If you live in or near any sizeable community in the U.S. then you have access to a wonderful source of greens: the saddeningly large amount of used coffee grounds that coffee houses throw out each day. Many of these places are more than happy to give them to you because it saves them money on disposal fees. One Starbucks can provide you with up to 10gallons (this is something like 40-50lbs at least) of UCG if you ask at the right time. You can use these UCG for the greens in your compost, or you can spread some around on your lawn to make up for any grass clippings you use in your compost. (Although to answer your original question, it's probably OK to use a couple loads of grass clippings for compost rather than mulching them in every time. It might depend on the "manicured" level of your lawn though.) As for browns, paper products are fine if that's all that you have. If you have access to a mill or lumber yard, you might be able to get some fine sawdust (make sure you don't get sawdust from treated lumber of course). Is there any vegetation around that's dried out in the summer heat? That could be a good brown source too. You can either use your lawnmower or an electric wood chipper/shredder (there's always one neighbor around who has one) to chop up dried vegetation, depending on what kind you find.

Anybody who wanted to join this swap should nip on over and join -- the swap closes Dec. 31. I passed. Am I missing out on some great opportunities? I just order off on occasion for hybrids and things I think I really want from a seed vendor. Nell Cottage Garden Forum

Our Sunday dinner after I got home from church was a frozen pizza and a homemade cherry pie. I had the pie in the freezer and heated it up and thawed it in the oven when I baked the pizza. Both were good. Sue

Actually there is a way to see what it would look like...Take your tiles to a colour photocopier. Lay them out on the copier surface in the pattern that you are planning for the wall, and copy them to make yourself some mock-up sheets. Make enough sheets to cover a decent portion of the wall. Tape them in place and then you'll have a very good idea of what things will look like. Play with them until you find the perfect arrangement. :)