I buy the single fans since they are cheaper and I wouldn't be able to afford some of the newer lilies as double fans. Just like seeds, I'm willing to wait a little until they bloom to offset the price. As far as bonues go, I'd rather have bonus of fans of the lily I purchased than something I don't like. I've thrown out many a bonus because of this. And I've never noticed this "bonus policy" except in the daylily world! I always thought it was nice, but strange. I don't get bonuses at Walmart, so I wouldn't expect one here. Nice, though, don't get me wrong. As far as the auctions, I got rid of a ton of daylilies in 2012 so I could make room for some newer and fancier ones. I've gotten some great ones this year with some good prices. I've got about 10 more lilies on my list to go and I've already purchased 5 in the Fall and have 7 coming in the Spring. I can't wait!!!

I'm baaaackkk! My contractor responded to my question to him about why the heat pump quote was so much higher than the non-heat pump quote...He didn't really answer it, but he has revised it to include the Infinity furnace (variable I think) along with the Infinity heat pump-a/c. My total payment after rebates is about 13,500. This includes the system below, 50 gal powervent hwh, 950 sq feet of r-19 blown in fiberglass and air sealing gaps in attic and as needed elsewhere. I have no idea what a reasonable price for this Infinity system is. I know the hwh and insulation are a little high, but not crazy. Any ideas what this hvac alone should cost? He doesn't list Infinity control but maybe that's an oversight as one of the units (a/c?) seems to require it. I would ask for it to be included in the price. This is the same price as he originally gave me for the 59TP5 furnce..the only diff is the furnace, is it much more in cost? � Remove and dispose of existing furnace, coil, line set, and plenum located in basement � Clean duct system. � Install new 2-stage, 100,000 BTU Carrier 96% gas furnace. (Model 59TN6A0100E2120) � Install new 4-ton Carrier Infinity 16, 2-stage heat pump condenser on legs. (Puron) (Model (25HNB636B) � Install new matching Carrier evaporator coil. (CNPVP4821A) � Install new properly sized disconnect/ whip. � Install new media cabinet and filter. (MERV 10) � Install new Carrier Edge programmable thermostat control. � Install new plenum and duct adaptation to existing supply and return duct. � Install new copper line set to connect units between indoor and outdoor equipment. � Install new condensation removal system terminating to exterior. � Connect to existing intake and exhaust piping to exterior. � Includes Carrier Limited Lifetime warranty on heat exchanger. � Includes Carrier Limited 10-year warranty on heat exchanger. � Includes Carrier Limited 10-year parts warranty and 10-year labor warranty. � Includes 1-year maintenance agreement. (Fall 2012 and Spring 2013) � All UCC required permit fees included Of course I do know that if my unit dies I could replace it with something for around 8-9k...but don't know how much Infinity would cost or if it's worth it. Also, He wrote his in the email, "This project will save over 27% of Total usage but I used 25% reduction over the course of one year. Using your utility bills from 5/11 to 4/12 you spent approx. $2,397.00 on electric and $1,040.00 on gas. (Keep in mind this was one of the warmest winters on record. From 4/11 to 5/10 you spent $1,375.00 on gas). Taking theses costs and deducting the 25%, we have an average monthly savings of $21.66 on gas and $49.93 on electric which equals to a total average monthly savings of $71.59. Remove that cost from the $83.33 loan payment you have $16.74 per month payment which equates to paying back $2,008.80 on a $10,000.00 loan." BUT, isn't part of my electric my fridge, computers and tv??? Also, I doubt the people who paid 8k got a 10yr pt/labor warranty...which does have some value.

I loved Julia's kitchen when I visited as well, and I think it holds some important design elements that are worth thinking about for other kitchens being designed. It also has some issues that probably irked her and made life a bit more difficult, but were a compromise with so many doorways and such a smallish space. 10 Design Tips to Steal From Julia Child 1. Bottom freezer refrigerator (which you can barely see in the corner of the last pic) This keeps the food that you use the most at the easiest height to get to. The table serves as landing space when "shopping" in the fridge from a meal, so you really don't need space next to a fridge if you have an island/table across from it. 2. Stainless steel countertop with integrated sink in the wet area. It's totally waterproof, inert chemically, and can take having 20 pound turkeys plopped in to rinse. 3. Butcherblock countertops used elsewhere. And I do mean used! These weren't pretty pretty wood counters that she obsessed over. They were functional equpment to that kitchen. 4. Drawer bases as the primary lower counter storage. We've discussed it on this forum many times, but drawer bases work better than pull outs because of the single more efficient movement to pull them out rather than opening doors and then pulling out. 5. Open shelf storage for items you use the most. If you cook a lot, then keeping the items you need in the right spot and out in the open will save you a lot of time. Yes, it can lead to a bit of a cluttered look, but if you really do use everything, it won't have much time on the shelf to accumulate dust. 6. Pegboard organizer rack for small utensils etc. Lowes has fake stainless pegboard for someone who want's a more industrial look, but once again, having the stuff you use easy to access is priceless during a big cookfest. Ikea and others have a stainless rail system for your backsplash that can also work without being so visually "busy" as pegboard. 7. Professional quality appliances DO make sense in the home of someone who cooks. That Garland range is a beast when compared to the Blue Star ranges that inherit the technology but insulate and prettify a bit for the home market. But, you can't get restaurant quality results involving high heat without a range capable of producing high heat. If I recall, the DW was a Hobart as well. Good quality well made appliances make a cook's life easier! 8. Ventilation matters! That honking huge restaurant vent hood was the only thing available in her time to handle the heat and smoke produced by that range. Size your ventilation needs according to your range power and USE that hood! 9. Easy clean flooring. That linoleum will take a beating, and be easy to clean up a dozen spilled eggs. Whatever you choose for your flooring, remember that a kitchen is a workroom first and will most likely see spilled eggs, pancake batter, doggy throwup and piddle, and other items needing cleaning and sterilization. 10. Color is GOOD! Julia painted her cabinets various colors over her lifetime in that kitchen, but those good quality bones were kept and freshened up with that beautiful teal blue/green. Not a color most would choose nowadays, with everyone obsessing over the perfect white, but it's lovely and very individual. 11. Yes, I said 10, but #11 needs to be noted too. Don't be afraid to individualize your kitchen to your taste and specific needs. Don't let the bugaboo of "resale value" make you pick choices that aren't you and that you aren't happy to see every morning with your cup of coffee. Julia's kitchen is definately Julia's kitchen, and besides the obvious functionality, what everyone loves about it is it's personality!

East or west exposure will net blooms for most of them EVENTUALLY. Most of mine grow on the east side, close to the window, and most of the mature ones bloom. There are some exceptions. But I will say that pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' (which I think is what you have there) is one that has always taken many years to bring to bloom for me, AND once it blooms, it's very stingy. I think a summer outside might be helpful, but I, too, am careful what I put out. Two kinds of Hoyas go out - the ones that aren't doing too hot (in hopes of the fresh air and sunshine making a difference) and those that are duplicates (as I won't risk my mother plants.) But I do have two out on my covered front porch that I keep a close eye on - pubicalyx 'Red Buttons' is one, and I must say it blooms like crazy all summer long. The leaves look less than spectacular (fairly washed out), but it does bloom... Use a bloom booster fertilizer, like Ferti-Lome. The number on it are 9-58-8. THAT gives them a real boost! Denise in Omaha