We're also at the wiring stage for our new construction. I was thinking of doing in ceiling stereo speakers and volume control panels all home runs to once central location from 6 separate locations - maybe have IR in each room so I can control everything from a single remote. I initially though to put wire it to my den closet, but I'm concerned about ventilation. Would this be an issue for an amp/preamp and music server setup? Also, what hardware (besides speakers) would you look at? I'll have my Class A system set up somewhere for serious listening. So I just want something that will porovide solid background music for entertaining. I'd also like to be able to utilize my iTunes playlists. Finally, my budget in this is limited since my wife could care less if we had music anywhere but inside my headphones! Any ideas as to what I would expect to pay for the wiring portion?

Hi, BalTra. Years ago I spent a lot of time over at the Landscaping Forum and do recommend it. Back then, though, answers could be a little harsh and sometimes even deliberately unhelpful, but I think a good part of that arises from the fact that a garden simply can't be designed from a distance, just too many dynamic factors, or in any brief period of time. It's like kitchen design x100, maybe 1000, in complexity, each genuinely helpful answer requiring much more time and research to craft, then still frustrating because of all that must but can't be known to do a good job. All the more so because people asking for help often would first need extensive education to benefit properly. So my suggestion is to read a couple of good, CLIMATE-SPECIFIC (factors 1, 2, and 3 in successful gardening) books on creating a beautiful home landscape before posting much at the forum. You'll then be in a position to ask some of the more specific questions that arise, a much more manageable task to respond valuably to. As it happens, I'm also a big-time gardener developing a new large one, which then went to pot and is slowing being pulled back together--in a different form. In my case, an autoimmune disorder makes getting overheated (I've become extremely heat intolerant) and exposed to UV serious health threats. Gardening was so important to me and the garden now so impossible to manage, that I also mostly abandoned it in discouragement and unhappiness for a couple of years. Christine, are you finding a new appreciation for the matured plants that didn't die? Or for some of the simplicity that has resulted (even if you have to imagine a lot of it behind the weeds)? Digging and transplanting in our hardpan and clay is mostly too much for me these days, so my slow bringing back and continued development of our 2 acres is mostly taking place by my walking around in early overcast mornings with a pair of loppers "sculpting" a garden from the rampant growth that needs no help from me at all. It's a delight to "discover" those plants that have been growing mostly happy and healthy toward maturity. Fussy areas can't be moved, so where friends haven't come and cleaned out the mower and bush hog continue the sculpting process. Fortunately for me, my favorite has always been a luscious green garden set off by seasonal flowers as special accents. Hollysprings, your roses are so lovely. I definitely agree with choosing among the many rose varieties that do well on their own. Among my surviving and flourishing abandoned plants, even in an region that's been plagued with drought more years than not lately, are a number of roses, both antique and new varieties, that are covered with flowers right now. I can't get anywhere near it because of the hornets that have homesteaded close by, but Veilchenblau apparently decided it preferred climbing into a cherry tree to hanging over my retaining wall, and now it's putting on a show from a living room window that looks like something in a magazine, at least as long as you ignore the baby jungle at its base. :)

I was actually astounded at that, nicole___! But I have another similar story to caflowerluver's: (I may have posted this already) a neighbor put a newish looking dryer at the curb and posted it on the neighborhood FB page that it needed a new heating element. They didn't want to bother with having it fixed (she told me when I messaged her) and just bought a new one. So another neighbor helped me get it home. I bought a new element on Amazon for $25, installed it in less than an hour (the hardest part was getting a couple of screws unscrewed) and now I have replaced my 30 some years old reliable, no frills Whirlpool with this $1000 bells & whistles version. I just hope none of the other electronics fail such that I regret letting that Whirlpool go. Oh, my favorite bargain: a very very good condition, used, soft leather, deep teal (discontinued color) The Sak cross body purse for $10 on Poshmark.

Found this antique toy dresser at the GW today. $5.99. Looked it up when I got home--it was made by J.Bubb in London, early 19th century. Found one that sold a few years ago for $225, but it was missing all the escutcheons and 1 pull. Mine is in excellent condition, all hardware intact and with the maker's mark. I can't believe this beautiful toy is almost 200 years old!