Thank you both for your attentive answer to my inquiry. I don't have too much issue with the SVB. They usually destroy my first crop of zucchini right around the time I get tired of picking 5 or 6 new squash every 2 or 3 days... I just pull the plants and start new ones in their spots and by the time I am missing having zucchini, they are back in business again! They also usually take out my pumpkins (regardless of the type) before I get more than 1 (sometimes 2) nice pumpkins from the vine. It's sad, and unfortunate but I don't really mind. I might have to stick with moschata types though, since I was able to harvest 4 nice sized butternuts without any attention being given to them last summer (lots of traveling, little time for gardening). As far as the ability to get creative with my plants... The area I grow them in my tiny little yard is right next to the south side of my house. It is the farthest corner of my yard from my backdoor, and it is very warm there - reflection off the WHITE exterior of my wall certainly helps, I think. Anyway, this area is about 9 feet wide by 12 feet long. I put a bed in there, shaped like an "E". The Backbone of the "E" runs along the side of my house and is 12 feet long. The backbone is about 3 feet wide. Then the "spokes" coming off the E are each about 4 feet long and about 2.5 feet wide. This gives me just enough space to be able to access each area via a walkway. Two of the spokes have 7 foot trellises "permanently" in place. The trellises are 10 feet long 4x4's from recycled wooden pallets, with a cross brace and nylon garden netting for the vines to grow up. Last year this space was used for onions (the base of the E - no trellis), a cheyenne bush pumpkin (I got one nice sized pumpkin from it) and two butternut squash plants. The area got completely overgrown with weeds, as I was unable to really get in there to tend it given my schedule this past summer, but I still got 4 nice sized butternuts out of it. No weeding, no watering, etc. I just went back there to harvest when the time was right. So, creativity wise, I think I have it covered (although I'd be interested to hear other suggestions). I have another area I "could" run the vines if necessary, but that area has been decided will become a "naturalized" flower bed for my wife. The bed will kind of hide the squash vines running up and over the trellising from the street view. So, I don't want to actually have the plants running on the ground in there... kind of defeats the purpose.

Hey, those pictures were worth a thousand words. When plants get too big to have damping off, they get root rot. I think some how you've been overwatering those and have root rot. For the size of those plants you should see a lot more root. I don't see any sign of the very small feeder roots. It is difficult to combat root rot because without the small roots you are in a lose-lose situation: the leaves can't get enough moisture or nutrients, but if the roots can't get drier they rot more and faster. Sometimes taking ones that are starting to have trouble and resting them with less light while they dry out more can help. That's my best idea of what is going on, without being there to poke things and heft pots myself, could still be something else. Not sure how this plays in to your leaf color issue, if it does at all.

Our carpenter/foreman is married to our real estate agent. She (agent) said that we should definitely have a tub in our MB for resale - b/c people will want it, even though they may never use it! Carpenter said to toss the tub - a larger shower would be better. We tossed the tub, replaced it with a large walk in shower. Shower will have a handheld shower head - one of those on a sliding bar - and a built in bench, also "nonhospital" grab bars. We found some *great* tiles for a small tile mural with matching accent tiles - should be very nice, and much more attractive and useful than a tub. We did agree to a tub in the second bathroom - a tub/shower combo. If I had my druthers, I'd switch that tub to a shower as well. Oh well. This is a one story house, so both bathrooms can be reached without stairs. We're putting a bench in the extra space in our master bathroom. You know, for sitting on after your shower, drying your toes off, etc. Although we did also consider a cabinet for towels. Extra storage. Most people we've talked to say that they rarely use bathtubs as adults. We feel good about our decision.

Sounds like you have thought out aspects of your cooking and are on the right track. Your choices sound great. If you have a pantry you can always put a small mw in there if you need it. That being said, I still have a hard time at the thought of giving up a mw completely and am installing a mw drawer as well as the larger cso Miele oven and a wall oven. (I envy you your lacanche though) I like the idea of the miele cso as I like the convenience of the plumbed model and know that I will love the ease of the directions and programming. Someone here mentioned that with the smaller model you can't fit multiple racks of taller items in the smaller ones. so I felt this is a good area to splurge and go larger. As to your comment about enjoying cooking more in a beautiful, convenient space that is indeed very true. The kitchen that I am planning a renovation has such limited counter/prep space, limited storage space and a crappy oven. It is so frustrating to cook in it that I HATE cooking now. Cooking in that kitchen is like trying to build a house with a nail file and a pair of scissors. I just came back to my "real" kitchen in my other home and it is such a different experience to cook when you have the space, well thought out cooking zones and good appliances. My only other advice is to think about how you cook and the steps taken between areas. I divided my kitchen up into zones and it is so efficient. I have general everyday prep with frig, mw, speed oven, cooktop, clean up,, trash and dw and storage all within a few steps near a casual eating area. Then I have a baking zone, for storage and prep of all things baking related near the ovens, a wrapping and food storage container zone, pantry storage, entertaining zone ;entertaining clean up with an additional dw, tras and sink and storage for those dinner services and flatware services there and so on. (Hope that makes sense. )