I tried to find out this morning if crepis rubra was known as a pink dandelion, but I couldn't find anything, at least on a fairly quick google search. I grew crepis rubra two years ago, and was a bit underwhelmed. The blooms were really quite lovely, but also really quite tiny, not dandelion-sized at all. (Well, at least not the size of the dandelions in MY yard, lol). I'd say not more than a 1/2 inch in diameter, if even that big. The plants were a bit scraggly and weak too, and taller and more spindly than what I would think of as daffodils. But now I wonder that if it *is* related to the dandelion, maybe having it in a pot with good quality potting soil was too rich for it! It was really a pretty little bloom though, and after seeing fledgling's photo, and looking at crepis photos, maybe I'll give it another try - but this time in poorer soil! That is, of couse, unless someone can actually find out exactly what fledgling's pink dandelion is - then I'll grow that! :) Dee

Well what a great report from you, pitimpinai!! The last I heard you were still very low in energy and still on a ton of medication and little appetite, and listen to you, helping the neighbor till up a lawn! LOL What a nice neighbor you were to plant tomatoes and Dahlias. :-) I am happy to hear that you've also benefited from a shorter work day. Great that you had all that time off saved up. I bet you really needed it to get your energy back. We have gotten pretty much back to what is normal for us here. The weather has been stupendous in the past month! I have never seen the cover crop in the veggie beds so high. We've also gotten all the leaves mowed and collected in bins, ours and three neighbors. [g] We have gotten somewhat cleaned up for the year in the garden, but I keep adding to my list of what I want to get done before the weather turns. Still have a small amount of bulbs to plant and three shrubs to get in the ground, some pots to clean and put away and that will just about do it. I am actually looking forward to a break from the garden. Not that we don't get outside and enjoy it, but it's nice this time of year, to focus on other things. During the gardening season, the garden seems to push out other priorities. [g] I enjoy the winter garden and by the time spring comes, I am just itching to get back to a new growing season. Glad you are able to enjoy gardening again and hope you stay well this winter! :-)

Each of the DWs I have been able to select has been what I consider upper mid-level -- something below the top of the line but with good insulation and washing features. The last two were a KA and my current pair of Bosch and each was one or two notches below their top of the line ($700-900)-- which is a big step from a Miele. I couldn't go to something less on the DW because my experience with mid to lower end models has been a lot more noise and less cleaning. I'd rather just build in a pull out drying rack and drip pan than go back to those, but I don't need a Miele and sure wasn't ready to do a pair! On the fridge, I have mixed feelings. I love my Thermador columns. It is above most of our neighborhood (there may be a couple other built-ins but I'm only thinking of one right now). We just took delivery of an LG bottom freezer for our utility room Saturday and I am moving things into it. To assure delivery in time to get our rebates and because the sale prices were so good, we went to the stainless finish. It looks great and I could see it as a primary fridge for most kitchens. The use of space is very different and you tend to forget how deep freestanding fridges can be. The built-ins make everything so much easier to see and access. I could go back, but I'd have to be diligent about the use and organization of the deeper fridge and remember to check behind things where I don't have to so much now. Going to a CD would be less of an adjustment. I have gone backwards on cooktops twice -- both with plans of changing them out that didn't happen very quickly. I hated the cooktops, but I have learned that if there is enough heat to cook, you can adjust.

I will mainly be growing Indoor under grow lights, I will line the walls with reflective materials and use cfl bulbs (I got about 100 of the nice globe ones for 50 cents a pop on liquidation at staples) HID or LED for the trees. In terms of space/environments: I have an abandoned stairwell that isn't used (my apartment used to connect to the one above), it's extra wide so on one side I will be doing my dutch buckets staggering one bucket per other step. My Avocado tree is at the base of the stairs, I'll guide it to grow upwards so it has about 16 feet to spread out. This entire area can be tented/controlled pretty much as I would like. The facing side I will set up my herb garden which is just a bunch of 6ft nft lines. The stairwell is about 16 steps and I just use books and such to vary the height of the buckets. In addition to this I have a 14 ft wall dedicated to the two S nft towers, this is ambient temperature space and can't have crazy temperature/humidity versus the home. For the fig and apricot dwarfs I want to put them in a tent in my tech room which is much warmer. They'll be hand tended. In regards to blueberries and rasberries from my research it's looking like dutch buckets might be the best way for those? Any comments that way? Thanks for showing an interest! Z.