Kate, I am so sorry to hear about your build. What a nightmare! I was wondering how things have been going since we started our builds around the same time and had many similarities in our homes. I've been checking back periodically anxiously awaiting the "Finished Home" pictures, and I'm so sorry to hear that the house isn't finished after all those years! Anyway, not sure how helpful this is, but we're in WI and the entire amount for all things relating to site cleaning and disposal for the entire build totaled about $6,000. That figure includes dumpsters for the entire build, port-a-potties, several site clean-ups during the build, including pre-cleanings before floors were laid, and the final move-in clean, which included interior and exterior window cleaning of an inordinate amount of windows. Our home was spotless when we moved in. Anyway, good luck with everything. Please post updates, especially when you are finally settled in your beautiful home!

I know this isn't related to the post topic, but maybe this info will help someone out there, even if this isn't the way the little dog got out. So many dogs get out when meter readers don't shut the gate(s) properly. It's just so sad & unnecessary that meter readers don't take those extra few seconds to make sure the property is secured, esp. if there's a dog in the yard. Our utility company will tell us (within a 2 day range)what day our meter will be read so we can unlock the gate. When the dogs need to go out for a potty break, we go out first to make sure the gate's shut tight.When the range date is over, we call the util. co. to see if our meter has been read, & if so,we re-lock the gate. My neighbor lost her 2 dogs on the day her elec. meter was read. Of course, she can't prove anything, but it's too coincidental since the meter reader was working our block that day. Best of luck for a wonderful reunion.

I've had this hand-written recipe for 15 years. The woman who gave it to me said she remembered her mom making them while she was growing up. She thought her mom sometimes used pecans instead of almonds, but I've never tried it. Logical combination, though. I tweaked it with the streusal topping. PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS Heat oven to 350º 3/4 C sliced or slivered unblanched almonds (1/2 Cup for the muffins, 1/4 Cup for Streusal)...I prefer slivered 1 2/3 C Flour 1 C granulated sugar 1 heaping tsp cinnamon Scant 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1 C plain pumpkin 1/2 C (1 stick) butter, melted 1 C chocolate chips STREUSAL TOPPING Here's the hard part. I don't have any amounts. I mix things together until they look right and are dry and crumbly enough. You'll get it right. Cold Butter Dark Brown Sugar Dash of salt, a little cinnamon Almonds 1) Toast almonds on baking sheet for 5 minutes, until slightly browned. Be careful not to brown. Cool 2) Grease standard muffin tins or use liners 3) Mix dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl 4) In another small bowl, break eggs, add pumpkin and melted butter. Whisk until well blended 5) Stir in chips and almonds 6) Pour wet mixture over dry mixture; fold in with spatula until just moistened 7) Scoop into muffin tins. Sprinkle with streusal 8) Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and springy to touch. Cool on racks (or eat warm) They're also great as mini-muffins - just the right size to pop in your mouth. At Thanksgiving I also make Sparkling Cranberry Muffins - excellent seasonal pairing for brunch or when we have our second go-round in the evening, after the main dinner. Dinner HAS to have buttermilk biscuits! Sherry

I never ship USPS...they are unreliable, and take too long. I use DHL or FedEX....DHL is cheaper and faster. For $4-5, their ground service is a MAXIMUM of 3 days (except at Christmas, when it can stretch to 4). Their tracking system is the best, and they have real, human customer service people who will find the location of a package that has not been delivered and even refund charges if a package isn't delivered in time...things the USPS does not do. Try calling the USPS with a problem...and the best you get, if they answer the phone, is a bored voice telling you 'I dunno, nothing I can do". It costs nothing to open an account with FedEx or DHL, and you get free pre-printed waybills. The USPS, IMO, is the worst shipper.