OMG! I just got my first order in today! Yippee!! Here's what came: Nicholson's Woodland iris Garden: AMETHYST SUNCATCHER ANIMAL CRACKERS ARABIAN TAPESTRY BENEATH MY WINGS - bonus CAPTION CHANGE OF MILLENNIUM CHESTNUTS & ROBINS - bonus CRUISE TO AUTUMN DEWBERRY DAWN FRUIT OF MAROON GOTHIC CATHEDRAL HOLD EVERYTHING IMPECCABLE TASTE LAME ARRAY LENA BAKER LOVELY DAWN - replaces dead one LYME TYME LYSANDRA MEADOW SONG MUSES FIRE OCTOBER SKY RASPBERRY JEWELRY RETURN ADDRESS SPRING JADE STRIPED BUTTERFLY SUN BEIGE SWEET LINDA SWEET SAVANNAH TRIFFID UPTOWN PROPER VISION OF SPRING Here's what's on order (and I might've missed a few here and there): Aitken's: EROTIC TOUCH FINAL CALL GOLDEN PANTHER GOOD HUMOR HAUTE COUTURE PROTOTYPE SARGENT PRESTON SHARPSHOOTER Blue J Irises: ALMOST CAMELOT ANCIENT ECHOES ANXIOUSLY AHEAD APPARENT SECRET ARSONIST BLUTIQUE BRUNEAU JASPER BYGONE ERA CLASSIC HUES CORPS DE BALLET CRAZY FOR YOU CUTTING EDGE DANCE FOR JOY DESERT SPIRIT DEVIL DAVID EUGENIA KING FORREST WAVES GOOD VIBRATIONS HEARTHSTONE JUST MY STYLE KATIE GIRL LAVISH LOVER MAGICIANS MASTERPIECE MAZAI WARRIOR METAMORPHIC MAGIC NATURAL CHARM OCTOBER OOHS AND AAHS PHEASANT FEATHERS PHYSIQUE RAGTIME RAINBOW SKY SERENE MOMENT SOCIAL GRACES SPRING SATIN SPRINGHOUSE VENETIAN LOVE WIDDERSHINS YOSEMITE SAM Leota's: APPOLONIAN CHOCOLATE VANILLA DIFFERENT APPROACH FRIGHT NIGHT GOTHAM CITY LACKAWANNA LET IT RIDE OFF COLOR JOKE OVER THE RAINBOW PRIVATE STOCK Malevil's: BRONZE FALCON CANDY CANE CUTIE CHIFFON RUFFLES GARNET ETCHING INFERNAL FIRE LOUISAÂS SONG RECURRING DELIGHT SANTA Mid-America: ACT OF KINDNESS ARTISTÂS PALETTE BATTLE ROYALE BEL ESPRIT MASTERY POETESS TROPICAL MAGIC WINNING EDGE Napa Country Irises: COFFEE MALT FAME GOODBYE HEART HONEYMOON SUITE MARCHE TURQUE SOMMERSAULT SPEAKEASY Sand Hollow Gardens: EXPERIENCIT HORNED MYSTERY HORNY LORRI JUNGLE DANCER LORNAÂS PRIDE OASIS RAINBOW OSAY CANUC Snowpeak: BECKYÂS BONNET COLOR MY WORLD COLOUR PAGE DOUBLE CLICK INTREPIDE PRINCESS CAROLINE DE MONACO SACIA ROSE SENTIMENTAL ROSE Willow Bend: AUTUMN LEAVES DANDY CANDY GAY GEISHA LOGO MASTER PLAN PIPING HOT RUFFLED GODDESS SEA SWELLS SOUTHWEST TATOOED LADY What the @#$% was I thinking?? Where am I going to put these? I must be outta my mind. I plan to put them all around the rose beds.... but the ones that I've had for several yrs, have so overtaken the other rose beds..... I'm gonna have to dig 'em out here pretty soon. Yikes..... neverending garden torture. And the temps are up in the 100's now!!!

Hi Marthavila and Bufflotina. Thank you so much for your advice. I went out yesterday to pick up the following: Quooker faucet/Tap - bought for E699/about $750. Its the polished chrome basic design one. No more kettle. These , and their insinkerator cousin (which produces hot but not boiling water) and a similar ZipHydro are everywhere. The fact that this produces BOILING water makes it the best I think. You turn the tap on (child safety on this one - not on some of the other brands - that why I chose quooker) and TADA!! Boiling water comes out all bubbly and spluttery. Its going to save me a whole lot of time. I boil the kettle once an hour. I can make tea without a kettle. In case you're wondering what I'm talking about please see: http://www.quooker.com/07_uk/site.html (the one I got is the "basic" model PRO3 VaQ- it was on sale and would normally cost at least 1000 dollars/ 899 euro. Here is a review: http://honestcooking.com/2011/04/12/testing-the-quooker/. Garbage disposal - I got a viking one - they were on sale at a good price for Europe. VCFW750 Viking 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Food Waste Disposer was E450/$550 (I know its really really expensive here but the hassle of changing plugs and electrics for such a small item isnt worth it so I bought here instead of US). This is for my prep sink in the island. I'm going to get an insinkerator model 1HP one for my sink beside the dishwasher. I got the Viking one for the prep sink because I love the viking logo on the rim - it just looks nice. I am afraid of Viking products since I saw one of their fridge freezers recently in a showrrom here. It was actually rusting in the freezer compartment - and its only about two years old. Either the dealers abused it or its a bad product. But this is a small item so ......fingers crossed it works ok. I've been picking up bargains for the past few months: I have the following: BlancoMaster-S Baby Faucet/Tap http://www.tapsaver.co.uk/tap_1506.asp which is gorgeous in real life and the professional spray is really forceful cos I have a good pressurised water system. I think its called a Blanco Gourmet Professional in the US. I didnt like the full sized Blancomaster - Its too big - about three foot high and it would dominate the kitchen. This one has all the pro features and function and blends in. However it means my other faucets/taps have to be polished chrome. I was going to go for polished nickel but...... the Blancomaster baby was picked up half price - E350 ($420) so it was an absolute steal so i dont mind. Polished chrome is ok. I've also got a blanco tap/faucet with pro spray for my utility room see: http://www.blanco.co.uk/products/tap/blancotubetwist I picked it up for E200 /$270 last week. Again half price or less. Gaggenau: 24"Combi-Steam and convection Oven http://www.gaggenau.com/GB_en/products/product-detail.do?contentId=08bc3306-c804-4796-983e-58cb2b13f810&family=SteamOven - bought for E2000 ($2700). Ok I paid the full price (not like me at all) but I HAD to have it. They TOLD me that it was 700 euro off but when I got home and checked the price I could have gotten it anywhere for that. But I wanted it and was overcome by impulse and had to have it. Cant wait to crank it up once the kitchen is in (about 8 weeks from now) Gaggenau Coffee Maker http://www.gaggenau.com/US_en/products/coffeemakers-overview/product-detail.do?contentId=3f015e54-a127-4cc9-959f-9d8d2af07820&family=Coffeemaker. I LOVE IT. I picked it up ex display for E500 (about 600 dollars). The price makes the coffee taste sweeter! (having said that the way you put the coffee and water in is a little bit of a nuisance. If I hadnt picked this up for a song I would have gone for the Miele one which has much more convenient way to fill etc) I have had a good look at the Falcon rangecookers. YOU WERE RIGHT. The cooktop is the same as the La Cornufe but the burners arent brass and the grid of iron is enamelled whereas the la cornufe is not I think. The La Cornufe grid (what is the name of that - escapes me right now so i'm calling it a grid) is not shiny whereas the Falcon one is shiny black. Anyhow they are THE SAME SHAPE. Clearly from the same designer and same machine. The door hinges on the falcon are identical to the La cornufe. But the Falcon doesnt have the easy clean system whereby you take out the sides and top of the oven. However the Falcon does have the additional grill. So I am decided. The Falcon retails for about E5000/$6000. THe La Cornufe for about E6200/7500. I have been offered one ex display for less than the Falcon retail price. Its ok that the hinges etc are the same. Its ok that its not a real La Cornufe (who was I kidding at that price). I like it. I am going to go and buy it and I'm going to pick up a neff or miele or siemens 24 inch induction cooktop(hob) to go to the left of it and I'll get a 24 inch butchers block for the other side of it. It'll look good. I'll get a nice pot filler tap and some fired earth tiles (http://www.firedearth.com/)for behind it and I will be set. I will still have a look at the Mercury but from the pics i've seen its the wrong look. I saw a really nice Fisher & Paykel three door (french door) fridge freezer yesterday. http://fisherpaykel.com/product/refrigeration/refrigerators/index.cfm?productuid=A11C44C2-EAF3-81BC-9B6A6087173AA8A9 Only 2K as opposed to 8-10K for the Miele.http://www.appliancist.com/refrigerators/miele-refrigeration-line-mastercool-control-system.html (You think the Miele looks good in these pictures. You ought to see it in real life. It is lovely. THe F&P is a good bit smaller but so is the price.... I am torn. I saw a Miele dishwasher ex display a little while ago. Based on the almost unanimous good opnion of same on here I think I will just go and buy it. Hope its still there. Thanks so much for your help. I had another look at the Aga Legacys/rangemaster induction cooktops yesterday and decided definitely that they are too cheap looking for my new kitchen. The induction top is surrounded by rubbery looking plastic stuff. I don't know what material it is...I only know its unattractive. The falcon and ilve (called brittania in UK called Ilve in US and Ireland) ones have steel surrounds around the induction tops which are much nicer, and stop spills falling onto the floor. I did check out a Bertazzoni but they are a little lightweight compared to their rival Wolf so it was a no. So Hopefully by this time tomorrow I shall be a proud La Cornufe owner. See pics of product here: http://www.thestylishhouse.net/2009/04/in-my-dreams.html I have a laundry room upstairs and i have bosch washer and dryer for there. i fancy putting another washer/dryer into mmy utility room for towels and dishcloths etc. i've been offered a kupperbusch integrated w/d and i'm thinking i'll take it. I still need fridge freezer - I love the Miele but it super pricey microwave Probably Gaggenau Warming drawer - probably gaggenau winecooler: something small and unobtrusive. Its not the look I want really i might integrate one into a nook in the dining room. small dishwasher for island (a little drawer one) refrigerated drawers for fresh meat. my husband keeps mixing raw and cooked meats in the fridge so i'm buying drawers for the meat now and keeping the big fridge raw meat free! faucet/tap for island - I'll have to go with blanco to make everything match. The polished chrome quooker will be beside it. prep sink for island - I wanted the kohler http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=null&module=Kitchen+Sinks&item=337202&prod_num=6588§ion=1&category=5&resultPage=0--1543372007 but i mightgo for the Shaws of Darwen model which is half the price with all of the good looks. See: - http://www.shawsofdarwen.com/classic-sinks/10-round-sink.html Its the undermounted I like. I will get a shaws of Darwen 36 inch (900cms) double for my kitchen and 36 inch (900cms) single for my utility room. A 36 inch wide single sink will be able to accommodate my bbq burners and grills which is what I need. http://www.shawsofdarwen.com/6-classic-sinks I had been stuck on the franke big one made for villeroy & boch http://www.appliance-world.co.uk/Franke_VBK771_Belfast+Sink.html but in my kitchen that might be a dirt gatherer. Too many nooks and crannies. What do you think? I'll be back with photos of kitchen space soon. Dippy P.s. My flooring is from Mandarin Stone - the Jerusalem grey gold Ramon see http://www.mandarinstone.com/products/limestone/classic_jerusalem_ramon_tumbled It is beautiful. I have no regrets whatsoever. Even my Mother in law likes it. Its a first.

"Coyotes may keep the rabbits in check, but they also eat the native animals and cats and dogs. The Dept of Natural resources said you should also not allow small children out alone in the area. All in all, I'll take the rabbits." Coyotes like to stay away from people; they're shy. If they see people in a backyard, they'll likely stay away. If there's a stray cat or a small stray dog wandering around, well they're more likely to get hit by a car or to be attacked by a rabid raccoon (or fox) than a coyote, simply b/c there are fewer coyotes around. As far as small kids, well I assume they'd be adult-supervised, not actually alone, right? I think coyotes are more likely to raid the trash cans at night, and eat some unwanted rats and mice, than they are to do anything else. The biggest culprits in eating native wildlife are stray cats, by the way. They've put something like 20% of the native birds in the state of Wisconsin on the endangered list. Coyotes are a native predator, at least; they've just been gone from the area for awhile; and they don't eat birds. All I'm saying is, I think people freak out about nature invading their territory and see it as a threat when any threat is much-exaggerated. And, as it happens, we've taken all their territory and they've got no place to go, so we should probably learn to co-exist. (I'd like it if they'd reduce the local rodent population, which is booming.) Now, I don't include home-invading squirrels in the same category; I share your frustration with the squirrels. There's a rodent control co. around here that will put box traps on all the "exits" around your house, and when they think the property is 'vacant' they seal the fascia for you. It sounds like you have a big job; you might want to call them rather than trying to do it all yourself (the one I'm thinking of is Adcock). Good luck!

Do you think it's possible for us to move toward a friendlier, more helpful state where people are more considerate, patient, helpful. Less stressed overall. I would like to see less crime, less anger, more kids with two parents and grandparents involved. More interest in finding solutions to the things that cause disease, despair and isolation. If we all said we wanted that, couldn't we make it happen in a few generations? To be human is a great gift. Some people want to act like animals instead. I wish we could all move forward together and be happy. I dream of a world where everyone has enough to eat and something useful to do. There is no fear. You can walk about freely. Someone needs help and people aren't afraid to offer it. That world could be a reality but I don't see people in the media or the internet saying they want it.