The first thing I made Brian do when he got home tonight was read these posts. That and the fact that I had gutted the dining room, seemed to do the trick. While he still hasn't risen to my code red level of excitement, he no longer thinks I've gone mad. I took four bids over the past two days and hired a contractor this afternoon. The rub was that he had a tight window. This project will be done by Monday. So I skipped out of work two hours early and flew into action. The contents of the dining room (and there were many) have been safely moved. Although the rest of our house looks like a giant flea market tonight...that dining room is clean. Contractors are a mysterious bunch. I'm not used to them, seeing as though I'm accustomed to doing the work myself. I was quoted a range between $800 and $1,800 (one laughable bid came in at $3,000 but that's another story). It turns out the guy who quoted $800 came with the most experience and recommendations. He was the busiest too. He's in the process of restoring the exterior of a Victorian here in town. I took an immediate liking to him. Let's hope my gut instinct pays off. I had a co-worker ask me this morning if I had it all over to do, would I buy this particular house. It really gave me pause. This property needed so much work. So many bad choices had been made over the years. We went blindly in thinking they were all easy fixes. But the answer was yes. I would do it again. This house deserved her face lift. Off to explore paint color! Steven

One of the most romantic things a man can do is pay attention to what a woman says, does and likes. My husband and I emailed and spoke on the phone for several months before we met. At some point (before either of us had a notion of romance), I made some offhand comment about not caring for florist shop flowers and how annoying it was when a first date showed up with the obligatory (and expensive..a bit of pressure?) dozen roses, and he knew I liked to garden. So when we met for our first date, he showed up with a modest potted chrysanthemum that could be planted in my garden, having remembered also (God only knows when I mentioned this!) that I love chrysanthemums. That one thing put him at the head of the line as far as I was concerned. Six years later he still does it...surprise me with gifts that show me just how much he pays attention to what I like and want. Malna, it sounds like you've got one like mine...I intend to hold on tight, I bet you do too! But I'm puzzled....what are "wineberries", I've never heard of them?

tell him you went to a yard sale and drug home the whole driveway..price tag included! think it would work? (me, who tries and tries to hide things and get busted all the time, but he pouts and still helps me drag it all up the driveway, from the truck) I just make an extra big dinner and he thinks I'm great!!

Tami, I just came back on your post. Here's mother's recipe. Mind you, it makes a lot of pie crust. Probably enough for 2 double-crust pies and 1 one-crust pie. 1 egg 5-1/2 c. flour 2-1/2 tsp. salt 1 lb. lard Mix 1/2 the lard with flour and salt until crumbly. Add the other 1/2 lard and mix. Mix slightly beaten egg in 1 c. measuring and fill with ice water. Add ice water/egg mixture. Mix well and chill. (You may need to add a little more flour.)