I chose Slackware because I've used it for most of about 15 years. Once its set up, I don't usually have to fool with it. (That said, once I plugged in my x10 module and started switching the solenoid on and off, I'd not be able to get into the system. I believe it was still operational, but there is apparently some memory leak in the usb system or the x10 application that makes it so that I can't connect. As a result, I've set the Raspberry Pi to reboot every 3 days-ish. I'll let it run like this until I have time to replace the x10 part of the system with a PiFace module I've bought and not had time to dive into. Also, I've had 900+ days of uptime on (a different box running) Slackware before, so I'm confident the problem is in one of the programs in use.) It turns out that I got started too late in the year to have much success, ...and when I did try, I'd set myself up for failure by going out of town the VERY NEXT morning after I'd set this up. Alas, my neighbor who was checking in on things missed the instruction for this system so... I've iterated away from the spray tank and its need of constant filling and pressurization. I've connected garden hose to the solenoid w/ a connector that can be had @ Lowes (garden hose to pipe thread). Its now truly set and forget. I'm able to access the device remotely via ssh anywhere I have internet. Its also set as a webserver, but I don't have current data being displayed any longer. I was graphing temperature and humidity in my greenhouse as well as the closest weather station. It wouldn't be hard to build some sort of webpage to control it, but that's not exactly my strength (...but might make an interesting project). As far as calibration, I spent about 2 weeks calibrating it. Its "offness" wasn't linear and the output from the tool provided by the author of the software didn't seem to handle it much better. In an effort to get a usable product, I've scrapped the temperature/humidity sensor controlled parts until such time as I can get better data from them. (This might mean new sensors, or more refinement in calibration.) The system is now only using time as input into when it should mist. I think its set for 10 seconds every 2 hours at present. I managed to get a few Japanese Maple, Juniper, and Crabapple cuttings to root, and I've got a flat of ~90-ish gardenias under mist right now. Hopefully next year I can get started early and in earnest ...and really put this system through its paces. My primary concern is in the finding of interesting stock to root. Also, if a copy of any of Dirr's propagation manuals comes around I might see about acquiring it. I still need to contain the guts of this system in a project box of some sort for a few different reasons. If I can find the time, I may build out benches for my greenhouse ...and see about installing a heating cable.

jayhawk: Hope you see this before you head over there today. I brought DH over there yesterday to see the slabs and look for alternatives. My 2 slabs are on the front of the stack - they have my last name (Hill) written in sharpie on the top right edge. You'll have to get them to move the slabs to see the others. There are 6 there including mine (they told me 8 came in - I never got a chance to ask if there are 2 more). Again, from what I saw, they all look very similar. Also, I'm not sure if the Stone Collection requires reservations on Saturdays, but some of the stone yards do (I think Arizona does, for instance). If you get there early, you're probably ok. Our cabinets are not in either, but it sounds like we are a week or two ahead of you. Ours are scheduled to be installed the last week of May with granite templating the first week of June. I think the timing is pretty darn good if we want to attempt to both get our granite out of a total of 3 slabs. But - if you reserve slabs today, certainly reserve 2!! If we decide we can work this out and use 3, we can figure out which one of the 4 we have reserved we don't want to use. They will hold reserved slabs for 14 days. I'm going to give you my email (encoded), and if you'd like, go ahead and contact me via email and we can attempt to work out the 3 slab thing. My fabricator is Joel Csotty (his last name is not misspelled - it's pronounces soty with a long o) with Colorado Stonecrafters in Longmont. The Longmont location is a bummer if you want to be there when he lays the templates (I do!), but I think I only have to go up there once. He is my GCs favorite stone guy, and I've got to admit that I haven't checked out his work or anything, I just went on the GCs recommendation. He got me the jet mist here in CO and I won't abandon him for anything at this point - I feel I owe him a big one. I don't think he has a website - it's a pretty small operation (I did go up there one time to pick a couple of jet mist samples, on the way to skiing). Like you, I want honed and Joel will hone my pieces for me. Do you already have a fabricator you are working with? Here is the email encoding (sorry - I am gloriously spam-free and want to keep it that way). My first name is Linda and my middle name is Louise. My last name is earlier in this post. email is first name dot middle initial dot last name at comcast.net. No pressure for sure, but contact me by email if you want. They have lots of leathered cambrian black at the Stone Collection. We got a price group list from them when we were there yesterday and it says price category 4 (out of 5, then it goes to 'custom' and 'exotic'). Non-leathered cambrian black is cat 3. Jet mist is not on the list yet, so I don't know what cat it is. It seems that the Stone Collection leans toward the more dramatic/exotic granites and it might be that their prices are a little higher. I'm pretty sure I saw leathered Cam Blk at Arizona, too, which is not too far from Stone Collection. Might be cheaper there? Sorry for the long post - Hope your search goes well today!

(at the momment, I confess that I am clueless. Please let the next person that links explain....PULEASE!)

Wanted to share this, it is from a group called Violet Reflections. Some folks who are new on this Forum might like to know about it. To find the group, use the google search feature. (I am posting because I won't be able to send leaves any longer, so to anyone who I may have promised leaves to, I apologize but wanted to let you know of other sources. This sounds like a fun mentoring program to consider for the spring.) I am not a member of that group, but I heard about it. They have been around for a long time. Joanne RACHEL'S SHARE THE JOY We have a special program on our list called Rachel's Share the Joy. This program is designed to share the joy of growing our wonderful violets with beginning growers. We want this to be a pleasant experience for the Donor as well as the Newbie. Remember this was a program started by RACHEL, and participation it this program is one way to honor her memory and carry out the purpose of Rachel’s Violet Reflections, a place for beginners to experience the pleasures of growing African violets and for “vintage” growers to pass on there sage wisdom. A beginning grower is a person defined as having 20 or less named African Violets in their collection, someone who has just seriously gotten the “violet bug”. The beginner who chooses to sign up for this program will be “adopted” by a member who will send the beginner: leaves, suckers or plants that the member can comfortably spare. Remember this is a volunteer run program and there is no guarantee that things survive. The donors do their best to send live healthy leaves or plants. A new member should be in the group on VR for 3 months and be active in participating. Then they are eligible to join the STJ program. This will give the new person and the group an opportunity to get to know and share information about violets Being in the group for 3 months allows a new member to learn about violets and helps them get a head start on being able to grow them. _________________________________________________________________