Maggie, The kids are adorable. What cute poses! Have you recovered from Sandy? Your town sounds like it was hammered. Our library is built up on a good sized hill and is still standing. The town square was flooded badly. The post office and fire departments suffered damage but will recover. Our famous bascule bridge was opened during the storm and came through in better shape than we had a right to expect. So, all in all, our public infrastructure is wet, battered, but still in operation. Every week it seems we have one fewer "Closed Due To Storm Damage" sign around town. Progress is slow but is happening. A few downtown businesses are gone for good though. You are so right about the volunteers, agencies, faith based groups. We met people from all over the country here to help. Even Hawaii. Most of the FEMA people were retired and FEMA calls them to service during times of disaster. They are well seasoned in disasters and their calming influence was much needed. I was very impressed with how well all the volunteer groups buoyed the kids' spirits. They were scared and Mom/Dad were busy and preoccupied but it seemed like somebody was always quick to spot need and offer support, a Kleenex, or miraculously show up with a teddy bear. It does make you proud to be an American. I was also proud that there was no looting in our area so officials could concentrate their efforts elsewhere. Thanks for checking in. Hope you're okay or will be soon. /tricia

We are starting to inch forward...I actually see the end in site. They graded for the pavers the other day...but then the goofs came back and dug up all the pipes to connect the plumbing and equipment. So now we have to regrade that area. Supposedly, electric is coming tomorrow and stone coping and waterfall tomorrow and Saturday.....not holding my breath. Anyway here are some boring pics of equipment. Here is a link that might be useful: our pool build

Thank you for the compliments:) I was going for a feeling of texture, rather than color, I feel like this tile accomplished this goal:) I plan to paint above the backsplash and the adjoining dining room a C2 color called Cornsilk...a soft gloden warm yellow. The tile is actually made by Daltile. It is unglazed porcelain. I beleive it is part of their Designer Essentials collection, though I never found it on their website. I found this particular tile online at CraftHome.com. I ordered a sample and then my installer found it locally...for about 30% less than I had found it. He passed that savings onto me, which I really appreciate:) The color is called "white" though it is much more of a creamy/off white color, not beige. It does not feel stark. jenanla-the faucet is made by Rohl. It is part of their Country collection. thinktoomuch- I was only able to find tumbled stone on mesh in a herringbone pattern made from this size tile (1x2). Meridith Art tile does make a mesh mounted hand made ceramic tile that is 2x4. Bill- as you know this has been a long road with many tile considerations...travertine, ceramic, marble, etc. I appreciate all your input over the past 18 months. I am very pleased that you like it:) I really like the herringbone pattern as well. The installer actually did the herringbone pattern in the traditional (90 degree) pattern first and b/c the diagonal is truly what I had envisioned he redid it for me:) I am so glad it is on the diagonal. Kimberly

I just don't want to lose the view to the north/northwest as it is the best. It overlooks an orchard and into the valley. Thoughts? Living in an area with all sorts of great views (Annapolis) it's easy to fall into the idea that that the view is all that's driving the bus. I advise my clients of that all the time. It's an important design consideration, no question, but a great house to live in is comprised of many, many considerations of which views are just one. An important one but at the same time a consideration that doesn't happen in a vacuum. I can expand on that if you wish but for now let me ask you a question; if God had made the hill 5' shorter would you have still bought the property? And would that have greatly effected the views? (ok that's two questions but no one ever accused me of being a math wizard!). A good architect will get all that can be gained from a view while at the same time getting you so much more. You asked for some links so links you shall receive: Some great book suggestions: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3281434/book-suggestions?n=10 And an expansion on Sarah Susanka's thoughts (a book listed above): http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3542783/i-just-read-this-on-sarah-susankas-fb-page?n=22 In my reply here (third post down) I embedded another thread we had a while back on house design. Regarding a view, in my thoughts there read #'s 4, 22, 24 and 63. And just last week a thread about working with designers (or architects). Whoever you get, for best results be prepared to take a leap of faith and placing lots of trust in whoever that is. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3567694/floor-plan-input-before-architect-meeting?n=19 A lot more, but at Mark's suggestion, I see the sun's coming up so it's out the door for a run!!