Andy, not sure how large that particular plant gets. Its almost 6" diameter. While I know it clumps, it has yet to do so for me. For now its growing in more of the Dyckia habit. Lisa, hopefully I can get you to eventually show that red all over! -C

How about rum balls made with oreo cookies (found at Chowhound): Midnight Rum Balls 1 small package (8.5 oz.) Oreo cookies 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar 1 cup finely chopped nuts (optional - I leave 'em out) 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (sweetened cocoa is fine, too) 2 Tbsp corn syrup 1/3 cup rum (don't use more!) granulated sugar Put whole cookies in food processor and whiz until finely crushed. In medium bowl, combine crumbs, powdered sugar, nuts, and cocoa. Blend in corn syrup and rum. Wet hands and shape mixture into one-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Store covered, in a cool place. (Rum balls are better after they have "mellowed" for a day or two.) Variation: Prepare marinated cherries: soak a jar of sour cherries in rum or kirsch for a week or two. When ready to use, drain cherries well, then pat dry. Wrap mixture around a cherry and roll in sugar as above. I've also made these cookies with a different alcohol - Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) is really nice. I'll bet an orange liqueur would be good, too.

We have a powder room and a full bath in our house. My uncle is an interior decorator....we have the option to add a 3/4 bath (shower only) to our master bedroom, OR to expand the existing full bath into one large bathroom. He suggested that we expand/remodel into a larger full bath, leaving us with the same 1 1/2 baths. This is from an interior decorators standpoint, and also someone who doesn't have children. I'm more practical. It doesn't make sense to me to spend the money to expand the existing full bath into a larger bath from a standpoint of resale value, when I could sell this as 1 full bath, 3/4 bath, and 1/2 bath. Would I love to have that huge full bath? You bet. Does it fit into our current home? Nope. We live in an English Tudor style home, the rooms are typically small scale, with little closet space. Lots of character, spanish plaster, hardwood floors, etc., but that's the trade off. Our full bath measures (tile to tile) 4'8" x 7' 4". By no stretch of the imagination is this a large bath, but it is a full bath nonetheless. You can't use the commode and open/close the door (not sure that you'd want to anyway), because your legs are there. Next to the toilet is the sink, and directly next to that is the tub, and the linen closet is in the hallway. Our powder room measures less than 5' x 5'. Again, small, the door would swing onto your legs if you are on the commode, and the sink with a counter/cabinet that runs from wall to wall, is right next to that. So, based on your overall measurements and available space to work with, if you really want a full bath and either a powder room or 3/4 bath, I think it's doable. Small, but doable. I personally would look at it from a standpoint of who your market will be when you sell. We live in a neighborhood comprised of families with children - that's who our market will be when we sell, so I'd rather add a 3/4 bath to our home than to make the one full bath that we have a bigger one, based on practicality alone. And, children or not, I personally wouldn't purchase a home without a bathtub. But that's just me, I'm a girly-girl and I lOVE taking bubble baths. Good luck with your remodel, whatever you do. Don't forget to take before and after pics!

I read great reviews on an HP greyscale printer (the 8750, I think), but it was way too expensive for me. Yes, I do quite a bit of post processing, and play with the RGB levels when I convert to b&w. The reviews I've read for my printer say the color prints are outstanding, but the b&w are less than satisfactory--plus the b&w prints take forever. It's just not set up well for b&w, I guess. Canon makes another model with excellent greyscale printing, but it's also out of my price range. If and when I get serious about printing a large number of my dad's photographs (I've scanned and edited about 500 of his negatives so far), I'll reevaluate my options at that time.