While Hubs (ya'll remember Hubs wont let me call him DH because that means something else at our house.) was installing a music speaker system in the attic of the house December 2007. The old man caused Hubs to fall through the ceiling in the foyer area, coving our beautiful Christmas tree, dinning table (fully set for guests), and grown son (dressed in black sweater and slacks) with fluffy loose insulation.(This was 45 minutes before guests were coming to dinner.) Hubs insisted that the old man was responsible and should do the repairs. However he did manage to vaccumn the Christmas tree, and to staple black plastic garbage bags to the ceiling before dinner guests arrived, Lovely!!! Six months later since the old man couldn't be pinned down, Hubs put back up the busted sheet rock puzzle pieces with 2 dozen screws, again lovely!!! Here we are December 2008 almost, and the old man keeps forgetting to finish the sheetrock repair. I hate to get ugly about it and fuss. The next best thing was to invite Hubs' family over for Christmas this year. This incentive better work. Otherwise that old women that moved in here (who has much less tact, has Peri-Mental-Paws, and could tick-off the Pope) will showcase said ceiling story detail, after detail, after detail. Then she will point at Hubs and he will be giggled at and blamed for all of the trouble the old man caused him this year.

Jim: I'm starting with one foot in the grave given it's size. I really want this fella to have the "Fairest" shot of surviving but I think I might have to do what Wetsuiter suggested on extremely cold nights. Size wise, I probably can throw a large plastic garbage can over it in a jiffy. xero: I spoke to Americana at Manhasset and suggested they try my Fortuneis. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. The Port Washington Yacht Club wanted them but the wind coming off the Sound was way too much for Fortuneis. I suggested Waggies but for the size they wanted, it would have cost too much. Prinbama: That's what I thought they were. This place is located in Island Park which part of greater Long Beach on Long Island's south shore. Seems like a very young crowd...I'm married, in my mid-40's so I'm guessing they'd look at me like an old fart. Wetsuiter: Great suggestion/compromise given the size. I'd say the general populus wants to see if my formula is for real sooner rather than later so I think I will have to follow your advice and make exceptions, just for specific weather events. In other words, I will leave it unprotected 95% of the time. When it gets bigger and reaches it's true cold hardiness, then we can see what it can take. I also agree that this place got bad advice as to which palms they should use. Plus, the pots that they are in seem to be 30-gallons at best, so what kind of healthy root system could ever be established-given it's size? Those babies must have cost a fortune, what a waste. The owner has another place on the water in Lindenhurst, and has another 20 there. He had to have spent a minimum of $1600 per palm at very cheap wholesale prices...probably more like $1800.00 to $2000.00 given what I know about pricing. He probably flushed close to $80K down the toilet.

Thanks all. I have a stash of fabric swatches from previous projects and found great fabric to cover the chair seats -- cream (same color as settee) and the same green that's in the rug, in a pattern that echoes some of the shapes in the rug. Today while I'm waiting for the table delivery I'm going to take down the old valances and maybe see how I like the room with naked windows....but I have a feeling I will end up doing fabric roman shades once I find the right fabric.

I am so sorry for the delay in the season and the late snows. We are not having snow, but bad weather with threats of tornados, hail and straight-line line winds. I just want April to be over, even though May is also a part of the tornado season here. I am tired of watching the radar for hours on end to see who is being hit this time and hoping it isn't us. Once again we are in the next to worst category for tomorrow beginning at 4:00 A.M. I guess we all have to face problems of one sort of another, but I guess our perseverance is what makes us gardeners. kay