submit a new email address. The old one had been closed/nonfunctional for some time. Despite my attempts...the new information never "took" and I finally gave up in exasperation. As I never volunteered for email comments...and I've never been a 24/7 regular member...I had no reason to worry about the lack of success I'd had. Until...lo and behold...Houzz actually arrived on the screen. I had to actively register with Houzz directly to gain access to all Garden Web sites. For those of you who had viable email addresses on file with Garden Web...pre-registration was, truly, successful. Anne

come on now, have some fun!