Good luck! I was in your position a year ago, I had moved into my first house and created my first vegetable garden. I'm in a very different zone (6A) and my season is winding down, but I think I had a very successful summer with my first garden, given that it was very cool and rainy for all of June and July. Here is what I did, for what it's worth. I had the area tilled where I wanted to create a garden (it was grass). I then raked out all the big clumps of grass left behind, and added them to my new compost bin. I then had 2 yards of topsoil and 2 yards of compost delivered (my garden is 16'x16'). I think adding the topsoil and compost really added the nutrients needed and eliminated any grass re-growing in the area. But, after finding this site, I realize a soil test would have been a good idea. After I planted, I mulched with salt hay to keep down any weeds (make sure if you use straw you ask if there are any seeds in the straw). I hope this information helps in some way! Good luck and above all, have fun! Use this site often for advice, I do and there are many people with years of experience and knowledge who have helped guide me through my first year as a gardener! p.s. consider creating a compost bin, if you haven't already, you can create your own garden fertilizer with it. I got mine through the town public works department for a very reasonable price

Kristi, just thought I should mention the Kordes perfume-fest Parole, aka Buxom Beauty. Was introduced to the USA in 2008, so it may have gone under your radar. Apart from its names (Jailbait/Dumpling - yeah, good work there, Kordes Marketing Dept), this deep cerise pink rose is pretty near perfect - no spray requirements, beautiful high-centred flowers with substantial petals (HUGE blooms in cooler weather), nicely productive with a fragrance that is really intoxicating and waft-y, richly sweet but sophisticated. No cold cream or myrrh. And it cuts like a dream. I'm up to six of these. They're my battery hens for vase filling. Just sayin'.

Great fireplaces! We are in the masonry biz so I enjoy looking at all of them. This isn't the best pic, but here is ours all SaranWrapped up :) It is a see through fireplace that is approx. 20' tall. Sits in between our future living and dining areas and is faced in stone from our property. You can't really see the hearth in this pic. I haven't found my mantles yet, but they will most likely be very old pieces of wood. I also have electricty on each side for Christmas lights or whatev.

Hi justalurker Thank you for your reply. You donâÂÂt seem to mince words âÂÂwhat a crockâ however it worked on me and I wanted someone to let me know what they thought, so thanks again. I was trying to figure out any alternatives I may have and it was beginning to look like I really didnâÂÂt have any and your to the point rebuttal convinced me. So now I just have to pick a RO system and a softener system. The âÂÂiSpring 75GPD 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System with Brushed Nickel Faucet, Model RCC7â That I mentioned last time proved to be made in china and sold by a U.S. company but I found one almost the same that is made in USA with âÂÂmostlyâ Made in USA parts. DonâÂÂt know what âÂÂmostlyâ means but I take it that they try to use USA parts when they can. It is a âÂÂAPEC Water - USA Top Rated 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System (ROES-50)â I looked at the Watts zero waste and it was also made in China and it just pumps the waste water back into your hot water system, I think I can pump waste water into an outside container and use it for certain plants. I would appreciate any warnings or praise that you may give the APEC RO before I commit. I will be installing it in garage so no saddle valve CanâÂÂt get to the neighbors yet to beg for water. Hoping to get out there soon. 3/4 inch pipes. Still thinking about this one http://goo.gl/vkoxuT IâÂÂm thinking that it can be programmed for what I need after I get moved in. Possible or just more of a crock (;-)] The important question Red of course for me but I know my new neighbors mostly prefer green, maybe I can develop a taste for green in a few years Thanks again justalurker Here is a link that might be useful: softener system