thanks gaucho and it seems there are different choices, some "rounded" what do I have to Match it to? i.e, will either rounded or the other work or do I need to match it up with one of the other decisions I already made for the cabs?

Thanks prarie and shboom.. yes, that was what I was trying to recall. My mocha for example is larger than the average aussie, but is actually at the top of the spectrum for a male (suprisingly to many many people that is 75 lbs and you rarely see a 75 lb aussie). In addition, he has a tail. Few and far between have seen the natural tail of an australian shepherd, but most are actually born WITH a tail. When the litter was at the shelter (I got him when he was a pup), he looked like the "odd guy out" in that litter. But when I started to do agility with him, most of my rescue contacts agreed that he was indeed an aussie, a red merle. He simply had a full tail. We went to a show once not long after that, and I was stunned - I met a couple who stopped me and my "little mocha" (LOL AT LITTLE!), and they had a girl there who was competing who could have been his TWIN - except for that tail. They were so excited and thought I had simply chosen to keep him natural. Now obviously I was not going to dock an 8 wk old pup's tail (I think its normally done within 10 days of birth?), but there is a reason they do it - something to do with cattle gates if I remember correctly. Prarie hit the nail on the head, it was the ILP number. You have to have a certain number of recognized members of your local akc club declare that yes, the uncertain parented animal is that particular breed. Then there were other points on the form that deal with conformation to the breed standard. (by the way, its not relevant, but I think the aussie has one of the highest variances in a weight standard of most of the breeds -- from like 35 lbs to 75 lbs). Shboom, in line with your point... yes, I think something like 7 out of 10 aussies are born with a tail, and the rest not, they are "natural bobs". However, the natural bob is considered a fault. A reputable breeder never breeds a bob to a bob, because it is considered to promote a fault in the breed (i.e. propensity for spinal trouble). I'm quite sure I've made aussie breeders everywhere shudder due to my lack of actual facts or references, I'm simply remembering stuff from years ago. I got him when he was 8 wks (day I started work at that shelter when I was actually looking for a SHIBA INU!). He's nearly 9 yrs old now.

Sometimes it can depend on the type of blind and bracket used to install it with. With the blinds we got from Home Depot, the lady told us they could not be any more than 1/2 inch shorter than the window because then they won't be long enough to fit into the brackets so a 1/4 inch may not even be a wide enough gap. If you have a quarter inch space on each side of the blind, that is ideal. You know, the blinds we got at Home Depot and Lowe's are great. They have wide slats, are super easy to install and very price friendly. I liked them so much I've put them on all of our windows. If it were me, I'd probably just go price them at Lowe's and Home Depot to see if the added cost for new would be that much more. That way you can have them cut perfectly to your window and you'll know you have the right brackets to install them with. (and they won't be used/dirty already) That would make it worth it to me anyways.

I used white Daltile 3x6 subways in my bathroom walls. The floor is matte hex in the only white offered at that time, which truly is an off-whitish color. WIth a white toilet and sink and a white cabinet sitting directly on it, it looks fine. I again used the Daltile white subways on my kitchen walls near my built in fridge, which is paneled to look like my cabs. That white matches the white 4x8 beveled subways I am using on my kitchen backsplash. I am sure if you look up close there will be a difference, albeit very slight. I have off white cabinets (BM's Man on the Moon) which are almost to the yellow tones. My appliances are white, and the combination of the subways and appliances look nice together (even tho there are quite a few 'white appliance nay-sayers' out there!). I think the combination is very crisp yet softens the typical all white look. I don't like harsh kitchens, and find too much white and stainless appliances tend to look sterile and harsh. Perhaps working in a hospital for too many years has me swayed that way.......