I have to agree that, while they are very well done, the railings attached to the round posts look out of place. Then again, I can understand not wanting to remove them; it was probably a lot of work to put them up, not to mention expensive. I can also understand why you wanted them in the first place to stop traffic, though once everyone gets used to the door on the corner, alot of that cutting across will stop. If you can, I'd seriously consider removing them. If removing them is OOTQ, what about making them shorter, say, no taller than the bottom edge of the front windows? That way, they'd look less like the house was surrounded in baby gates. The porch is low enough you shouldn't have any trouble with building codes. In some areas, if you replace rather than repair the original railings, you have to make them taller, something like 36 or 38 inches. It's supposed to be a safety feature, I suppose to keep passing drunks and reckless children from toppling off the porch, but it usually makes it look like the house has been put in a cage. If you do keep the front porch railings, I'd definately add a top rail to the outside of the rails on the screen porch to cover the angled tops as someone else suggested; the way it is now, the screen porch has a modular, modern look that just doesn't feel right. Someone else also suggested adding rounded posts to the corners of the screen porch, to help visually tie the two together from the road, but then again, that might not be doable on a budget; I know those rounded posts are expensive. (that might be why the person who originally added them to the portico/porch used three instead of four...) Also, what about adding a trim to enclose the top (ceiling) edge of the screen porch to make it match the front porch, and cover the exposed beams? You'd loose some of the light inside, and possibly some breeze, but not too much, and I think it would help balance it out, and make a better match with the front of the house. I realize the screen porch is in the side yard, but from the street it's visible enough that you should think of it as being an extension of the front. Are you going to put in a window around the corner from the new front door? It seems like that's a big blank wall, and it's a shame to completly loose that side view of the garden once you step inside until you make it back outside to the screen porch. Maybe one of those decorative stained glass windows; not in color, but in different patterns/textures of transparent and translucent glass would be nice. I know, that's "house" stuff, not landscaping, but what caught my eye about your place was the way you'd moved the off center front door over to the corner. I have an off center front door myself; it's too close to a main interior wall to add sidelights to try to balance it with the windows, so I'm always interested in seeing how other people work around one. I'd still love to see how you worked out the new floorplan. :^)

Maybe he remembers being a 17 year old boy and dating and what went on and the sneaking bothers him. It would bother me also..I think your daughter and her boyfriend need to re earn his trust to fix his insecurities, even if it is more difficult than it should be. And it appears she IS trying to...but she also commited a fairly large trust issue so correcting it will take time. A lesson learned for her for sure. He on the other hand could also be face to face with the reality now of her age...and how quickly she will mature now. Once they date, the years go by quickly, and a daddy (especially step dad) can quickly take a back seat in her life from being the ONLY male in her life, to one who now has little control and notice in her life. Maybe that also bothers him, maybe he is pouting. I agree with others, since this is so out of character of him, he might also know, or suspect more than he is sharing...the worse thing tho that can happen is the two of you become divided in this....bad for both your daughter, both of your realtionships with her, and your marriage too. Over riding each others authority is not good, even in step relationship. I personally think it teaches children subtly to play parents against each other. And on another aspect, there is much guilt with it from both parents and child. And it is really tuff on a marriage. I know you want to believe she learned a lesson, and maybe she has, but what is wrong with a boy who went along with this too...that is what could be concerning the rancher....his "ethics and morals" are obviously not squared up with good values not matter how nice he seems up front. And ont the other hand, kids are still kids, and think like kids too...but that does not mean we should just accept that thought process either. Don't always take her word now where she is and what she is doing, randomly check on her, so she knows a repeat act might be busted. Maybe that would comfort rancher. He cant choose her dates for her tho. And if he is too anti boy against this boy, she will just sneak more and more...which is what caused her to sneak to begin with..instead put checks and balances in place..and dont be afraid to check on her often, no matter how much she gets annoyed. She commited the error of judgment and it should cost her a bit so she does not repeat the error. Feel no guilt over it. Good luck..raising teens is never fun is it. And step families make it ten times worse. I come from such a family myself. Good luck my heart goes out to you.

Welcome Renee! I love your energy. You are ready to begin a wonderful adventure. First you must decide what machine you need and if you plan on sewing for your family you will need your own machine. By machine I do not mean a plastic overpriced object that will be a source of major frustration. Your first step will be to find a machine which will fit you and your needs. Read back on some of the posting on this forum. People have shared some excellent information. Make notes of any machines mentioned in your price range. Go to a reputable dealer.......which means not a box store which seems not to give service once the machine is purchased. Do your homework, look, read, ask.......if you have sewer friends or family ask their opinions on machines (makers, models, etc.) Go and "test drive" ALOT at various stores...take time to sit down and take demonstrations.....hands on, that means YOU sewing and not the person selling. Look and look and look somemore. It costs nothing but time and energy. If you have a friend, cousin, mother, aunt whatever who sew ask them about their machine, you might luck in and get a machine someone isn't using anymore. Begin by asking someone who sews and lives close by if they are willing to help you. Read....and I mean read, so terms that are thrown out to you aren't going to be foreign. Ask about classes where machines are sold so a sewer learns her machine. You should get a class or classes....and if they are open to helping you with any machine problems you run into. Check out classes for begining sewers.......get a pattern (in the sizes you need) in the "Sewing for Dummies" (I hate the word Dummies...beginners is more to my taste..a dummy is one who doesn't try in my words). Or if you ask a clerk they can say if something you like is really too challenging. Ask, ask, ask. Buy yourself some good quality sewing items. Ask your sewing friends or relatives what tools they NEED. Pins, a seam ripper, scissors and good thread spring to mind. When you first begin, get some inexpensive fabric (why ruin good stuff) and don't expect to have perfect results......give yourself time and enjoy the journey. Garage sales are sometimes good places to find a machine, but would suggest having someone with you who sews to check out a machine before purchasing that way. Enjoy yourself, you have begun a journey that is both exciting and challenging. People on this site are most helpful and will try to help. We have people at all levels of skill and they are most forthcoming with help. So you are in the right place, enjoy the journey and Happy Easter to you and yours. Budster

My relationship with my mother is odd, to say the least. But she has always been the only "mom" in my life. When I was a teen I jumped on the band-wagon of calling my friends' moms "mom". Oh, she was not happy about that. At the time, I didn't understand but now that I am a mom myself, I totally see where she is coming from. One day after X broke up with GF and then got back together, he was in a particularly cantankerous mood at baseball practice and out of the blue he said "GF and I are back together and we're probably getting married at some point. If DS wants to call her 'mom' I'm going to let him". I said "why would he do that? He spends a total of 4 days a month with her and he's been calling her by her first name for 2 years now. If that's the case then you won't mind if he calls FDH 'dad'. He said "but I don't see him doing that" and I said "well I don't see him calling her 'mom' either so how about we leave it the way it is" BM pushed for FSD to call SF 'dad' since they got married, but she says it was so that their baby didn't get "confused" (a baby that wasn't conceived yet). It's still painful to FDH to this day when she calls him that because he's tried so hard to be involved in every way possible. FDH has always felt like BM is trying to erase him from FSD's life and replace him with SF. Even moreso now that they live farther away. FSD will talk to him about something they did and say "Yeah, Mom and Dad took me shopping today". Then she catches herself and changes it. It's like a stab in the heart.