It looks good. I think you are correct in expecting it to leaf out/flower in a few days. I can't see it clearly, but is there any padding on the strapping around the trunk? It looks to be putting a fair bit of pressure on the trunk - if the strapping is an inch wide or more, then it's probably OK. I would loosen the strapping as soon as the tree is sufficiently upright - the more it can move in the wind, the stronger it will get. If you could mulch out to the drip-line, it might be a good idea - there have been studies showing that trees mulched out to 20' did better than trees mulched out to 10', which did better than trees out to 5' or less. It looks like you have only about 2' of mulch out from the trunk, although I know judging distances from a photo can be tricky. The mulch mantra is; as widely as possible, no deeper than 4" and no mulch in the inch or 2 next to the trunk.

Hi; A family member asked me to cross stitch a doll house for a new baby. I have looked and looked, I found a few kits, much to complicated to make into a baby sampler, does anyone know if there is a chart or leaflet out there, something nice but simple? Any information you can provide will be a great help, please email me at cwill9768@yahoo.com, Thanks

I think its got to go. I spent the day rationalizing how to keep it, but now I know that I really don't want it. DH is worried that taking down the tiles will hurt the cabinets that the tiles butt up against, but it's just thinset, not grout. I'm sure people make mistakes and tiles come down. We have just enough tile left to redo the wall. I was going to tile over the window and door to the living room, but we are so over budget at this point, that it's just not necessary to do more than the redo. In the demolition we found a slow leaking water pipe in the wall. The water rotted out 2 2x4s and the floor plate. It was a big expensive repair that included removing siding etc. That and an electrical problem and just some low estimations, put us way over. That's another reason I was trying to rationalize keeping the tile. But that's allover now. I need to be true to myself. I can cut back this winter and recoup the extra money. I want the kitchen that I planned and worked for, not a spur of the moment giving in to the taste of the tile guy. Thanks again to GW for helping me get through this. My dad would say, "this should be the worse thing that ever happens to you."

Is Laticrete Permacolor like Tec Powergrout and Mapei Ultracolor FA? What is difference? I heard that Permacolor now has a unsanded version. So, if all the issues being seen with Tec Powergrout (curing) and if is same as others mentioned, would it be likely the curing issues seen in Powergrout might also be seen in these others? I don't know if we have Laticrete Permacolor around here? Now with noticing that my subway tile may actually be 1/16 at best, but maybe even less, I guess I should go for something with no sand/aggregate regardless of aggregate size to be safe? Dang, I have too many issues....Marble hex tile has tiny spot 3 hex tiles not but 1/16, subway tile tiny grout line, floor tile on concrete and very rough grabbing texture. Just give me something that cures and stay gray and I will just not use the dang shower haha