A few years ago my husband and I constructed a "potting shed" for my mom out of all recycled materials. I'll post pictures as soon as I can retrieve them from my dead laptop. Mom is 4th generation born in her 150 year old house, and we used the original small hardwood doors for most of the walls of the shed, an antique storm window that was in the barn, other antique windows from the barn, and a greenhouse window we got for free at the dump. This year we're dismantling it to move it to our new house in the country, as Mom just can't get out there anymore. We're going to expand it and add a greenhouse section made from windows from a friend that were taken out during a reconstruction project on his house. Ooh, we also have an antique wooden gingerbread style storm door on the front!

LOL, Sheila! My dentist only has hunting magazines and children's books... but he makes up for it by having massage exam chairs, flat screen pull down TVs on the ceiling and spa-like bathrooms with fancy soaps that smell nice. I try not to ever show up early, but always make a point of using his bathroom... even if only to wash and moisturize my hands! It's ironic that I have such strong opinions about ads and advertising... after having spent my day collecting artwork for the magazine in which I sell ad space! At work, nothing makes me happier than increased ad sales... Weebus, I've subscribed to Cooks Illustrated. You're right that it's a good mag for all the reasons you mentioned. I own their pasta book and would go so far as to say that no one with a pasta machine should be without this book... but here's what irks me about their editorial style: 1) they repeat content; 2) they go into WAY too much detail on their elaborate testing methods and present their findings as if it's possible for there to be a singularly correct answer (and they have found it). It's a good resource, but I find myself sassing their "tone." Plus, they're obnoxious in trying to upsell their online and book content.

If nothing else, Southern Living is loaded with advertising. I quit subscribing for that reason. I felt inundated with advertising, and BH&G is the same way. I am sure all the magazines are on shaky ground. With the Internet, newspapers and magazines have become relics of a sort. It's like taking the milk without buying the cow if you can find it on line. Perhaps the publishers should all start a "paperless" magazine on line that would do what they have advocated for years, "save the planet" by eliminating the need to cut trees and use gasoline, vehicle mileage to send their publications to your door or store. There could be an annual subscription fee for the majors and we could just endure popups from the minors. Before ivillage, many of us paid fees here at GW for membership and the lovely T-shirt.

So, does this mean bye-bye Martha? I have always liked her KMart stuff, though after almost 12 years (wow...who would have guessed) I am over it. I remember when it was still new. I thought it was the greatest thing...before Target moved East....bringing vastly better style to a lower price point shopper.