That is too funny! Thanks for sharing! Love, Jules

I am fairly new to the wonderful world of brugs, though I have a simple white one that I've grown for a few years. I've had the same result. Last year I propagated the plant and took three 'babies' to my boyfriend's mom's house. Her home is in a colder microclimate, and beyond that, on her property, there is a distinct cold pocket. The plant in the cold pocket has normal blooms most of the time, but develops these blooms every fall, although sometimes it also bears the usual, full trumpet types as well at the same time, even on the same branch. I have noticed that the blooms further out along the branches tend to do this more often. I have no idea why this is the case, but I always assumed it was a weather issue interfering with bud formation. The other plants at that property never display this behavior, and are at the top of the hill, in a warmer, more stable microclimate.

I don't think having a weekend place "only 20 minutes" from your main home is funny, or even all that unusual in some towns. With the price of gas today, that's probably a plus. (Who wants to spend that much time on the road anyway?) I'm not sure how I feel about that style - and I should because I lived in one for a few years, and lived next door to an even more elaborate one longer than that. I thought they were fabulous when I was younger, and I can't really say that I ever disliked it while living in it. I guess my major complaint about that style is that it seems completely disconnected from all that came before it. Traditional architecture has evolved over hundreds or thousands of years, while those modern buildings just popped up out of a few people's (such as FLW's) fervent minds. As I've grown older, I've developed more appreciation for more traditionally styled buildings and how they fulfill our needs of all manner. Speaking of which, I trust you tend towards the exhibitionist, rather than voyeur, on the scale of human inclinations, since the dominance of windows would undoubtedly scare you otherwise. And I trust you also have great appreciation for brick (the one traditional element of this house) that seems to pervade most of the spaces. If you love it that much, I say go for it if the finances make sense. At least that way you'll find out just how fun it is living in a place like that. Keep that offer low, though, because even in a good market, the more eccentric buildings are much slower to move (in case the reality is less fulfilling than your dream). With the big yard, I can see it filling the "getaway" role, with parties, lively yard games, with plenty of opportunity for blending indoor and outdoor living. (Guests may have to stay at the local motel, or a tent, but that's not necessarily a bad thing). And I can almost guarantee you that buying it and enjoying it as the architect intended will be much more enjoyable than going through the building process yourself.

Thank you, so much! mwkbear, I will call some computer places as well. joed, I've already forwarded the links to my DH, the technical one in the family. I won't give up hope yet. Another thought is to figure out if anyone else has a photo of my kitchen, maybe a stranger... About 10 years ago my house was on a local historical society (preservation) tour and about 1,500 people paid for the privilege of touring our charming home in booties. (Okay, there were other more extravagantly charming homes as well!) I wonder if anyone happened to have snapped a photo of my kitchen. Several visitors commented they wanted to see my kitchen after "renovation." (Yeah, so would my mom!!!) Makes me wonder. Also, that week I was so impressed with how clean our house was (with a houseful of cats, a dog, & a 3 year old underfoot!) that I photographed for insurance purposes. Could have been video or still, I'll have to look. I know I was more interested in woodwork but at this point I'd be grateful to find anything. Of course, I really want the shots I took a week ago. They were completely attentive to kitchen details, with an eye to the project at hand.