Slugs seem to be more of a problem for me this year. Last year the raised beds were new. I guess the slugs hadn't found their way to them yet. This year I see many tiny slugs, hardly any big ones. They are kind of hard to pick off when they are that small. I am reluctant to use sluggo preferring organic methods. So far I have used beer traps, cornmeal rings around each plant and eggshell barriers. The one time I tried the eggshell, it was completely gone the next morning.(?!) Shell shouldn't break down that fast, should it? Cornmeal seems to work but it has been raining a lot so I need to reapply almost everyday... It also seems to attract ants. I'm hoping that warmer temps and less rain will lessen their numbers. By that time it should be warm enough to plant the beans, right?

If you're referring to Marineland as the aquarium on the Canadian side, it's closed until May 21. However, there is the Aquarium on Whirlpool Street on the American side (http://www.aquariumofniagara.org/) which is open year round. I haven't been there since I was five, so I can't offer feedback (I'm sure things have changed in 30 years.) The Buffalo Zoo recently changed its hours due to county budget cutbacks, so be sure to double-check its hours if you go. It's one of the oldest zoos in North America. Work is (was?) being done to add new, modern exhibits. Some of that work is done, some of it just got put on the back burner (see budget problem.) They have a new river otter exhibit. The zoo is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Some of the older exhibits do, however, have a more, um, victorian feel to them. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has a nice list of things to do, broken down by type. See http://www.buffalocvb.org/Attractions_0.html for details. Nurseries... on Niagara Falls Boulevard (but not near Niagara Falls) at Robinson Road in North Tonawanda is Menne Nursery, which, in season, has a nice collection of more unusual perennials and a nice spread of annuals. Seeing how it's March, and it's snowing out, I'm not sure what they'll have other than house plants and nursery items like pots, and of course seeds. The Botanical Gardens would be a nice breath of spring air. Their page is linked from the CVB page cited above. I think their spring flower show goes through that weekend. If your kids are budding history buffs, take them to Fort Niagara in Youngstown (north of Niagara Falls) for a tour of an actual fort that predates the War of 1812 (which was fought in the area.) If not, there's a carousel museum in North Tonawanda, Museum of Science in Buffalo, Historical Society in Buffalo, a children's museum in East Aurora, toy town museum (also East Aurora), and a host of other things of that ilk. See CVB page for links and info. (I have nothing but great things to say about the CVB, who helped us out getting area info for a conference we hosted at the university some years ago. They are very helpful and have a well-organized site. They even link to things on the Canadian side.) If you go to Canada, be sure to bring ID for you and the children. Good luck.

I'm waiting to do the backsplash last....the cabinets are being installed this week, appliances end of week, and then template for granite next week. I will probably want to live in the almost finished kitchen for a few weeks before I decide on the backsplash - one reason, I want to see the colors in my kitchen during all phases of sunlight and darkness to see what backsplash color pattern will look best and second reason (really should be first reason) is that I am scared :-) I know backsplash can make or break a kitchen and I have seen some really bad ones (too many diff patterns, clashing with granite, doesn't match at all) so I want to make sure I do this right. Probably in about 4 weeks I will be posting pics of my kitchen asking for specific help in picking out a backsplash so be prepared everyone :-)

Historically you might have seen the whole room covered in Aganthus Green. You may also have seen the woodwork and trim painted in the Aganthus Green with walls of a different color. I think the way to do this to reference a historical look would be to paint all the trim and millwork including the beds and door surfaces that face into the room when closed the Aganthus Green and paint the walls a fairly white-washy looking white. Colored trim and white walls is kind of the reverse of what we do now, but it is completely correct particularly in a house of your sort.