Brenda, it is nice when even family members are enablers, eh? LOL!! I actually keep telling my husband "There's this garden in Western NY that someday we have to go visit!" I would love to see your beautiful garden some day. The different areas you have planted and the variety is amazing. I've been lusting for some more photos from you. Would love to see what you have on file for your veggie garden from last year if you have any time to post some. Goodness! I finally cracked open the catalog for my local nursery who I really like to support. She's a true plantswoman who I so enjoy chatting with, etc. I just sent an email over to her with my "list" (is was a long one) of plants to put aside for me for pickup when they open. It's a terrible habit I have of giving her a list each year for pickup. But my birthday is always right around when she opens, so it's a birthday present, right?!?! LOL!

The bulbs in my whiskey barrel are pushing through... Yesterday, I went to the Weather Channel's website & figured out just how "off" the weather's been this winter. Some of my perceptions proved accurate & some did not. In December, our high temperature averaged 40 degrees which is actually 3 degrees below normal. December's night time lows averaged 25.5 degrees...normal is 26 degrees. So far, in January...our high temperature has averaged 43 degrees which is 5 degrees above normal. Lows have averaged 26 degrees & that is 6 degrees above normal. So, January has been considerably warmer than average & my perception was accurate. However, it has also seemed wet this winter. That perception proved inaccurate. In December, we had 3.43" of precipitation. The average amount is 4.32"...almost a full inch below normal. So far, in January, we've had 3.45". January's average is 4.39". So, January's also had below "average" precipitation. Unless this Saturday's predicted "showers" turn out to be something more substantial...we're going to end up almost another inch down. I'm located in Mystic, CT...50-100 feet from the Sound. Since the 2003 USDA Zone Map has me now in Zone 7...I've decided to monitor the weather for the next couple seasons & see just exactly what is happening. Interesting stuff.

The Canary government has just ordered meetings with the supermarket chains here in order to stop food which has reached sell by date from going into the garbage bins. Normally the law prohibits using these products but it has now been eased in view of the severe economic crisis many local families are suffering. It's now not uncommon to see people going through the supermarket bins at the back of the stores to retrieve this food which is still edible. The food must now be distributed to the needy through help centres. It's about time that we stopped tossing food that is still good enough to eat when so many people are needy, so I'm glad to hear that something is finally being done about supermarket waste. SharonCb

Thanks ronbre, for all your thoughts, there are some good ones in there! I love my house, but there are some things that were not well thought out by us, but that was because we were living in a FEMA trailer and wanted out of it in a hurry, so we found this houseplan and built it pretty much as is from the plan. The back door and the breakfast nook and the fireplace could have used some tweaking in where they were placed, but we were in such a hurry we didn't catch that. Weren't even in the house 2 years, when we got hit by another hurricane, and flooded with 3 ft of water, so again, we were in a hurry to get it fixed and get back "home" rather than living somewhere temporarily. I have always wanted a fireplace with a mantel to decorate, and so I think it needs to be a focal point, but obviously the big tv is also a focal point. My recliners are both actually a chestnut colored leather, one is just darker than the other, as we didn't decide we wanted two when we purchased the first one, therefore they are obviously from different dye lots. =( Again, my mistake, that's what I get for being in a hurry! But I definitely want to add more seating in this room, not just move around the chairs that I have now. I need a conversation area and so that is why I am thinking two club style chairs for either side of the entertainment center or adding a loveseat. Then I could make the reading nook like you are talking about by the window!!! The ceilings are great to look at and to have "mood lighting"(DH calls it nude lighting in the bedroom...ha) but it also makes me think things have to be centered off of the ceiling, like the entertainment center or our bed for example. You answered one question about the art with the red in it. I figured it was too big for that wall, but just wanted to see what others thought. It would only have about an inch clearance around it. I am also looking for some kind of chest or demilune table for that little wall. Trying to make that DH landing spot for keys, wallet etc, instead of the bar in the kitchen. The nightstands in the bedroom are the same height, the lamp on the left is a little shorter than the one on the right, I just thought they probably shouldn't be taller than the headboard of the bed. It's not real easy to reach the lamp to turn it off from bed. I need a console/buffet, more seating, coffee table, end table, lamps, rug, artwork, drapes. Accessories, I'll worry about later. I just want to get my big pieces set first. I have "hurricane fatigue" and just want this done and pray that we will have a quiet season this year, so we can actually relax and actually enjoy our home.