I am not retired, though I am TIRED! I work full-time and for the past five years have gone to school at nights trying to get into nursing school. I haved raised two boys, though the youngest is in college baseball, and I have spent many springs at the ballfield doing my homework and not my gardening. I plan to only take classes during fall and winter untill I get into nursing school, so my garden will be looking a lot better next year. I am one of those on- and off-again posters (mostly off). I have been posting on the Garden Web for many, many years--back to the days when Spike ran the joint and there were only a handful of forums. I stopped for a while when they began charging a fee to belong to the Garden Web (it was a long time ago, if my memory serves me right). I check back in every so often, but have been avidly lurking and then posting since school got out last spring. I love the people on the Cottage Garden forum the most, though you will see them popping up on other forums from time to time. These are the nicest people and SO much knowledge all in one place! I have been gardening for about 12 years and devouring gardening books for about as long, and I don't know half of what these people know. It's really great to be able to share a passion for growing things with these lovely people and learn something to boot. The thing that facilitated my lengthier return this time is the laptop my husband bought me for a celebration gift when he (erroneously) thought I got accepted to nursing school. I take the darn thing to bed with me and get caught up on email, these forums, and other things. Even though I haven't been posting much or for long, I really cherish reading what you all have to say. It really makes my day (or rather--night!). Pat

Project scope and critical path planning. This is the task you are facing. This is what is needed to be created. If you can have your "crew" over and get reliable and detailed info based on getting your collective heads together, then do that. If not, then a professional such as a contractor or architect or designer should be called in to fulfill this duty. The grand plan should include the entirety of the scope of work, and then break this down into the logical order of completion, timelines for each segment, when things can overlap and when one aspect must be completed in full before another can begin. Budgets for each segment, with contingencies and alternates would be considered here as well. Then of course the master plan adds up to the master budget which has to be found to begin. The goal is to not un-do something to do something else, to make sure that the outcome is what is envisioned, to make sure that funds are available for satisfactory completion, and to schedule the trades for both materials specifying, ordering, and installation. Example is that the electrical and HVAC work would probably be one of the first to be done. But a preliminary selection of appliances in the kitchen and elsewhere would factor into any changes at the panel and running main lines into the spaces. Same idea with plumbing. You don't need to know the exact faucet, but an idea of how many sinks would be important for the rough-in. And find out what aspects will need to be inspected, who is going to get permits and handle inspections, and if and when a stamped engineer drawing may be needed to pass inspection. So timeline and money. And have fun and enjoy your new house. And remember my earlier advice. A nice new gas grill and patio set to keep everyone from losing it! Sitting in a chair with a cold drink looking at a lake is the big idea here, yes?

Ann, try saving it to your Clippings. Look to the right of your last post (just above this). You will see the word Clippings in green letters. Under that it will say Clip This Post. For each recipe or comment you want to save, click on Clip This Post. Another way to do it is to highlight the entire thread, or the parts you want, right click with your mouse and then click on Copy. Start a new document in Word and paste the thread into that document, then save it to your computer. If you want me to do that for you and then email it to you, let me know.

I'm with the ones who say ignore the (alleged) cost of the dinner. Often others chip in on that stuff anyway. "Tradition" used to be that the bride's parents pay for the wedding so tradition doesn't really apply anymore. I believe that what you should give is what you feel comfortable giving and want to give. You should not feel compelled to give because they chose to spend more than the people who go to a JP or choose to have friends, family and themselves make the food. The gift is totally separate from the affair in the cost respect. Could always go with the idea that 2 people didn't go, and were going to give $25 so they should submit a bill to the couple for $125.00! Seems to me they're a little foolish to not make it clear they want cash gifts. Especially if the story released was true. I think it's a great decision to put the cash that way but why not just put it on the invitations and be done with it? I'm also very against the trinket givers. Some hunk of junk that the giver thinks is cute and "personal" that'll wind up in a closet taking up space that should just be tossed... wouldn't it be better to just send half the amount of cash? Or all of it? Seems to me someone previously married likely has all the trinkets and gadgets they need. Cash is still the classiest gift, the most useful and the one that is most always used and seldom is returned. And no receipt needed to return it and no standing in the return lines are added benefits.