Thank you, Steve & Dottie, for your responses. Steve, since the plant is making buds, I do suspect the soil may be somehow choking off the root system. However, as a ground cover, this plant is supposed to be rather tolerant. I thought I was pampering it by using a cactus mix with lots of perlite and mixing that with Miracle-Gro for houseplants. I've checked the soil and it is never hard when it's dry. I am going to change the soil to something else...I just don't know what yet. With the water, I do notice the plant gets a little limp midweek, so I water lightly from below. On Saturdays, I put the pot in the sink and water from the top and let it sit in a little water to drink for about 15 minutes, then I hold the pot diagonally to let the water run off and return the plant to its tray. Dottie, yes, Red Apple is another name for this plant, as is Baby Sun Rose. I don't think the plant is healthy at all because the buds have failed to bloom all summer long. My previous plant DID bloom all year on my window sill. I will certainly follow your and Steve's advice and change the soil. I've attached a picture of MY PREVIOUS PLANT, which I gave away to someone who fell in love with it...Now I wish I had taken the time to prepare 1/2 pot for her so I could at least still have the other half...it was doing so well. Thanks again for your responses...All the very best to you.

I know exactly what you mean. I have maple butcher block countertops with black cherry edging. I held an open house around Christmas and really worried about the same sort of thing, especially as I had just finished the kitchen and the party was really to show it off! However, guests would not be cooking. I had soups keeping hot on the induction stove. I put huge wooden boards with cheese and crackers on the countertops. I put the wine and other drinks in the dining room, which didn't stop them drinking in the kitchen. I "policed" the area frequently, mostly to dry any spilled liquids if necessary. After they all left, I loaded the dishwasher, piled what was left into the sink, and put everything else away. Then, I oiled the countertops with mineral oil. Next day, the countertops were as good as new, except for a few tiny splatters where some black olives had dropped, but these have since faded into the wood. As you say, it's a working kitchen, not a museum. It's still "my baby", and I'm proudly looking after it, but it passed the test :)

Some random thoughts... Re: the trees. Some maples are solid trees, some aren't as said so I'd get someone who knows trees to look at them. The real estate agent *can't* say anything against the house by obligation. They have a fiduciary obligation to the seller so never trust a real estate agent. They're out for the money. If they'll put it in writing that the trees are solid, fine, then they're responsible but of course they won't. Real estate agents rank very close to telemarketers IMO. Also, if you need to remove the trees, that can be rather costly. So be careful. However, again, they could be good trees and I'm a fan of trees. Re: the lawn. I like a big yard. If you're not too finicky, just get a riding mower and you can handle mowing. Or if you don't like it, hire it done or in the future you could hire someone. I've been hiring occasionally when I just can't handle it. Not very expensive and I find great value having distance between myself and the neighbors. Re: Standing water. Can be important or not. How much water? Can it be modified slightly to drain better? With the bottom of the outbuilding rotted it suggests an issue although that could depend on the age. Have you had an unusual amount of precipitation recently, snow and rain that would make this a fluke or is it normal amount of water? If it's normal, expect it. If it's going to pond water in the summer, you could have mosquito issues. What's the soil conditions? Sandy? Clay? If there's not very good drainage that would be a consideration. Re: the outbuilding. The owner saying it's good, well, that's a representation. If they don't make a disclosure you could have recourse against them if it turns out it's more rotted than you think. I might still have it inspected and do some negotiating that they misrepresented the place so they're not trustworthy. Are there any disclosures on the place about it, the drainage, etc? Re: Mailbox. You can buy a new mailbox for $10-$20 and up if the looks of the mailbox really bothers you. That wouldn't be a consideration to me nor would replacing the glass on the light fixture. That's petty cash expense. You'd spend more buying a piece of Tupperware than those two expenses combined! I wouldn't let that determine whether or not to buy a house. Re: Outside looks (brick, etc) To me, would see the inside of the house more than the outside so to me, the inside is more important. Much like I'm more concerned about holiday decorations *inside*, that I'll see, than outside. I'm not here to put on airs for others. Some people take a lot of pride in the outside looks of their houses and want it a certain way. If that's you, there's treatments for brick, even paint, which I dislike, but many like it. Options: Have sellers remove the trees, remove or repair the outbuilding or deduct from the price appropriately. As far as adding on... Are you going to get what the other house offers you, or a different house should you decide to keep looking? Remodeling can be expensive but doesn't have to be. If you can get what you want, and if you like where you live, then it's worth considering. Sit down and write out what you REALLY want in a house. Include room sizes, costs, payments if applicable, don't forget taxes, insurance, how close to shopping, doctors, recreation, etc. Then, see if the house you're looking at has it. How about the house you have? How does it compare? Then look at a few different modifications to the house. With it done, how would it compare? For me, an attached garage is a very important feature on a house so when I look for places, it really subtracts value if there's not at least a single attached garage. It helps if it would be able to be added easily. I've run across several places I really liked, but when I went home, sat down and looked at my priority list, well I haven't moved yet... Years ago I made a list of things I really like about my place and a list of things I really don't like, together with things I would like in a new place and might like. There's been things on other houses I've seen that impress me so I noted them. I know I'll never find "the perfect place" but it helps to evaluate different ones. And now as I'm getting older, accessibility is more and more important. But I try to keep it realistic. For instance a new place would be nice if it was one level living, however as long as there's the main rooms, a bathroom and a bedroom on the main floor, it would work for me. A place with all bedrooms and bathroom(s) upstairs would not. Also with looking at places I've seen some modifications to certain common style houses that were well done and really would work well for me. Maybe some of these would help you in your considerations. Kinda makes your head spin, I know. In most places, it's still more of a buyer's market so don't let a salesperson scam you. And keep in mind there's LOTS of houses for sale even if you don't get this one!

Thank you for replying! Sorry, Sophia. I didn't mean to butt in on your post, but I'm hoping my question kind of fits in. I guess I'm too particular because I would be happy with the color of Burgundy Iceberg, and I love The Prince. I liked Tradescant, but it was a bit too red. I love WS2000 even though it's more magenta. I loved the color of Ebb Tide. Do you think MW sounds like the right color for me?Thanks,Kitty