There is some learning required for using a tiller. Have your neighbor show you how to use it. Perhaps you didn't lower the drag stake and/or raise the transport wheels. Even after you do that, it takes several hours of using a tiller to learn not to "fight it" and to let it rock around and find its way, instead of trying to "over-control" it. Don't get a "death grip" on the tiller and don't strain your back or arms. Front-tine and mid-tined tillers get a reputation for being hard on the user because you do need to learn the proper technique to use them effectively. The problem with borrowing a tiller to till rocks is that you run the risk of breaking the tiller or yourself. Our soil here also has a lot of rocks, so I use a mid-tined top-of-the-line Merry Tiller. Its slow tine speed and controllable high tine torque let me "roll out" some surprisingly large rocks. I till once or twice a year, so I have accumulated a large rock pile from rocks that my tiller has "rooted out". My Merry Tiller's triple reduction transmission and dual V-belt transmission give it unique ability in heavy rocky soil and, by allowing it to proceed somewhat slowly, I can till much deeper than its rated 12 inches. I routinely till as deep as 16 inches, which is about equivalent to double digging with a spading fork or spade. The top-of-the-line International Merry Tiller is expensive. If an investment in it is beyond your budget, you might want to purchase a good spading fork and spade. Double-digging a garden plot is good exercise, and before I got my Merry Tiller, that is what I did. If you hire your soil tilled, the guy will most likely use a rear-tined tiller which has a high tine speed. A high tine speed doesn't work well in rocky soil and, even without rocks, a rear-tined tiller has a hard time tilling 6 inches deep. Most hired tilling jobs aren't that deep, and usually amount to a pulverized veneer about 3 or 4 inches deep. The hired job looks well-tilled, but that "beauty" is only "skin deep". Rocks are tough on most tillers, so if you hire your garden tilled, get someone with a farm tractor and a stout one-bottom moldboard plow. MM

We bought our land 4 years before we built our home. We wanted to build our dream home and were not in a hurry to rush into it and then regret decisions made too quickly. I was the designer on the project and honestly enjoyed all that it entailed. We also had a wonderful builder that made the whole process go seamlessly and stress free. After we chose a house plan and had it updated to include the must-haves on our list, I poured over those plans for hours and hours making sure each room was as ideal as possible. Now is the time to decide if you want an HVAC duct in that place or a light switch or outlet in that spot. Decide if you want floor outlets, special outlets in pantries or cleaning closets. Are the rooms the right size? Could a couple feet make a difference anywhere? I sure wish we had made our laundry room 3 feet wider. Choose as many products as you can before your builder gives you his estimate. If you want granite and he's giving you laminate pricing the cost will be more. Also, painting the interior all one color is less expensive than having several rooms painted differently. Are you going with pre-painted siding or having the exterior custom painted? Are you using brick, cultured stone or natural stone? Huge difference between brick and natural stone. Plumbing fixtures vary in price as do lighting and appliances. Make sure he's taking your choices into account with his bottom line. Think about any upgrades in insulation, soundproofing, radiant heating, etc. The best advice I can give from someone who's been there, done that, is to sit down and really think about how you want the house to look, function and feel....and cost. Are there things you can't do without? For us it was a 3rd garage, his & hers master's closets, a computer space off the kitchen area where we can monitor our son, and a particular type of kitchen layout. Break the house plan down room by room if it's overwhelming but KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If you're unsure of that then you can be talked into a lot of stuff you will find out later you really didn't need or want. Almost all of us have to stick to a budget so the trick is getting what you want overall at a price you can afford. This website is a treasure trove of information that I'm sure will benefit you in the days to come. Good luck on your build and keep your chin up.

nwdrip- Thanks for chiming in! I am thankful for any advice and I appreciate you commenting on my thread. I think painting the back of the cabs dark brown would be really cool with some colorful dishes. Suero- I never would have picked a rug like that, but you are right, it works. My only thing is that I am, in general, trying to avoid red. I had red accents all over my last apartment, and I want to go for a different feel. However, I get to see what a teal looks like, and how patterns interact with my curtains, so thank you!!! I have continued to look at other rugs. Hubby has been almost no help. He is very picky on what he wants, but he won't help me look. I have browsed through approximately 4000 rugs by now, and every suggestion I have had, he has shot down. :( Here are some of my favorites right now. Please tell me what you guys think: A B C D E F G Hubby wants a border around the edge, doesn't want flowers, only wants a hint of color, doesn't want stripes, doesn't want beige. Please note that most of *my* faves at least have one of those things. This one that I posted earlier appears to still be hubby's favorite: But he's not sold on it.

I might look for a lamp that could move forward on the chest enough (without danger of toppling off) that the shade just hides that thermostat. Place it just a couple inches to the right of where it is now, or move the whole chest to the right a bit. It won't affect the functionality, esp if you use an LED bulb = no heat. Then look for a large piece of art, or a couple of stacked pieces to fill in over the right side of the chest, as shown above. Another idea is a gallery wall incorporating the thermostat: I would trade you those beautiful folded blankets for the star wars lego decor my grandson has decorated my house with! eta: I was just looking at it again and think Cyn's idea to switch the cabinets would work. You could then place the floor lamp in front of the thermostat and just ignore it.