Thanks, Marguerite! I don't mind the sharing and comparing of certain pics, but I do agree that I prefer specialized Threads that follow grower's progress with their plants. It helps keep things more organized. My Jades, all separated into their own pots, are growing well. My 'Red Horn Tree' was utterly toasted by the sun, and so I've been waiting for new growth to come in so that it doesn't look so awful!!! 'Legolas' has scarcely grown, but that's not much of a surprise with this variety. The Lancaster variegated and the Maruba Nishiki are doing fantastic, although the Maruba is / seems more prone to edema. That said, it is not only branching but is also putting out two new branches lower down the trunk. Josh

Before trying something like that valve ask yourself a few questions. 1. If it's such a great idea, why don't they do it from the factory? Answer: Probably because they don't want to spend $5 on a part when they can use a $.05 part instead. They won't be involved with changing the oil so they don't care. Why do they often bury the heater core so it requires $500 - $1000 labor to replace a $40 part, when installing an access panel would turn it into a 1/2 hr job? Because an access panel isn't a good idea? Nope. It's because it would cost them a few bucks per vehicle, won't sell any more vehicles, and they won't be the one paying for the repair down the road anyway. I've replaced spark plugs in vehicles where I had to remove motor mounts and jack up the engine to get to some of them. The factory is full of great ideas. 2. How well does it seal? Answer: The ones I've seen seal the same as a stock plug. They are available in stock thread sizes as well as self tapping. 3. How does it get locked in the closed position, so that it does not accidently become open, or be opened by a saboture? Answer: The valve is a spring loaded affair that requires it to be pushed in to drain. The valve is covered with a screw on metal cap sealed by a rubber o-ring to prevent it from leaking and from being bumped by accident. 4. How susceptable is it to getting damaged and causing a leak on the road? Answer: They do stick out about 1/2" further than a stock plug. A vehicle with low ground clearance where the pan plug is the closest thing to the ground wouldn't be a good place to use such a thing. I've known a couple of guys who have these and say it's great for them. Remove the cap covering the valve, screw on the gizmo that comes with the kit that also includes a length of hose. As you screw on the gizmo, the valve is depressed and the oil drains out the hose to your container. It's a great idea on vehicles where the drain plug is located above a cross member or exhaust pipe where the oil typically splashes all over the place when you remove a stock plug. Not much of an advantage when the drain plug is unobstructed. jmo

Here I am again. So many things going on everywhere - on the board and in people's lives. NH Suzanne, I think we all know what it feels like to have your life suddenly threaten to turn upside down on you. BJ has some good advice, and has survived pretty much everything and come out ahead. DeeMarie, I read about your brother some days ago, and was glad to see that you came to some resolutions. I don't mention it, but I think about it from time to time. I have had no contact with one of my sons and one of my brothers for two years. My friend that I talked about that I developed a relationship with over the internet is very bitter and unhappy. He hasn't taken that out on me, but I have concerns about his ability to go in a positive direction. It's one of those things where I have to accept that I don't make choices for other people, but sometimes it's painful to see someone whom you admire and care for be destructive and unappreciative with themselves. I'd like to share a site with you that a friend of mine has put together. It's called Eco-Mama. Here is part of the description from her site: Environment: Eco-Mama products are produced in ways that reduce harm to the environment and are reusable and/or recyclable. Many of the products like diapers and cloth pads reduce a familys waste considerably as well as save valuable resources and money. Also, I reuse all boxes and packing materials that I receive and encourage my customers to do the same. I'll put the link below. Back later Amy

Our property has gone through something similar twice. Once to redirect and pave the road so a subdivision could be built down the road and once for the walking/bike path to be installed. We weren't here for the road change, but the result was rather large easement in front of our property. Then three years ago a township rep came in to advise about a walking path they were going to install in front of 4 houses on our road. No one wanted the path for a variety of reasons, including privacy issues but the guy promised the end result would be a benefit to values and they'd work with each homeowner to ensure their privacy would be preserved and anything disrupted like sprinklers or plantings would be fixed to better than new. When I explained that we had plans to completely renovate the landscape and reconfigure our long driveway, he asked what we had in mind. As it turned out, one of the funding requirements was that the path maintain specific leveling so it would be handicap friendly and due to the slope in the property, any changes to the drive later on may be prohibited as a result. The drive as it was wasn't a safe exit so we chatted for a bit about what our vision was and the why's of it all. His response was, sign the quit claim and we will take care of it all for you. The only thing that he promised that we did not get was a row of trees for privacy but we essentially had a new 150 ft driveway, a parking path and new yard when it was done. In addition to the advise that Soundness is giving, which is pretty much how our transaction worked be very sure that ANY and ALL agreements made between you and the city/county are listed in the quit claim before you sign it. The trees were actually discussed in a subsequent conversation. Both my husband and I were present and clearly heard the man agree to installing trees for some privacy, his exact words were, "that can happen and will not be a problem" but since the tree install was excluded in the Quit Claim, he denied having said that and considering the cost of the drive even got upset at us for suggesting he'd agreed to that.