kgolby, sorry I didn't mean to lump you in with the other comment, I realized they were separate. mpagmom, I was probably over reacting being sick and exhausted... and having just recently spend hours deciding to go with tile instead of beadboard after finding the affordable 23 cents/tile ($1.80/sq ft) HD and Lowes tile, I was a bit dismayed to hear it called horrible! I am sure it would not work out for every kitchen - the HD tile has a definite warm tone to it, while the Lowes product at the same price point is a purer white. With these 2 choices, probably one or the other would work for most kitchens. If your backsplash area is large like mine, the difference between $1.80 and $10/sq ft is $100 vs $500, which is the entire budget for my kitchen facelift! This post was edited by tinan on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 23:53

Found what seems like a pretty good site for garden hose info at... http://www.irrigation.learnabout.info/guide-hose-reels.htm (see info below followind email) Sounds like not only the hose, but the method of storage is important. Also sounds like rubber, 6 to 8-ply, with brass fittings is the better choice. Now just need to find the brand. Not sure about the ultra-violet effect on rubber, but guess thats where the storage method comes in. Would rather not get into a reel type storage (just another mechanical device to deal with and maintain), but would rather hand coil and keep under cover, so need hose that could handle being handled ! Other thoughts ? --------------- http://www.irrigation.learnabout.info/guide-hose-reels.htm Because it is used often, if not every day, a garden hose must be durable, kink free and easy to store. Hose reels, although equally unglamorous, must be sturdy, rust-proof, and designed to discourage kinking. When choosing a garden hose, the most important characteristics to consider are: Material the hose is made from, such as rubber, vinyl, or a combination of both. Hose strength reflected in the number of plies or layers. The more plies, the stronger the hose. Usually, garden hose or household hoses have 3 to 6 plies. Diameter of the hose, which indicates the amount of water the hose can deliver. Usual diameters are 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4". Length of the hose25 to 100 feet is common. Of course this sounds obvious, but how many times have you gone to wash or water something and the darn thing just won't reach! Fittings made of brass are the most durable. Plastic fittings are also available and are sometimes easier to tighten or turn when attaching to the hose. Correct storage is the most important part of keeping your garden hose in good condition. Exposure to the sun, hot water, folding or bending can all cause the hose material to weaken, and encourages kinking and cracking. The best way to store a hose is in large coils hanging on a hose reel or bracket, or lying in a hose pot or bucket. There are lots of hose storage solutions out there, so choose the best one for your situation by looking at the length of hose (a long hose needs a bigger bracket or hose reel), and the location of the water supply before making your decision. Garden Hose Showdown: Rubber vs. Vinyl Really, it's no contest. One hundred percent rubber hoses are considered to be the best quality, but they are also slightly more expensive. 4-ply garden hose: A medium duty hose, perfect for home gardens. Reinforced vinyl or rubber/vinyl construction. 5-ply garden hose: A heavy duty hose perfect for a large gardens and frequent use. Reinforced vinyl or rubber/vinyl construction. 6-ply to 8-ply commercial hose: A super heavy duty, non-kinking hose for commercial or farm applications. Usually rubber construction. Wall mount hose reel: Attaches to the wall and feed the hose out either parallel or perpendicular to the wall. Cart or wagon hose reel: A portable hose reel on wheels. Ideal for large gardens with multiple water faucets.

I got the shower curtain at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I actually found it at Target online but the store didn't have them in stock. Google "tree shower curtain" and it should come up. They had it in black or brown tree and also a dark background with a white tree. They are also on eBay but I couldn't wait for shipping. Plus I wanted to see and feel it in person. Be careful - some of them look like fabric shower curtains online but they are vinyl. The one I got at BB&B is fabric and I got a clear liner to go with it.

Sorry if this is slightly OT... but I think the difference between what a place like Lowe's can do with regard to returns and a place like LL Bean has everything to do with MARK UP. LL Bean probably makes an average of 65-85% profit on each item sold. At that rate, they can take a few items back and throw them in the trash and still come out way ahead. In fact, it is my personal theory that when a store has say 10 sweaters, the first 3 sold at regular price probably pay for the lot, allowing for the clearance sales, etc, with the remaining ones. Lowe's or HD probably makes more like 20-35% profit. At the end of the day, that's a huge difference to pay the bills with. I'm also guessing that it costs more to run a huge store like a Lowe's with all the employees and the utilities, rent, etc. A clothing store has a lot less of that too. This is JMHO... but as I have said before... Big companies (like all of the above) have specific consumer affairs departments whose only job is to make you happy and to pester the store and district managers until it is deemed so. I have many years in retail management and feel very confident in saying that if you call the right people -- AND REMAIN CIVIL (remember, the person you are talking to isn't the one that harmed you) -- you will be taken care of fairly.