Hello stanofh, Sorry for late reply...never got notice from email about follow up question. In past three years, coldest I can recall is maybe upper 30s/low 40s at nights during winter (but those are extreme cold spells that last for just few days...normally winter nights are upper 40's/low 50s). Strange thing is last year there was only one harvest of the hanging papayas in summer of around 12 fruits...it was surprise just to see fruit after nothing for 3 years. This year we were able to harvest around 20 fruits in spring and I thought that was it...butt now in fall there is another batch of 25+ fruits. Tree top is now probably reaching 12 foot tall, compared to last year when it was probably 7 or 8 foot tall. We don't use fertilizer or any plant food...the only difference in last year versus previous three years is actually less watering. Mother in law owns farm in thailand...she said to only water tree 2 or 3 times a week.

It has a brass frame movement. Those little chamfers in the frame around the holes for the mechanism shafts are oil retention details. To lubricate, a small amount of oil is introduced the chamfer and surface tension does the rest. The oil will lub the shaft pivot. Surface tension keeps the oil from running out on the face of the plate. Only a drop or so is needed. Adding too much oil merely floods the parts causing excess oil to break tension and run out on the face of the plate. Only special, non-gumming clock oil should be used. The lube will be there for a long period and most ordinary general purpose oils will oxidize, attract dirt, and become gummy. One sign of a repair/rebuild is the presence of new bushngs in the shaft holes. Most wear occurs at on shafts at the end of the time chain of gears. The last gear in either gear train is the one that rotates the most. When the holes become worn open, those need repairing; These are repaired by straightening and polishing the shafts, selecting a bushing that fits the polished shaft, and the hole in the frame enlarged to accept a light press fit of the bushing. Presence of the repair bushings indicates that the mechanism has been refurbished. This should not detract from its value, but may add if the job is well done, for it can add many more years of use. New bushings on a clock of that style may add another 50 years to its life.

@lmateybergeron yes!! We used Eiger Alps and hornetly I could not be any happier! I love movement and veining and how it almosy resembles marble but with more personality. Leather finish would probably be beautiful on it as well. Our kitchen is not complete yet but here are our Eiger Alps countertops

dont forget the NAME THAT PLANT FORUM next time ....