Oops! Do be careful about cutting out UV rays from your home. They are essential to good health. In building a low cost housing project for environmentally sensitive people, it was found that low E glass could not be used. It made the prospective tenants feel sick. It certainly would not be good for plants on the long term.

SRS: I take it epsom salt does not harm plants? I was wondering about that.

VT might be interested in the very small container tomato, Tiny Tim, which grows to about 15 inches. It can be grown in a 6 inch pot. I often put plants on some sort of twirly thing so they can be easily rotated - inexpensive ones are available at yard sales, etc and they really help.

We have had a busy few days. Met with the owners of the house we are renting on Friday and then finalized it on sunday - two trips to the country. Sunday afternoon, after Quaker meeting and business meeting, we spent time in the family's sugar shack as they boiled down the maple sap for syrup. The place was so full of steam we could hardly see each other. Robin partook of the snow cooled syrup - like taffy. I do not cope with that much sugar. Sugaring off is a family event; there were a number of relatives and friends involved. I had a nice chat with a grandmother (86 and very spry) while the rest did various chores, including putting 2 foot long pieces of wood into the firebox. A very pleasant time.

After we signed lease and chatted for a while, and dropped a carload of stuff in the house, and talked about what furniture where and how the pottery studio needed to be arranged, then explored a couple roads nearby and had pizza in town, we came home tired and happy. We move formally on 15th and will spend that weekend. A fav musician is having a CD launch in the town on 16th so we will be very happy to be in the area and not have to drive home on Friday night after the cafe then come back on Saturday...

I continue to triage things to take down - a carload this Friday, then another on Sunday when we go to the local Historical Society event. Must order tickets!

This way we have a place of peace AND we empty the shed in the backyard so it can be taken down before tomato planting time.

The house is tiny - perfect. Plenty of room for us and guests, including the loft in the garage which can be a rough summer accommodation. Totally in the trees so shade plants across the front and no garden. Well, I wonder about some container tomatoes in a wheelbarrow so they can be moved from sunlight to sunlight but we will only be there 2-3 days/week. Need to see where the sun is.

This will be a great organizational exercise! And a great community with so many dear people already. I think I will take the bike too; much nicer than the city.

In the meantime, the city house work is up to snuff.    Raining today, melting the snow! We will be able to open the gate soon and even see what is coming up in the back yard!!!!!