I'm behind on my record keeping (ouch). I have an Excel spreadsheet which badly needs updating, with roses sorted by class then by name, with the nurseries or individuals I got them from, and some other information. The Excel spreadsheet doesn't give enough room for adequate comments, and I've been thinking about a parallel text document with rose varieties listed in the same order as in the spreadsheet, but with unlimited room for text. But I haven't started it. I also have written and drawn maps of sections of the garden and of the propagation beds where I start cuttings, very important in case labels get lost, which they do all the time. I accept that labels will not be my primary source of identification of plants in the ground, and that their labels will need to be replaced periodically. About pots, by an evil magic they lose labels constantly no matter what I do. Recently I've taken to punching holes at the rims of plastic pots, threading ties through them, and attaching labels to the ties: I defy these labels to disappear! Labeling the pots is the only way I know to keep order in the pot ghetto, which contains probably a couple of hundred plants of every description. Currently we probably have 500-600 roses in the garden and 300-odd varieties, spread out over a couple of acres. Keeping track of them is difficult but important. I've learned I can't trust my memory--and I have an excellent memory--and that I need multiple forms of documention, so that if one source fails I have another. Also that I need to keep better order in paperwork like invoices: saving them isn't enough, they need to be accessible and in order, but hitherto I haven't succeeded in this. I have other plants I would like to keep better records of, including lilacs, peonies, and violets, none of which I have satisfactorily documented. Melissa

Yes, Google Chrome is a browser. No, you do not have to make it your default browser to use it. Just click on the icon for Chrome to open it, same as you do for IE. But you can have whichever one you want as your default and still use either one.

I guess you would say the ending is sad. I'm planning to watch it again. In the movie the girl didn't buy a B&B she was just helping out. I never could get through the audio book, but the movie is great!

Welcome! I met my kitchen designer through a tile shop, by asking who they worked with. I interviewed several people associated with cabinet shops, and went to home depot. Just shopping around for that part of the project taught me a lot of things and helped focus the vision. The KD I ultimately chose suggested I start by making a list with three columns: Things I love about my current kitchen, things I hate about it, and a wish list. It was a really long list, but helped me think about every part of the kitchen more objectively. I started out knowing what kind of cabinets I wanted (or had an idea) based on a couple of display kitchens. One was at Lowe's, the other at a tile shop. If you don't know exactly what you want the final look to be, spend some time in the Finished Kitchen Blog and mark which ones get your attention. Then figure out what you like about them. Kitchen magazines are also good for this. I showed my KD photos of what I liked, and she translated that for me into cabinets. Sometimes you'll find that the overall feel of a kitchen is more influenced by the countertop and paint than the cabs, eg, and that you really don't care if the cabs are full overlay or flush/inset. Once you get The Vision the notebook of materials and locations is invaluable. Great advice to not buy until you are sure you have all the components set in your mind. However, there is always Craigslist for the items that didn't work out: I sold my shaw's original sink on it after I changed to a black one. I was a little queasy about having it in my basement (so much money, it might break, etc) but it all worked out. Give some thought to your cabinet types as well: How deep do you want the drawers in any given stack, how wide, and how deep do you want the uppers (standard is 12", mine are 14" and some folks have 15": The more the better, imo). Do you want all drawers? Do you have a corner to deal with? When shopping for cabinets, remember to get at least one bid from a custom shop; they are often at or below your budget and can build things any way you like. Even if you really like your current layout, it never hurts to post it here. There are some crazy good people here who will give you new ways of looking at your space and you might find that a few changes will make your kitchen even more functional. The very best idea for my current kitchen came from this board and it breaks my heart to this day that I wasn't able to use it (DH and KD raised legitimate points, but I still envision the radical idea on occasion and dream...!). And when you just can't figure out what to do next, post a message and you'll get a lot of support, some new ideas, and advice. One of the most important things I got from this forum has been mentioned above: Don't settle or assume things can't be done. Investigate, ask here, find out for yourself, stand firm (politely!). It can be a very empowering process, particularly if you are someone who typically goes with the flow, doesn't want to put anyone out. And try to start with your mind open to the possibilites: Things I assumed would be too expensive (new window, eg) weren't, and made a dramatic difference in the end result. If you take your time, don't get in too much of a hurry to start, and feel comfortable with your choices, you will have the best possible solution for your space and for what suits you. And you might get it done before you change your vision and start second guessing! Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog, aka FKB