CT I don't think the 400 or 600mm come in package deals. At least I didn't find any when I was shopping around. But I didn't get the lens for months after I bought the camera. The advice I read was to put your money into the lens as everyone eventually trades up on the body. Just a word of advice though, if you can afford to buy a different standard lens than the kit lens, do it. The kit lens is of a pretty poor quality. Also I'm not sure I would spend the extra bucks on the zoom, I rarely zoom it in, I would just get the prime lens. I believe the primes also work better with the converters which would give you even more reach without buying the 600mm lens. I ordered waxworms from ebay. There are lots of online places that sell them for the same price but they want to charge 4 times more for the shipping. They only ship at the beginning of the week. Have you checked any of the pet stores that carry lizards for the waxworms?

Not sure this is exactly what you were looking for but have used all of these for my country tree. Cranberry, popcorn garland. Dried oranges. Rusted stars. Mini baskets. Candy canes. Children's gloves. Gingerbread men, sugar cookies. Ribbon. I have attached battery operated candles to my tree. Have used small gelatin molds, graters, etc., from kitchen. Used small toys from kids rooms, blocks. Tuck in small children's books in tree and photos. Small stuffed animals/dolls. Have used son's sock monkey. Birds. Dried flowers, artificial flowers, lace, doilies, tin measuring cups. Pinecones, seed packets, bells, burlap garlands. Mimi tea cups. One year I was very creative and used boxes that animal crackers came in. Already had a way to hang them and very colorful. Also made clothe candy canes, stuffed with batting, stained with coffee, used red and white ticking materials. Go to thrift stores and look at plaid shirts, blouses for ideas. Dollar Store finds (snowflakes, etc.) You could make ornies using foam balls wrapped in strips of material stained in coffee or tea. One year I bought a pair of children's red boots, put vases in them and put in greenery. One of my family's favorites. Just walk throughout your house (and loved ones houses) and think outside of the box and you will finds many things to use. TIP: I use artificial trees, but tuck sachets of Yankee Candles melting tarts broken hung in tree.

I assume your concern about a gas top in wood counter is due to the flammability of wood? People have been putting gas cooktops in formica- topped counters for decades. Formica is not only mounted on a celluosic-based (i.e. mostly wood) substrate, but is itself flammable, giving off toxic vapors as it burns as well. If I have a fire, I'd vastly prefer to deal with burning wooden counter than a burning plastic one! A bigger issue, I think, would be grease and food splatters generated by cooking being hard to keep from damaging the wood cosmetically. And to some degree the excess steam created by boiling might be hard on the joints in a made-up wood top. I have a powerfull gas range mounted next to a large slab (about 1 meter square) of mahogany counter (distance to flames less than 4" horizontally with enameled metal and stainless edging in the gap). This is an unjointed slab of wood from a huge tree, so no seams. Of course I have to remember to never set a hot pot on it (trivets needed.) But the main thing is that it requires removal every now and then for a heavy outdoor scrub to tidy up grease splatters. I use hot water, a coir scrub brush (a Japanese tawashi vegetable brush) and good dishwashing soap like Dawn, followed by a good rinse with a garden hose and drying in an airy spot out of the sun. Once a decade or so I use oxalic acid to remove badly stained areas, followed by a light hand sanding and recoating with protectant. In former years (before it came into my care it was in my childhood kitchen for about 30+ years) it was treated with unknown oil (probably mneral, but I don't know for certain). Since I've had it I only use a beeswax and mineral combo I cooked up myself. I give it several coats over the course of a week or so after it has dried from its bath, then once a month or so, and then after that only rarely. I wipe it clean before (indoor cats, 'nuff said) and after every meal and zap it with various pump spray counter-top cleaning products perhaps 5 or 6 times a week, depending on what I've used the surface for. As a rule I don't use it as a cutting board, though I don't really baby it either and occasionally will slice something on it as I prep. HTH L.

I need help to decorate my house for Christmas. I added some pics of the different areas I would like to decorate. nothing over the top just simple to make my house more festive. thanks!