Well, although I did get a few pics of the trellis after it was constructed and just started getting some vines on it, I'm afraid there won't really be anymore... Big word of advice... if you're going to embark on a large scale fishing line or christmas light trellis... talk to the building owners ahead of time and make sure they don't have any major projects scheduled that will affect you, or devise a system that is not connected to the building in any way and can be moved... After hundreds of hours (and dollars) getting the balcony together (I think one of my best years yet) and getting some really nice vines going (trellis was about half full), The Management informs us that they are completely refurbishing the balconies this summer... stripping, patch/repair, painting (including the railing that the trellis was anchored on). So I had the heart-wretching duty of having to rip out huge amounts of vining plants and take down all my hard-worked lights (not to mention my pond, the low-voltage lighting, take up the carpeting, etc). I have to arrange a ballet with maintainence over the rest of the plants, because they think I should be able to just drag everything off the balcony into the apartment (and leave it there for a month or two)... despite the fact that plants need sunshine (and protection from the 3 kitties I share my home with). I'm quite despondent over the whole fiasco and am now considering moving up my house-buying plans, all because no one thought it would be a reasonably good idea to let folks know we were going to have major maintainence on the balconies BEFORE the season started. Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent :0)

Thanks for the response Joann. I have read your thread on how to do this several times and if we do it I will more than likely go back to it again and again. My biggest worry is sealing the two liners together. Did you put something under the liner, such as a board to make it a hard surface for sealing? What about sealing and taping the curved part that goes up the sides? I also was told that cleaning the liner is really essential and to use either alcohol or citronella liquid used for torches. I can't remember if your post said what you used if for cleaning the liner. One other question, did you add another pump and filter? I currently have the skimmer, but I know there may be an issue with water movement in the addition. Not sure if a bubbler will suffice.

Because our house is unusual (for where we live), we got a lot of comments. Like Adellabedella said, it seems like breaking the mold is what peaks their interest. My DH has built several really beautiful homes, but nothing so different as our new home. He commented several times that he never had anyone comment on things like they did on this house. We even had initial subs come back later (one brought his wife!) to see how it turned out. But again, very different style than what they are used to, in this part of the country. One funny thing, though. I initially bought some inexpensive pendants for my kitchen. I couldn't find something I really liked (for the price I wanted to pay), so I bought 3 very inexpensive, plain, temporary pendants. Our house is interesting, if nothing else. We had the electricians put in the fixtures, knowing that we would change them out later. Weeks later, I found just what I wanted, for the right price. When they came in, the electricians just happened to be back to finish up the (unfinished) basement plugs. So I went downstairs and told them that if they wanted to put in the new pendants, they just came in and were upstairs. One of the guys turned around and said "oh, good, none of us liked those pendants". Of course, I laughed because I didn't, either! I told them they should have told me they didn't like them. They said that they try to keep their mouths shut because people don't pay them for their opinions. So there you have it. Then on the other hand, I had to fight with one of the trim guys about the location of a faux beam in my livingroom. I was thrilled (and told him so) that he was proud of his work and wanted it to look right, but the argument ended when my DH said "You don't understand, son. This is HER house. If it isn't symmetrical, she's one living here for the next 50 years. Take down the beam and put it where she wants it." The trim guy has stopped at the house several times, and we always joke about it.

Oh, and my favorite recipe? Pixiestix Hot Milk Cake, or the Hershey's Chocolate cake from the cocoa box with Colleen's chocolate frosting. Colleen's Chocolate Cake 1 Cup caster sugar 1 Cup brown sugar 2 eggs 250 g margarine (8 ounces) 2/3 Cup cocoa 1 Cup sour milk* 2 Tsp 1 Cup boiling strong coffee 3 Cup plain flour 2 Tsp baking soda Preheat oven to 170C (325F), grease and line two 20cm (8") round cake tins. Put ingredients into mixing bowl in order listed and turn on mixer. Beat until just combined. Pour into prepared tins and bake 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven and leave to stand in tins for 20 minutes. Turn out onto a rack to cool. Ice with chocolate icing. *If you have not got sour milk, add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to milk and leave in a warm place.~ NOTES : This is a very rich, almost black chocolate cake which stays moist for days and freezes well. Hot Milk Cake - Pixistix Old fashioned, simple, melts in your mouth! 4 eggs 2 cups sugar 2 1/4 cups flour 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. vanilla 1 1/4 cups milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter Beat eggs and sugar well, (really well, like 5 minutes, or it won't be light enough). Combine flour with baking powder and add to egg mixture along with vanilla. Heat milk and butter together until butter melts; gradually add to batter, beating until well blended. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes. Good luck on those mini cakes! Annie