I'm no expert on this, but I found after that BIG EASTER FREEZE a couple years ago that I didn't always prune back as much as I should have. It's easy to pick out black/brown canes that need trimming, but some of the other canes were still greenish and didn't look too bad, so I left some of them. They did put out new leaves and then flowers, but they weren't really thriving. I thought they'd improve with time--but they didn't. A year later when I started pruning them, I realized the center of the cane was not very healthy--brown center, not glistening white like sound, healthy canes. So belatedly I ruthlessly trimmed back those so-so canes until I found clear white centers--nearly ground-level in several cases. Those canes have since put out good healthy growth or the severe pruning stimulated the growth of brand-new canes that are super healthy. Bigger healthier blooms as a result. If you are thinking of getting rid of so-so performers that you suspect may have been damaged back in the BIG FREEZE, you might try first ruthlessly pruning all canes back to clear white centers, even if it means pruning down near ground level. Then see if new canes are produced (add appropriate food and water, of course). You may find you have a new healthy plant waiting down there ready to emerge and blossom with a little help from you. Just a possibility--no promises. Kate

I cannot tell you how comforting it is to have all your support and advice! Lowspark, I am going to commit your suggested script to memory. It's perfect. However, I have reason to think that I may catch a lucky break and not have to do anything. My closest friend, "Fifi," who, as it goes around here, is sort of organizing all the people who want to help, is working on the Friday night dinner for the out of towners, along with "Kiki," who is hosting it at her house (I know!), and several others. Fifi just told me that AFTER (I checked) I had that conversation with Lulu and Cathy, Cathy sent Fifi an email saying something like "be sure to include us in whatever you're planning for the wedding." The wording wasn't crystal clear, but both Fifi and I got the sense she was speaking for Lulu, too. So that would mean that Fifi and Kiki, who already have 4 others on their "team," would get another 2 pairs of hands and financial contributions for what is really a big job, which I know Fifi appreciates (I hope Kiki does -- Fifi will handle that, bless her). Now, how did I not give "Cathy" a silly name, too? It also means no shower here. I doubt Thing One will care, and they certainly don't need another set of gifts, but FMTO may be disappointed. I doubt she'll be destroyed, though, and in the end she may be glad not to have to plan another trip (I am sure her relatives won't be disappointed not to have to come here twice). If she really, really wants another shower, well -- Thing Two and FMTO's sister both live in Boston, as, I believe, do some of FMTO's friends; maybe they will give her a shower -- I can slip Thing Two some $$ to help. (Yes, they are immediate family, but they are also bridesmaid and MOH, so I suppose that would be okay.) But I am going to keep my big mouth shut about that for now! This certainly is an example of not doing or saying anything until you must -- sometimes the problem changes or even goes away entirely. Glad I didn't say anything to Lulu yet.

Mel, I got these pics in an email from my DIL's mom. I thought I would add a little saying to each. I Googled and found where 3 are located..... The Crooked House, (the level house) was built in 2004, is an addition at a popular shopping center, and is a major tourist attraction in Sopot, Poland. Makes you a little dizzy to look at it, doesnÂt it ? The Wonderworks (the upside down building) is actually an amusement park for the mind with over 100 interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages to experience. The most eye-catching feature of Wonderworks is the unique exterior. The building appears to be upside atop a 1930Âs era brick warehouse. The Purple House is on Indiana Avenue in Lubbock, Texas. After fighting city hall for 3 years the color scheme may end. I don't know where the other houses are located. Anyone else have an idea???

Hello, You did very good in keeping the condenser for 20 years. It sounds like your system was installed correctly and did not work too hard during the hot months. This is important in helping equipment last longer. Todays Hype by highly advertized brands comes with a hidden cost. Lower quality equipment. Peace of mind may dictate you replacing the system now, but keep an open mind towards repair. IMO, the older equipment from the early 1980's is probably a better machine because this was before all of the cheapening of parts. Capacitors are not oil filled, which means they have a shorter life. Condenser motors are not built as well. Stuff that was originally designed for 20 years is now lasting 5-10 years. And needs repair every 2 years or so. Electronics in the system is expensive to repair. Once again IMO the older HVAC is less efficient but cheaper to operate. Newer equipment, to maintain the quoted ratings, requires larger line sets. Although fluid mechanics design has not changed in a hundred years, the newer systems need larger lines. What this means is the lines can deliver more fluid to the evaporator, and produce more cooling. Not a larger evaporator but more flow. This is a cost vs performance decision made by marketing. Shifting part of the cost of efficiency to the consumer installation rather than larger coil area and basic equipment costs. Kinda cheating on the price quoted to consumers. TRANE and other tier 1 companies are following in MAYTAG's footsteps in designing for shorter equipment life. Maytag eventally was forced to sell. They could not keep up with warrantee repairs. Typical marketing is still claiming 20 year life to explain the payback, but in reality the calculations are skewed. Rheem, York, ICP and all of the other second tier level manufacturers probably produce equipment closer to what TRANE claims they offer, but with a lower cost. Rheem has really cornered the gas modulating furnace market. The AC side is easily serviced. The units look good. Traditionally Goodman was a product that had zero quality control. Many units I installed in the 1980-1990's had a small problem. Never the same problem, but always a problem. This added time to installations. Very frusterating on a hot summer day. Goodman is the #2 manufacturer of HVAC in America. Goodman has much better Quality control today. One recent discussion was about how Goodman could meet 13 SEER without a TXV valve. No other company regularly does this. This means fewer mechanical parts that will go bad on a hot day. This $20 OEM cost part equates to about $100 less to the consumer. Adding a TXV valve increases AC efficiency and Goodman sells the upgrade part. The size of the condenser coil is larger than normal which allows this exceptionally good design. Kinda neat. I had a repair last summer on a air handler made by a small company in Dallas. 'First company" The unit did not have a schematic so I called them, hoping to get some help. They not only had a schematic, but it was tthe same design and even wire colors for more than 20 years. I was impressed. Then they told me they made product for York. I yawned on that claim. They then told ne they were a 100 million dollar company. This is not a billion dollar business, but something to be proud of. I would highly recommend thier airhandlers. They also make several models that also have hydronic and Freon coils built into the air handler, along with strip heat. The prices are very reasonable. This can allow preheating of hot water or hydronic floor heat. This is a sleeper product. The heating of floors in your climate area is very popular. Very neat IMO.