Hey Deborah - I once stopped at a rock shop that had a lot of glass in that area but I thought it was in Maggie Valley NC. The guy in Oklahoma (also on I-40) implied that they would no longer be selling glass wholesale because they have more than enough retail business. He refered me to a place in Marietta Ohio, but I can't find a website or listing in the yellow pages. I have to go to Ohio anyway so I plan on snooping for them. My dad/families problem is that dad is very much alive in his head. He talks fine and comes up with charming stories to keep people by him. His body is just damaged. He could improve somewhat and live for a few more years but he doesn't think the doctors know it all and he doesn't really wanna work hard at it. He is also receiving an antibiotic shot every day for his pseudomonas infection. A nurse comes out to the house and gives it to him. Without this shot his infection would take over and kill him. With the shot he runs the risk of more damage to his kidneys (and its the only antibiotic for his level of infection - nothing else works). Because of this shot and his type of "do not resuscitate" living will (his ask's to be resuscitated in certain circumstances), the local hospice people will only come out and talk to him and won't provide care. Even though he qualifies for hospice and under hospice all the costs would be covered by Medicaid, as long as he gets that shot and asks to be revived, they can't help us. Also because of the shot, he won't be accepted at any of the nursing homes. He only has enough money to keep his live in nurse for a few more months. Insurance and Medicare won't pay for home health in his case. So he can only live in two places, a private home (his) or the hospital. He wants to stay at home as long as possible and keep getting that shot because he doesn't want to die from a massive infection (painful and messy). None of us kids has enough money to pay for his care and none of us are willing to move back home permanently though my little sister is willing to stay there for many months at a time. We have been told many times that this could go on for years. If he ever catchs a cold or the flu that may end everything and if his kidneys react to the antibiotic (this has happened a couple of times before) he will be out of options. Of course at that point the shots will cease and he can either move into a nursing home or have hospice caregivers come out to the house.

gibsona, I'm glad the pig arrived in one piece. I'm also glad my friend cathy's lovely little box arrived at its destination too - she is off on vacation in CA and we'll post her bank when she gets home. She's led our local art camp for about 12 years now, so doing it with the camp tile was a perfect choice for her. I got back from Italy in the wee hours of the morning and I just dropped in to see if it got to you --- now I'm off to the post office and pick up my bank!!

In my old kitchen, the tops of the cabinets were essential for extra storage. I placed resin wicker baskets on top of all of them, and covered the contents with gingham coverlets to match the kitchen curtains. I stored all my seasonal items up there - canning lids, rings, fondue pots, apple corers, cherry pitters, food mills, victorio strainers, my cheese making supplies, even my flour mill. A large kitchen in a previous house had lighting above the cabinets. I placed my favorite blue glassware up there and lighted it as a nightlight many evenings. My new kitchen will only have items on top of the upper cabinets in the two corners of the "U". The corners will be lower than the centers of the cabinets runs. I plan to display my husband's favorite old chrome kitchen appliances. They are unique, art deco style coffee pots, toasters, flip waffle makers. All still function, so why not display them rather than tuck them away in a closet? They will coordinate well with the stainless appliances and shelves I am using on the basksplash. Kippy - my washboard, galvanized bucket, well pulley, RR lantern, and antique levels, planers, and hand drills are on top of our entertainment center/bookcase in the livingroom. They are my "practical" antiques. They were my father's and grandfather's. They are clustered around a large antique wooden radio. Old family photos are tucked in around the books and family memorabilia in the bookcases. It's my version of the "family wall". (Hubby doesn't like the traditional "rogues gallery" of family pictures found on many people's hall and stairway walls!) Auntjen- go ahead and personalize your uppers -- it's your kitchen!

Aw caroline94535, that was such a sweet comment. I was not able to bring those antique pieces b/c they are too big, but the library card holder I purchased from dh, Randy's, elem school in Marksville. Small desk is from a school where I taught. The washboards and triangles were purchased through a grant I received from The Cajun French Music Association. Renowned musician, Mr. Hadley Castille, and his band did a 6 week set of lessons with my 4th grade class and the kids learned to play these primitive instruments. They did a PBS performance. It was fun. The 2 sets of shutters on windows are from Mom's kitchen (they make me smile). The huge roll of craft paper was my mom's. She was very artistic and always sketching something. I need to get a holder for it. That little wooden index card box is from my daddy's furniture store. He and my Uncle Oscar borrowed $500 from my Aunt Lillie's husband - an "orphan train baby", my rich uncle (LOL!), and opened a mom and pop furniture store in 1949 after they came home from war. Daddy and Uncle Oscar were both unmarried so they volunteered to stay longer so that married men could go home to their families. Many other items are gifts from my sis-in-law, best friend and soul mate, Carmen- old jars w/ zinc tops, soda pop crate, pics, a sheet of Elvis stamps, and old phone. Shades-of-idaho, Carmen is "Louise" to my "Thelma". Thank you for the prayers, caro.