Your plants are on the spindly side. They need more light. But you also need to know that strawberries have a dormant period for part of the year. I've provided a link to the basics of growing strawberries below... You might also talk to the folks at the Growing Under Lights Forum if they know anything about strawberries indoors. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/lights/ Here is a link that might be useful: strawberries

I'm actually a dermatologist in my other life. First statement: you can't make a diagnosis or treat patients over the internet. He needs to see a doctor, today preferably. I don't think a GW Kitchen forum, no matter how great, is the place to get advice! Best thing which is so often neglected would have been a swab culture from the area at the initial visit, before treatment was initiated, for both bacteria, and also herpes simplex, if they really suspected "cold sores," though that's quite rare in that location. Many do what you doc did, which is to treat empirically with Bactrim, a drug that covers probably 98% of all staph including MRSA. Failure to respond certainly could indicate that this was not staph, or the incredibly rare case of Bactrim resistant staph. Equally likely, as we see this all the time, is that he's doing fine and that what you interpret as "not better" actually is improved to an expert's eye. Because of your concern, and even more so if other symptoms are present (fever, chills, red streaking, swollen lymph nodes, pus draining, etc etc) a recheck is indicated and I woudl press to get bacterial and HSV cultures if they think it's a consideration. Maybe you can guilt your derm into seeing him if he's worse. PS: staph is almost certainly acquired at school, not in the temp kitchen.

Here's my own perspective from an entirely different climate - fwiw. I love Young Lycidas! I'd read some bad reviews but really wanted the color, and it was my surprise favorite of the year. Yes it's lax, but I find that can be graceful. It has personality. Some have suggested Darcey as an alternative and I'll agree she's an absolutely wonderful rose, tidier and more compact if that suits your garden design better. I'm discovering that my favorite DAs are those which do not have thick canes and vey upright growth. I don't want my English roses to look like Grandifloras. Not that I hate modern roses... For those with similar tastes, I will offer that so far I'm not pleased with the growth of the Lady Gardener. Too erect. Maybe maturity will round it out. Concerning the "modern" character of Sir John B, I haven't figured out yet. Mine have begun as low, broad, sturdy branching plants. The foliage is a bit shiny, but not the shiny plastic look of some Kordes roses, for example. The color is bright, but not garish. Deeper than bright. Medium pompon blooms with good substance. They're both rain and heat tolerant and last a long while without fading. I think it's a rose that could make a nice bridge between modern and old style roses. I grew a Hyde Hall hedge that didn't work out. It had dramatically uneven growth, much winter die back, and terrible back spot. It might like a drier or more temperate climate. Beautiful, plentiful blooms, very little fragrance. Sorry for no pics, my hard drive crashed recently :(

Your kitchen is wonderful. Is your table chrome? If it is, would you consider a brass and chrome mixture in your lights? Is that one pendant light where the table chandelier will hang? If you have sufficient lighting from the pot lights, I think I'd skip the island light and just do something wonderful over your table.