I gave up on my first garden bed this year. I have several small beds in my side garden, and I had one long strip that ran from the street fence (and shed) to the side door. It runs along the fence of our property that separates us from the neighbours property. The fence itself isn't a high quality fence (they put it in, and won't change it) - not wood or anything - just wire. I had envisioned a fall garden here, with fall colours and lots of fall blooming plants (and other plants to bloom throughout the year but all fall type colours). And it had been about 3 years ... the shrubs were starting to grow and fill in more, I had 2 brownish roses, perennials, bulbs ... BUT, the neighbours just won't keep their garden under control. They have a nice walkways and then some shribs behind that ... and then this MESS behind that, which is what borders on my fence. The back of the shrubs grow through the fence and shade my entire garden, I have to trim their shrubs every 3 weeks. There are baby Maple Trees growing back there that they won't pull up or cut down ... they have weeds spilling underneath the fence, a hydrangea that grows wild and spreads through all the time, and most annoyingly of all, they have Bishops Weed which is slowly spreading towards the fence and starting to get underneath and into my garden in some places. I just can't deal with all the extra work anymore. I am moving the garden. I got the space ready this fall, and started moving some plants. The rest are going in the Spring. The entire Garden concept is moving locations. And I am going to let grass take over the old area, to a certain extent. I still don't want weeds and bishops weed all over my grass, so I will be putting in a plastic barrier along the fence of some kind, and then using some old paving stones to make a bit of a walkway, and Pot area. The paving stones can suppress the bishops weed etc and I'll put some pots to make it look nicer. I wanted a pot area anyways, and I already had the paving stones and didn't know what to do with them ... I think it is a good solution to a very annoying neighbour problem. Actually I decided to give up and move everything because of the advice on this forum. You are all always saying that gardening should be fun, if you don't love it you can dig it up, etc ... my mother is of the other school (never waste anything, never throw anything away, even divisions of a plant that you already have 10 of) but in this case, it was driving me crazy :) The minute I made the decision to give up, I already felt better! So thank you, as well :)

Francoise, Bee, Remodelfla, Library_girl, Prickly, Amy, Ladoladi, and Hlove--Your kind words touch me. I've read them over and over just so I could smile tonight. :-) CP--No worries! I think these are the types of questions more of us should be asking. Athensmom--The stools came with little protectors already on them. Mine are now covered in cat hair, despite my frequent sweepings, so I must reach down to clean them off. (grrr) I found some little disc protectors called Magic Sliders that I'll probably sub instead at some point. Doesn't look like the kitty hair will stick to them. Wolfgang--Great suggestion! It might keep my 2 y.o. from wanting to stand on them if she could get boosted up a bit higher while seated. Thanks for the idea! I just wanted to reiterate how much I like these stools. Every morning when I walk in the room, I notice how perfectly straight, proper, and at home they look. All my guests have loved them also. Good thing because I probably sit in them much less than anyone else. Here is a link that might be useful: Magic Sliders

Thanks, all. Bluebars~ The shower curtain is just top & backing. I brought the backing around to the front so didn't even have borders/binding to deal with. The buttons serve as the 'quilting', though I did consider quilting bubbles or sea grass. Instead I just wanted it done. I did put stiff craft interfacing along the top to give substance while hanging. The holes are just button holes. My hangers don't even require me to take them down to remove so they just slipped through the button hole.

I was very, very clueless when I found this place. We just moved in and I really didn't have many furishings or accessories. What I was trying to put together I knew didn't look right but I didn't know why. You guys taught me the basics and I'm still learning. Some of the first things I discovered/learned here were about curtains. Just because they match in color doesn't mean they work. What they're made out of needs to work with your room! I love curtains way up at the ceiling now. Then it was onto the wonders of pillows and throws. After many threads and suggestions I finally split my entertainment stand apart and rearranged my LR. It's still not perfect since I wanted to keep certain things but it's so much better than what I originally had with everything backed against the wall. My taste has changed so much since I came here. It used to be the more ornate it was the more I loved it. Now I think too much of one thing isn't always good. Some of that same stuff I don't even care for anymore. Just looking at photos and reading things has helped me to decide what I like and don't, what works and doesn't, for my own home. I've made some expensive mistakes and am still changing some but you've also saved me from making a bunch more! Latest example: I wanted to add chunky (expensive) shelves from Ballard Design to my laundry room instead of cabinets. I think pretty much every person advised me to get cabinets. I'm sooooooo glad I did. Once I complete the room, I'll post some photos.