Nevik, I perused the bulk of the link you provided and didn't see that anyone discussed what's really happening. (I'm sure it's a well kept secret!) The Ginkgoes find out when the owners are going on vacation. Then, they book a high-dollar round-trip ticket on an overnight flight to Bangkok for a quick sex change, fly back two days later where they are nestled into the ground and completely recovered long before owners can have a clue. Years later .... fruit!! They (the Ginkgoes) say that no one knows what it's like to be a woman trapped in a man's body! Ha ... I'm sure!) They are able to do this at taxpayer expense I might add. When the public gets wind of it there's sure to be a massive controversy that will easily top that Central American children are crossing over our southern border! With some of the precocious Ginkgoes the above scenario happens at the nursery before the tree is purchased. Then, it's not difficult for the aware tree buyers to discover and avoid selecting a tree that has already "been to Thailand." Normally, where a scion (the upper portion that becomes the tree) is grafted to a root stock, there is a visible scar or swollen portion where the two join. When so, it's pretty easy to tell if the upper tree growth is coming directly from the root stock, or if it's coming from the scion. If it is not apparent that the growth is coming from the scion, do not buy such a tree. Other than with these "personal problems" that some Ginkgoes seem to have, I still think, overall, it's an excellent tree. With extra care, its growth can be urged along more quickly so I don't consider the wait to be unbearable. Everywhere I've lived, I seem always to landscape a few things beyond my own property boundary. Sometimes it's been in "no man's land" kind of places where no one cares what I did. Sometimes, I've needed permission from the next door neighbor. In those cases, I've always offered to pay for and take care of the whatever-it-is. A good relationship with the neighbor has always helped a lot. If the neighbor is not really "into their yard," that makes it easier, too.

When cleaning out my sister's apartment I gathered enough jewelry to fill 2 1/2 small flat bins used to store Christmas bulbs. She loved costume jewelry, so many clip earings, some that I remember she wore when I was a child like chandilier earings. Rings, watches, bracelets, brooches. Some pieces are good. She ordered some from shopping channels. The jewelry I cared most about finding was my Grandmother's wedding ring set that my sister wore but couldn't find it. We put a lot of clothing items in the apartment's recydling room before we realized a few days later we should have checked pockets. I have been slowly going through the jewelry and bought a magnet to help decipher what may be gold or silver. One thing I plan on doing with some of the earings is to make some wall art. My friend made a beautiful Christmas tree on velvet that she framed using her Mom's jewelry. You can also get some tall styrophone cones or cardboard cones and wrap them in velvet and cover them with pieces. So beautiful. You can also make some bouquets of jewelly flowers with some pieces.

I really like oakleyoak's pic, too. We are in the process of completing our own fireplace. I would think rustic fieldstone (mortared) would give a nice old world look. Or you could try a stone done in a dry stack effect (just looks like stones stacked on one another). But the mortared irregular fieldstones might give a nice effect. Our own fireplace is very rustic but with a different look. We have a raised hearth and used shadow ledgestone done in a dry stack (no mortar), it is a stone veneer and looks very rustic. Surrounding the firebox we have tumbled multicolor slate tiles, then an oak mantel/surround in a craftsman style. The drywall above the mantel is tapered back to the other walls. Hope this helps. Amy

This is NOT a situation where a typical insurance adjustor/appraiser is of much use - this is beyond their area of expertise. You do need a landscape professional - either a consulting arborist or a certified horticulturist. Or even better, a member of the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA). With the exception of larger, established trees (and a few other exceptions), the value is that of replacement cost of the closest sized same species shrub (and the associated costs of removal and replanting). Other than trees, there is little value added to plantings based on age or degree of maturity, unfortunately, and one is seldom able to replace shrubs on a size-by-size direct replacement.......nurseries just do not sell 40 y.o. boxwoods or lilacs!! But there are recognized formulas available for calculating the value of mature, established trees that factor in species, size, condition and location. You need to hire someone properly versed in this sort of evaluation - it is quite a specific skill set and not one that your homeowner's insurance adjuster is likely to have under his/her belt.