the most effective way to deal with scale is isopropl alchol you have to wash the leaves with alchol on a cotton ball or Q-tip. aerosals will not cut the shell on scale. the aerosol will not hurt the plants. just won't get rid of the pest. several years ago i had a field mouse problem in the greenhouse. the critters were eating my pseudobulbs. i tried decon, mouse traps any thing to kill mice. in desperation i got a couple of gas bombs the kind that you put down in the mole holes. closed up the greenhouse and set two off. have not had a mouse problem since. the gas did not hurt the plants in anyway.

FWIW - Forum discussions frequently center on the question of adding dilute coffee/tea or grounds to plants as a 'tonic', but Arabica (coffee) and Camellia (tea) are known for their toxic alkaloid (caffeine) content and their allelopathic affect on plants as well as autotoxic (poison to their own seedlings) effects on future generations. Caffeine interferes with root development by impairing a plant's protein metabolism. This affects activity of an important bio-compound (PPO) and lignification (the process of becoming woody), crucial steps for root formation. We also know that the tannins in both coffee and tea are known allelopaths (growth inhibitors). There are ongoing experiments to develop herbicides using extracts from both coffee and tea that cause me to want to say they might serve better as a nonselective herbicide than as a tonic. I would not use either (stale coffee or tea) by applying directly to my plants - especially containerized plants; nor would I add tea bags/coffee grounds to my container soils. Al

The fabrication from a professional for those slabs you buy will be around 2K for a two slab kitchen. That's if you go with a professional. If you attempt to DIY, you can spend another $400-600 on tools and materials to shape and glue the counters together. Solid surface has to have an edge buildup all the way around as it's 3/4". You can work it with some good woodworking tools----IF you have enough experience. It's not for a novice DIYer. And you won't be able to have an integrated sink unless you go with a professional to fabricate, which is one of the main reasons that folks choose solid surface over granite. We have installed granite starting at $41 a square foot for 5 colors, (Giallo Fantasia and Uba Tuba are the most popular $41 colors) and the Samsung Staron series of solid surface has a lot of nice colors for under $50 installed. Average kitchens done in those are around $2500-$3000 with a basic edge. If you live further than 30 miles from your local HD, there will be a one way milage charge of $1 per mile. FInd your local HD and do an in person assessment of the colors. HD also has a countertop calculator online on their website under "Kitchens" that will let you pick different options and see how that affects the bottom line.

Glassquilt, that is a really beautiful quilt. Thanks so much for posting. Jennifer, what seems like it would be the hardest part is the positioning of the hexagons into an artistic and pleasing pattern. It will be for me anyway. I do have a piece of the fabric for the backing. I'm glad the person at the quilt shop suggested that. Theresa, I had a little too much time on my hands last winter. It's hard being away from your toys for so long. I hope all these quilts keep me busy. I have to get a knitting project to take too for when I don't feel like taking the ironing board and sewing machine out and putting them back.