Steve, you have me scracting my head and thinking more now going back to what i was trying to ssy but have hard time finding proper way. So DNA can change ? I go back now to wonder say a Mission fig if could be traced to be from its roots oversea's and then another growing here that was brought here and can be said for absolute what would the DNA markers say there realted close or maybe exact match? I go back and copy and paste what i said about this as if i try to type it again it might mean something different so .... i tend to lean this way-- DNA may say 2 types are very close and related but not the same, could tree have evolved elsewhere and somehow change to that climate making some markers not exactly alike as if grown i different area's same tree accimilated to the soil and therfore fruit color and leaf color are different-Example as its often heard here that 2 same types grown in different area's have a different leave or slightly different fruit color or even shape. I will be able to see if this is true along with others here as have sent 1 particular tree across country and up as far as Canada, so maybe in 3 or 4 years they can be compared to 1 another, a DNA test of that tree and mine i wonder what would show up in say 50 years from now if both trees survived just a thought that i wll never know answer too. END So i truly wonder if we are now seeing this in the fig world where tree's are very close match as UCDavis studies have found in some types, there was a discussion about how Dark Portuguese and i believe but could be wrong as its been a while since i read that post and Sals were very close i think it was Sals but not sure which. Perhaps this is slowloy happening or maybe just hogwash on my part of thinking? Martin

I think these are lichens, and they are NOT related to moss nor do they cause harm to the tree. I was going to look up how to kill them, but after reading quite a few articles on lichens, I was so fascinated that I could not bring myself to research that part. My son did a research paper on lichens when he was in elementary school, but I only took the photos so didn't learn from his adventure. I did learn that lichens puff out after rains, so we timed our photo session for maximum size. You may want to research lichens and then decide how to handle these interesting growths.

Stringweaver, thanks so much for the info on the streamlined refrigerators! When I save up enough to remodel the kitchen in a few years, I definitely want to consider smaller appliances, both to gain counter space and to save energy. I'm afraid my picture was a bit misleading, though. Joy and I had actually pulled the refrigerator out a few feet when the circuit blew and we had to access the plug so we could plug it into an extension cord in a working outlet. Then we left it out so we could paint. It's now back in its designated space. Kathy, I hear you about being strategic with small cabinet space. I have ONE lower cabinet that has to hold my steamer, electric skillet, mixing and serving bowls, baking dishes, cutting boards, and colanders/strainer. Right now everything's in there and juuuuust barely fits, but I know I've got a set of Pyrex mixing/storage bowls I haven't yet unpacked. And I've missed them because I can't microwave or bake or freeze anything in the Chefmate melamine bowls...so even though I love them, I'm probably going to toss them. I like your idea of keeping seldom used appliances out of the kitchen. I think Shades does that too. Speaking of Shades, thanks Chris, for the pic of the built-in around a low window. I love that! It really frames the window beautifully! Also, THANK YOU for measuring your suitcases!! That is so kind of you! I'm guessing your hunch is right, and those were standard sizes. Missouribound, no, the minisplit will go on the main (only) living room wall. Smaller units in the bedrooms. What is above the ceiling in the pop out? The sky, lol. :-) A pop out in an old manufactured home is like ones you may have seen in RVs or travel trailers. The RV is driven to its camping spot and then, like an accordion, the owner pulls out (pops out) another little section from its side. If I ever moved this MH, they would literally fold it back into the house in order to be able to drive it without wind sheer. I'll try to remember to take some pics of the outside and post them. It's an inexpensive way of giving people a little more square footage, in my case 35 more sq ft makes a big difference. By the way, I really love your basket idea! I'm going to try that! Time for bed. Goodnight everyone! :-)

No experience with your situation, just some thoughts. The only heat tapes to use nowadays are the self-regulating semiconductor-based tapes. The old tapes used one thermostat to turn on the whole tape when it got cold. If a section of tape came loose from the pipe to be heated, that section would overheat and burn out, ruining the whole tape. The new tapes don't need a separate thermostat, the semiconductor material separating the power wires self-regulates itself along its entire length. If the tape warms up in one area, current flow drops there, while if another area gets colder, current flow increases there. The tape can't burn out. It is a more expensive tape, but it is definitely worth it. One possible vendor: https://www.briskheat.com/products/heaters/heating-cable/self-regulating-heating-cable.html Is the cost of a cistern justified for the "occasionally naturally occurring odor" or when the pump fails? I was on a well for 20 years and never had an odor issue. There are replaceable charcoal cartridge filters to handle odors. And the pump that I did replace at that house is now 25+ years old and still running.