Zengeos, Solving the "I don't have beds prepared" problem. Let me preface to say I've only been gardening since I started WSing 4 years ago. I'm no pro, no expert, no vet. But this is what I did and it worked famously. It's basically a lazy lasagna gardening: 1. Lay down cardboard ASAP. Let it take advantage of your late Winter snows, early Spring rains...then you don't have to wet it down yourself. It's amazing how quickly the worms start working once that darkness is there (and protecting the ground from the moisture evaporating). 2. When it's time plant, put down a layer of manure-kitchen scraps-whatever-you-got organic matter. Doesn't have to be too thick in this case (with lazy-lasagna). You can add to it through the season and in the fall in prep for next season. 3. Put down potting soil on top of the organic stuff. If you don't have a lot, just concentrate on the one little area you are going to plant in immediately. Make sure the depth is enough that the seedlings won't touch the manure if that's the organic matter you used. 4. Plant your seedlings. You can do it the same day...the same hour. I have. And I've had no problems. When I have more time in the summer, I usually will amend the soil in that area some more, and apply the layers of medium more thoughtfully in the fall. But when I need a quick fix, this "lazy" method has worked great for me. I turned the area where an above-ground pool was into a garden this way, with very little work, and done within days of planting (and that was all sand underneath in that area!) --Also, don't forget containers...big pots and window boxes. Sometimes, I have just put a bunch of overgrown seedlings into big pots on my porch as a "holding bed". Sometimes they looked so good in there when they started blooming, I kept them there for the whole season. -- and on the sprouts...that's why I don't even look at the containers until I can walk the ground consistently without any snow and without a heavy coat on. I don't want to know what germinated early. There's always seeds in there that wait. They know when to sprout. Linda

Thanks guys, the one on top is better than the first 3 large ones on the side, LOL. Those were my first attempts:) Nope don't do roses, do daisy's, do any flower or what ever colors you like. Make a rainbow. You don't have to use the one stroke, I don't do it properly. Then you put a little felt on the bottom of the brick to not scratch the floor and voila! The last time I did this last year with all the kids I used red bricks, had a devil of a time covering them with sealer and then had to paint them all with 3 coats of white acrylic paint first. Then let them paint their colors. This time I got smart and chose grey bricks:) Only took two light coats of paint. I think knowing Courtney she just put 1 and a half here and there:) I'll finish with an outside clear varnish and I like them to shine so I do a gloss. Why outside varnish, because I like Delta's varnish in that better. Their inside bubbles too much and where ever it bubbles it's like plastic, it will flake later. And kids are pickers, she'd be pealing it off. I'm trying a similar back ground color on my sign for the garden too. On a green kick:) Lettering will be in gold for fairies. I'll be posting that too if it works out. Yep, it's nice today here too. Maybe coffee will get me some oomph:) My get up and go, went somewhere else...

I love it too!!! There is a smaller coordinating pendant and the semi flush is nice too. The size seems fine to me for two over a 4' island. I was all set to order from that collection and then they brought the island and I thought the styles clashed too much. I know it's good to mix it up a bit, but i wasn't sure if it would be taking it too far??? Does the style look ok with the island?? I know I'm probably thinking too much, but that's why we're here, right???? TKO!!! Here is a link that might be useful: Other lights in the collection

We bought our new place and closed on it 2 weeks before our previous home sold. It was very stressful because although we were approved for the mortgage even with the existing one, it would have been a serious financial strain to have to pay both mortgages overlapping. I kept myself distracted with the plans and purchases for renovating the new home - which was all DIY - had to pick flooring and paint colors etc. I had it all planned out so I could get the flooring and painting done in less than 2 weeks... we had ended up renting a temporary furnished apartment for 1 month and put our stuff in storage. So I had to have the new place move in ready after 2 weeks - which I did! You will get through it, and transactions rarely fall apart this late in the game.