I would accept your shady conditions and choose plants accordingly. Though like lighter said, you'd probably be surprised at how much light you actually get. I have an east-facing balcony that gets only morning sun on one side, and I can grow cacti and succulents just fine. So just put things where you think they should go, and leave them there. The plants will adapt. If things don't flower as well as you want them to, try something more shade-loving. There are too many flowers to list, so I'll just say a couple veggies: carrots, lettuce, cherry tomatoes (some bred especially for balconies), cucumbers (ditto tomatoes), potatoes, pole beans (take up less space than bush beans. Scarlet runner gets nice flowers), and pretty much anything else you want to try. I wouldn't try melons or anything else really heavy or that requires full sun all day. Get a good book from the library on plants, and you should be able to decide what you want to try. There are just as many plants that like shade or part shade as those that like sun.

I've researched A LOT on this and found that Cork is the way to go but you must be careful that it comes from Portugal. Anywhere else is likely to be mixed with something and you want 100%. Cork is naturally water repellent, antimicrobial, resistant to mold and mildew. It is a little pricey but well worth it. A bonus is it is bug repellent and great for those with allergies. Unfortunately, there is no sealant so far that resists ammonia which is the main component of pet urine. Waterproof only means water, we are dealing with a chemical here. That being said, while not resistant to it cork holds up best to the ammonia, meaning you still have to thoroughly clean that spot with the proper cleaner but not within 5 minutes of the dog peeing. Less wiggle room with waterproof sealants but cheaper. Definitely want to go for vinyl or tile if looking for the cheapest route and no floating floors or sticky floors use grout and seal it well and stay on top of cleaning. Again make sure you use the appropriate cleaners. BTW I have 3 Chihuahua's one who is an inbred so had some incontinent issues and another who was diagnosed with diabetes so also has some issues with incontinence it was just suggested to me to try a belly band so I am going to look into that. I hope I was of some help. Good luck.

I have pared down my baking significantly as far as cookies and treats go. When the kids were home I made tins and trays of cookies for bus drivers, teachers' lounges, older folks in our neighborhood who no longer baked for themselves, etc.. My group of 6 close women friends looked so forward to them because they didn't bake. Then the kids grew up and moved, we moved from the old neighborhood and all my women friends started South Beach, WW, or Sugar Busters diets and I didn't want to undermine their efforts. A couple years ago when my Mom was diagnosed w/ breast cancer (her 2nd time) right after T-Giving I was overwhelmed w/ her care over the holidays and just didn't do the baking that year. The world did not come to an end, and I discovered that I could choose to keep the tradition - or not. These days I bake when I choose to, when I have guests and when asked to bring dessert to a gathering. Like someone above noted, it's not like in years past when people really seemed to treasure the homemade baked gift. The cost in time and ingredients seems greater than in the past. I'm delighted to bake for those I know enjoy it, but I don't dole out the homemade treats the way I used to.

annie-lee...you are off base here. Wayne isn't missing appointments...because he isn't making any. I do agree with you that's a very poor way of doing things from a customer's point of view. We have schedules too...and mine at least or much more rigid than Wayne's seem to be. But if he doesn't give a firm appointment, he has never broken one! I am willing to bet that as the time gets closer to your service call, he indeed gives you a call and firms things up a bit. It would be ludicrous for him to just show up after not speaking to you for about 2 weeks. Nobody would be at your home. In this line of work, there is no way on God's green earth you can schedule exactly how long a job will take...on old construction in particular. In my own home for example I had to drop a line down a stud cavity. Imagine my surprise when I found the cavity blocked off about half way down...yet tapping on the wall and using a stud sensor didn't detect it. It tripled the amount of time to do the job. You can't predict that. I think their practice of doing things is just fine...as long as they keep in touch with their scheduled customers and let them know where they are with their time. I'm sure Wayne does that.